In the pre-dawn hours of October 26, 2018, I was arrested for a crime I did not commit—a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Had I been born two generations earlier, the mere allegation alone could have resulted in my becoming a piece of strange fruit. My arrest led to time in jail, 14-months of home confinement, the loss of two jobs, and a total cancellation from society.
Cancel culture refers to the withdrawal of support from individuals who have acted in a way that is socially reprehensible. In recent years, the term has lost its meaning, as individuals—primarily celebrities—face the consequences of their actions. Instead of taking responsibility, many claim they are being “canceled” by society. Yet, those who assert they are being silenced often continue to profit from their platforms and remain socially active. The individuals truly being canceled in this country are Black people, who face the wrath of a criminal justice system designed to erase us from society.
The justice system, as it applies to Black individuals, was constructed to not only break us but to destroy us personally, financially, and physically. It is the primary tool used to erase Black voices and lives. We must dispel with the notion that justice is blind, equal, and fair, because it is not. The criminal justice system sees two colors—the first being white.
Compared to our white counterparts, Black individuals are more likely to have their cars searched, be arrested for drug offenses at twice the rate (despite similar usage rates among Black and white individuals), be jailed while awaiting trial, receive plea deals that include prison time, be excluded from juries, serve longer sentences, and be disenfranchised due to felony convictions (https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/08/racial-disparities-in-the-criminal-justice-system-eight-charts-illustrating-how-its-stacked-against-blacks.html).
Additionally, white individuals facing misdemeanor charges are 74 percent more likely than Black individuals to have all charges carrying potential prison time dropped, dismissed, or reduced. Furthermore, white individuals with no criminal history are over 25 percent more likely to have their charges reduced compared to Black individuals facing similar charges without prior convictions (https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/10/23/when-race-tips-the-scales-in-plea-bargaining).
In my case, I was offered a plea deal. The first offer from prosecutors would have placed me on probation for five years and reduced the charge against me, allowing me to retain my teaching license. I rejected the offer. Three years later, after I declined another plea deal, the charge against me was dismissed just days later. Think about that. Prosecutors would have been comfortable having me agree to a plea deal when they knew they were about to drop the charge.
The other crucial color in the criminal justice system is green. Those with financial means can post bail and hire adequate legal representation after an arrest. In contrast, many Black inmates remain in jails across the country because they cannot afford bail—not because they are guilty of a crime. These defendants are left to rely on overworked public defenders. The prospect of indefinite detention drives some inmates to plead guilty to offenses they did not commit. The United States and the Philippines are the only countries that operate a for-profit cash bail system.
The criminal injustice system operates as follows: Prosecutors and judges punish those perceived as criminals to convince society that the "justice" system is functioning. Most individuals in local jails are there for nonviolent offenses. Many inmates in prison never even go to trial—they accept plea deals. Today, 95 percent of criminal cases are resolved by plea deals, compared to only 20 percent in 1980. For Black inmates without the means to contest their charges, taking a plea deal becomes a pragmatic choice, especially given that the sentencing and conviction rates for Black defendants are higher than for white defendants who go to trial and lose.
You do not have to look far to find the next Central Park Five, Kalief Browder, Marcellus Williams, or Richard Moore in today’s criminal justice system. In jails and prisons across the country, people are serving time without proper due process. These mostly Black inmates endure incarceration while white, affluent individuals commit crimes and face little to no consequences. If you are Black, you are likely to face harsher punishment for a nonviolent offense than individuals like Amber Guyger, who killed a man in his own home; Brock Turner, who sexually assaulted a woman; Ethan Couch, who, while driving drunk, injured nine and killed four people; or former NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who choked Eric Garner to death.
The physical and psychological effects of navigating the criminal injustice system are long-lasting. During my 14-months of monitored house arrest and four years on pre-trial release, I experienced feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety. Loud knocks at the door and police sirens brought on severe panic attacks. I was fired from two jobs, despite my former employer's investigation clearing me of wrongdoing. This termination led to my mugshot being broadcast in the news, subjecting me to public shame because a white lie carries more weight than a Black person's truth in this country.
No one would hire me because of my charge, and when considering lost wages and legal fees, I have incurred over $100,000 in debt. Despite my challenges, I was fortunate to still have my life because Black men and boys are 2.5 times more likely than their white counterparts to die during encounters with police, competent legal representation, and a strong support system that helped me mentally, spiritually, and financially. Too many others are not as fortunate; once they encounter this overtly racist system, their lives are irreparably damaged. The color of your skin or your financial means should not outweigh your actual guilt or innocence. We owe it to ourselves as a nation to reform the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is dispensed fairly and equally for all.
