Student says the Death Penalty is Imposed in a Racist Way

  It’s no secret that African Americans are heavily overrepresented in the criminal justice system. But today, I want to narrow the scope to talk about the racial disparities in the death penalty. In 2019, 52% of people on death row were black individuals, however, African Americans only make up about 13% of the United States population. Furthermore, a black individual is 17x more likely to end up on death row if their victim was white. This study reveals the implicit and explicit biases that the criminal justice system is plagued by. 

The best way I can explain the racism occurring in the criminal justice system is by telling you the story of Troy Anthony Davis. He was a black man executed by lethal injection on September 21, 2011. He was accused of the murder of a Georgian police officer; a crime he swore he did not commit. Leading up to the execution, the state was asked to reconsider the decision because 7 of the 9 witnesses withdrew their testimony. Despite this, the state moved forward with their decision to execute Davis. 

Troy Davis is not the only black man who was racially targeted in the criminal justice system. Pervis Payne is a black man who has been on death row for 33 years. He was sentenced for the murder of a white woman, a crime that he never plead guilty to.  Not only is he a black individual, but he also lived his whole life with a learning disability. This may have also played a part in the court’s decision to sentence him with the death penalty. 

It is crucial that we stand up for the black individuals that don’t have a voice. Go to events and get involved to stop this injustice. This needs to be done for African Americans like Pervis Payne, Troy Davis, and all of the other black individuals who suffered this racism. As spoken by Troy Davis, “The struggle for justice doesn’t end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davis’s who came before me and all the ones who will come after me.”

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, this is the article that I used to get my information: https://innocenceproject.org/troy-davis-pervis-payne-race-death-penalty/