This week we have been challenged to describe a time we
encountered bias, prejudice, and/or oppression. This encounter could be in our
own lives or something we have witnessed (in real life or in a fictional
setting). Then we were instructed to discuss some specific aspects of our
reaction to this bias and what will have to change to turn the incident into an
opportunity for equity.
I know this is a platform where I usually discuss early
childhood education but this post is going to be a little different. I am going
to address wrongful convictions. I am a huge fan of true crime shows and
especially podcasts about the injustices that are inherent in our criminal
justice system. Some of my favorites include Truth and Justice, Undisclosed, and Actual Innocence. You can click the
links I have provided here or below to access these podcasts.
The system is full of biases and prejudices and many times I
have listened to stories of wrongful conviction based on what is called
confirmation bias. The police, prosecutors, and the like focus on one person
and will take any alleged evidence they find which does not support their
theory and make it disappear or change their story to fit it. Many times the prejudices
that are carried out are based on race, lack of wealth or other minority
factors.
There is already a lack of equity because the accused hold
no power while the state holds this person's life, often literally, in their
hands. The prejudices that exist based on race are particularly difficult to
overcome because the oppressed already have a disadvantage due to not being
members of the dominant culture. Institutionalized oppression is at work in the
most egregious way when a member of a targeted social group is accused of a
crime they did not commit.
The feelings that have stirred up for me as I have become
more familiar with these cases are varied and strong. I feel angry, confused,
hurt, and powerless. I have recently wished that I could go to law school so
that I could change some of these injustices from within the system. This is
the only way that greater equity can be reached.
We have to stand up as a society and refuse to accept the
injustices that exist based on institutionalized oppression. When we serve on
juries we have to pay close attention and make decisions based on actual
evidence, not on personal biases and prejudices. We have to become informed
about who we are voting into public offices, particularly those who make
decisions about how to prosecute the accused. We must pay attention to the laws
and bills that are being considered and advocate for social change that will
bring about equity for all, especially those who have been historically oppressed.
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. There are cases of people being wrongfully accused and imprisoned. They are at times set free when new information comes to light and they catch the real person that was guilty for the crime. This is unacceptable and yes we need to stand up for our rights and the rights of others. Thanks for sharing the podcasts.
Yolanda Arellano
Wendy, I agree with you sometimes I wish I had been a lawyer to fight some of the injustice and prejudice. I also like to watch shows that are deal with reality.
ReplyDeleteAnna
Well said, as usual Wendy :) Thank you for sharing the podcasts. My husband enjoys watching crime stories as well; so I have seen my fair share. Wrongful convictions based on profiling and bias happen more often than the general public realizes. Sadly, this widespread problem will always exist in a broken society. Until we can move past the stereotypes associated with race, class, and gender, we will continue to have a fractured justice system.
ReplyDelete-Elizabeth