Cancel culture refers to the withdrawal of support from individuals who have acted in a way that is socially reprehensible. In recent years, the term has lost its meaning, as individuals—primarily celebrities—face the consequences of their actions. Instead of taking responsibility, many claim they are being “canceled” by society. Yet, those who assert they are being silenced often continue to profit from their platforms and remain socially active. The individuals truly being canceled in this country are Black people, who face the wrath of a criminal justice system designed to erase us from society.
The justice system, as it applies to Black individuals, was constructed to not only break us but to destroy us personally, financially, and physically. It is the primary tool used to erase Black voices and lives. We must dispel with the notion that justice is blind, equal, and fair, because it is not. The criminal justice system sees two colors—the first being white.
Compared to our white counterparts, Black individuals are more likely to have their cars searched, be arrested for drug offenses at twice the rate (despite similar usage rates among Black and white individuals), be jailed while awaiting trial, receive plea deals that include prison time, be excluded from juries, serve longer sentences, and be disenfranchised due to felony convictions (https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/08/racial-disparities-in-the-criminal-justice-system-eight-charts-illustrating-how-its-stacked-against-blacks.html).
Additionally, white individuals facing misdemeanor charges are 74 percent more likely than Black individuals to have all charges carrying potential prison time dropped, dismissed, or reduced. Furthermore, white individuals with no criminal history are over 25 percent more likely to have their charges reduced compared to Black individuals facing similar charges without prior convictions (https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/10/23/when-race-tips-the-scales-in-plea-bargaining).
In my case, I was offered a plea deal. The first offer from prosecutors would have placed me on probation for five years and reduced the charge against me, allowing me to retain my teaching license. I rejected the offer. Three years later, after I declined another plea deal, the charge against me was dismissed just days later. Think about that. Prosecutors would have been comfortable having me agree to a plea deal when they knew they were about to drop the charge.
The other crucial color in the criminal justice system is green. Those with financial means can post bail and hire adequate legal representation after an arrest. In contrast, many Black inmates remain in jails across the country because they cannot afford bail—not because they are guilty of a crime. These defendants are left to rely on overworked public defenders. The prospect of indefinite detention drives some inmates to plead guilty to offenses they did not commit. The United States and the Philippines are the only countries that operate a for-profit cash bail system.
The criminal injustice system operates as follows: Prosecutors and judges punish those perceived as criminals to convince society that the "justice" system is functioning. Most individuals in local jails are there for nonviolent offenses. Many inmates in prison never even go to trial—they accept plea deals. Today, 95 percent of criminal cases are resolved by plea deals, compared to only 20 percent in 1980. For Black inmates without the means to contest their charges, taking a plea deal becomes a pragmatic choice, especially given that the sentencing and conviction rates for Black defendants are higher than for white defendants who go to trial and lose.
You do not have to look far to find the next Central Park Five, Kalief Browder, Marcellus Williams, or Richard Moore in today’s criminal justice system. In jails and prisons across the country, people are serving time without proper due process. These mostly Black inmates endure incarceration while white, affluent individuals commit crimes and face little to no consequences. If you are Black, you are likely to face harsher punishment for a nonviolent offense than individuals like Amber Guyger, who killed a man in his own home; Brock Turner, who sexually assaulted a woman; Ethan Couch, who, while driving drunk, injured nine and killed four people; or former NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who choked Eric Garner to death.
The physical and psychological effects of navigating the criminal injustice system are long-lasting. During my 14-months of monitored house arrest and four years on pre-trial release, I experienced feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety. Loud knocks at the door and police sirens brought on severe panic attacks. I was fired from two jobs, despite my former employer's investigation clearing me of wrongdoing. This termination led to my mugshot being broadcast in the news, subjecting me to public shame because a white lie carries more weight than a Black person's truth in this country.
No one would hire me because of my charge, and when considering lost wages and legal fees, I have incurred over $100,000 in debt. Despite my challenges, I was fortunate to still have my life because Black men and boys are 2.5 times more likely than their white counterparts to die during encounters with police, competent legal representation, and a strong support system that helped me mentally, spiritually, and financially. Too many others are not as fortunate; once they encounter this overtly racist system, their lives are irreparably damaged. The color of your skin or your financial means should not outweigh your actual guilt or innocence. We owe it to ourselves as a nation to reform the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is dispensed fairly and equally for all.
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