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| Do Hate Crimes Discriminate? by: Herndon L. Davis |
In 1990, the United States Congress enacted the Hate Crime
Statistics Act which allowed the Attorney General to collect data
concerning crimes that were committed and motivated through
bias towards another person’s race, religion, sexual orientation,
or ethnicity.
Nearly twenty years later, the results are sobering and sadly
underreported according to some sources, but what is most
chilling is the fact that there is a disturbing trend among hate
crimes directed specifically towards African Americans.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report-Hate Crime
statistics, between 1995 and 2004 there were over 100,000 hate
crime victims. However among the many different ethnic/racial,
religious, sexual orientation, and disability groups counted as
victims of hate crimes, it has been African Americans who have
consistently represented at least one-third of all reported hate
crime victims in America.
In fact in 1998 and 1999 Blacks consisted of 38% of all hate
crime victims. In 2004 alone Black consisted of 35% of hate
crime victims while they only consist of 13% of America’s
population.
These shocking facts lead many to wonder why? Have race
relations and race perceptions towards African Americans not
improved in tandem with their socioeconomic gains?
In addition, have the media, law enforcement, along with
traditional black institutions such as the Black church and civil
rights organizations not taken aggressive initiatives in covering,
educating, and solving the alarming rates of violence against
African Americans?
Statistics Act which allowed the Attorney General to collect data
concerning crimes that were committed and motivated through
bias towards another person’s race, religion, sexual orientation,
or ethnicity.
Nearly twenty years later, the results are sobering and sadly
underreported according to some sources, but what is most
chilling is the fact that there is a disturbing trend among hate
crimes directed specifically towards African Americans.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report-Hate Crime
statistics, between 1995 and 2004 there were over 100,000 hate
crime victims. However among the many different ethnic/racial,
religious, sexual orientation, and disability groups counted as
victims of hate crimes, it has been African Americans who have
consistently represented at least one-third of all reported hate
crime victims in America.
In fact in 1998 and 1999 Blacks consisted of 38% of all hate
crime victims. In 2004 alone Black consisted of 35% of hate
crime victims while they only consist of 13% of America’s
population.
These shocking facts lead many to wonder why? Have race
relations and race perceptions towards African Americans not
improved in tandem with their socioeconomic gains?
In addition, have the media, law enforcement, along with
traditional black institutions such as the Black church and civil
rights organizations not taken aggressive initiatives in covering,
educating, and solving the alarming rates of violence against
African Americans?
| More Disturbing Surprises |
Although the hate crimes quoted from the FBI may appear to be
staggering, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. It is common
knowledge that the voluntary reporting process is virtually
shambles. In fact the Intelligence Report, a magazine supported
through the Southern Poverty Law Center conducted a study in
2001 which estimated that there were as many as 50,000
underreported cases of hate crimes in America.
"The overall hate crimes statistics are virtually useless," said
Mark Potok, editor of SPLC's Intelligence Report. "And these
numbers are critically important. Only when we know the true
level and nature of hate crime in the U.S. will we be able to
allocate resources in an effective way to combat it."
In addition, America’s colleges and universities have been
historically slow in reporting instances of hate crimes for fear of
image problems. In a 2002 interview, with Tolerance.org,
Howard K. Clery III of Security on Campus Inc., a national
watchdog group that monitors college crime stated that many
schools do not want to publicize anything that might tarnish or
diminish their reputations.
Even further, FBI statistics have been attacked by GLBT groups
for their underreporting of hate crimes toward gays and
lesbians. The following is a blistering excerpt from a 2001 press
release from The National Lesbian Gay Task Force clearly
pointing out hate crime discrepancies in regards to the GLBT
community.
“While the FBI reported 1,317 hate crimes based on sexual
orientation, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs,
relying on data from just 25 cities or other jurisdictions across
the country, reported 1,965 incidents of hate bias based on
sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition, the FBI reported just three murders of gay or lesbian
people motivated by hate violence. By contrast, the National
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported 29 murders
motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity during the year
1999; in Detroit alone, eight people were murdered because of
their sexual orientation or gender identity - higher than the three
murder victims identified in the entire United States by the FBI.
In addition, the rate of murders of transgender people is believed
to be disproportionately high - and is often ignored by law
enforcement authorities and the media”
staggering, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. It is common
knowledge that the voluntary reporting process is virtually
shambles. In fact the Intelligence Report, a magazine supported
through the Southern Poverty Law Center conducted a study in
2001 which estimated that there were as many as 50,000
underreported cases of hate crimes in America.
"The overall hate crimes statistics are virtually useless," said
Mark Potok, editor of SPLC's Intelligence Report. "And these
numbers are critically important. Only when we know the true
level and nature of hate crime in the U.S. will we be able to
allocate resources in an effective way to combat it."
In addition, America’s colleges and universities have been
historically slow in reporting instances of hate crimes for fear of
image problems. In a 2002 interview, with Tolerance.org,
Howard K. Clery III of Security on Campus Inc., a national
watchdog group that monitors college crime stated that many
schools do not want to publicize anything that might tarnish or
diminish their reputations.
Even further, FBI statistics have been attacked by GLBT groups
for their underreporting of hate crimes toward gays and
lesbians. The following is a blistering excerpt from a 2001 press
release from The National Lesbian Gay Task Force clearly
pointing out hate crime discrepancies in regards to the GLBT
community.
“While the FBI reported 1,317 hate crimes based on sexual
orientation, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs,
relying on data from just 25 cities or other jurisdictions across
the country, reported 1,965 incidents of hate bias based on
sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition, the FBI reported just three murders of gay or lesbian
people motivated by hate violence. By contrast, the National
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported 29 murders
motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity during the year
1999; in Detroit alone, eight people were murdered because of
their sexual orientation or gender identity - higher than the three
murder victims identified in the entire United States by the FBI.
In addition, the rate of murders of transgender people is believed
to be disproportionately high - and is often ignored by law
enforcement authorities and the media”
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| Anatomy of a Hate Crime |
Hate crimes are typically defined as being criminal actions intended to harm or intimidate people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or
other minority group status. It is based either in part or solely on the perception that the victim is different from the perpetrator.
According to co-authors, Jack Levin and Jack McDevitt of Northeastern University, “There is reason to believe that certain hate offenses result from some
personal bias or hatred. Perpetrators may act out of prejudicial beliefs (i.e., stereotypes) and/or emotions (e.g., envy, fear, or revulsion) concerning people who
are different. In the extreme case, a hatemonger may join an organized group in order to devote his life to destroying a group of people he considers "inferior."
Indeed the pathology behind a hate crime perpetrator can be complex. In some cases simple peer pressure is the motivating factor behind the hate crimes
committed while in extreme examples there is a commonly accepted dehumanized view of entire groups of people which in the past has even caused wars to
occur based simply upon cultural and ethnic differences.
In an interview with Monitor on Psychology with journalist Tori DeAngeleis, UCLA expert psychologist, Dr. Edward Dunbar, explains that "These people [hate
crime perpetrators] are not psychotic, but they're consistently very troubled, very disturbed, very problematic members of our community who pose a huge risk
for future violence."
Childhood histories of these offenders show high levels of parental or caretaker abuse and use of violence to solve family problems, he adds. People who
commit bias crimes are also more likely to deliberate on and plan their attacks than those who commit more spontaneous crimes, Dunbar adds.
Gay-bashers, for instance, commute long distances to pursue their victims in spots they're likely to find them, suggesting a strong premeditative component to
these crimes. In addition, those who commit hate crimes show a history of such actions, beginning with smaller incidents and moving up to more serious ones,
Dunbar notes.
other minority group status. It is based either in part or solely on the perception that the victim is different from the perpetrator.
According to co-authors, Jack Levin and Jack McDevitt of Northeastern University, “There is reason to believe that certain hate offenses result from some
personal bias or hatred. Perpetrators may act out of prejudicial beliefs (i.e., stereotypes) and/or emotions (e.g., envy, fear, or revulsion) concerning people who
are different. In the extreme case, a hatemonger may join an organized group in order to devote his life to destroying a group of people he considers "inferior."
Indeed the pathology behind a hate crime perpetrator can be complex. In some cases simple peer pressure is the motivating factor behind the hate crimes
committed while in extreme examples there is a commonly accepted dehumanized view of entire groups of people which in the past has even caused wars to
occur based simply upon cultural and ethnic differences.
In an interview with Monitor on Psychology with journalist Tori DeAngeleis, UCLA expert psychologist, Dr. Edward Dunbar, explains that "These people [hate
crime perpetrators] are not psychotic, but they're consistently very troubled, very disturbed, very problematic members of our community who pose a huge risk
for future violence."
Childhood histories of these offenders show high levels of parental or caretaker abuse and use of violence to solve family problems, he adds. People who
commit bias crimes are also more likely to deliberate on and plan their attacks than those who commit more spontaneous crimes, Dunbar adds.
Gay-bashers, for instance, commute long distances to pursue their victims in spots they're likely to find them, suggesting a strong premeditative component to
these crimes. In addition, those who commit hate crimes show a history of such actions, beginning with smaller incidents and moving up to more serious ones,
Dunbar notes.
| Hate Crime Solutions |
The Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, the Center is internationally known for its
tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups.
Knowledge is indeed power and the SPLC provides three resources in understanding and combating hate crimes. First, the center publishes its award winning
magazine, The Intelligence Project, which monitors hate groups and extremist activities throughout the U.S.
Second, the SPLC also offers training to help law enforcement officials and human rights groups combat organized racism, including an online hate crime training
course for law enforcement professionals.
Third, in 1991, Teaching Tolerance, www.tolerance.org, a component of SPLC began supporting the efforts of K-12 teachers and other educators to promote
respect for differences and an appreciation of diversity.
As part of its mandate, Teaching Tolerance, publishes a semiannual self-titled magazine that profiles educators, schools and programs promoting diversity and equity
in replicable ways. In addition, the program produces and distributes free, high-quality anti-bias multimedia kits.
Finally, although anyone can become a victim of hate crime anywhere or anytime, it is especially important that people use basic common sense in terms of their
own personal safety (i.e. walking/jogging in well lit areas, follow familiar paths home, lock doors, become aware of surroundings, report any suspicious activity.)
tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups.
Knowledge is indeed power and the SPLC provides three resources in understanding and combating hate crimes. First, the center publishes its award winning
magazine, The Intelligence Project, which monitors hate groups and extremist activities throughout the U.S.
Second, the SPLC also offers training to help law enforcement officials and human rights groups combat organized racism, including an online hate crime training
course for law enforcement professionals.
Third, in 1991, Teaching Tolerance, www.tolerance.org, a component of SPLC began supporting the efforts of K-12 teachers and other educators to promote
respect for differences and an appreciation of diversity.
As part of its mandate, Teaching Tolerance, publishes a semiannual self-titled magazine that profiles educators, schools and programs promoting diversity and equity
in replicable ways. In addition, the program produces and distributes free, high-quality anti-bias multimedia kits.
Finally, although anyone can become a victim of hate crime anywhere or anytime, it is especially important that people use basic common sense in terms of their
own personal safety (i.e. walking/jogging in well lit areas, follow familiar paths home, lock doors, become aware of surroundings, report any suspicious activity.)
Copyrighted 2006
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at
http://herndondavis.com
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at
http://herndondavis.com
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