Huda Ahmad
INT 201
Professor Mokdad
December 13th, 2023
Ethical Reasoning
Thesis Statement:
Persistent racism and racial injustice against Black Americans are ingrained in the society,
systems, and institutions. It leads to continued discrimination, violence, and barriers to
advancement for the Black community. Meaningful progress necessitates committing to long
term policy changes using the ethical model of the Justice Approach.
The history of racism against Black communities in America dates to the early days of
European colonization. The transatlantic slave trade brought millions of Africans to the America
as slaves. They were subjected to inhumane treatment, forced labor, and brutal physical, mental
and emotional abuse. African Americans were deprived of freedom and basic human rights.
Slavery was deeply entrenched in the economic and social fabric of the United States, and it laid
the foundation for centuries of systemic racism against African Americans. Even after the
abolition of slavery following the Civil War, Black Americans faced widespread discrimination
and violence. Racist Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation, denied voting rights, equal
access to jobs, housing, school, transportation and other opportunities. Though the seminal
Civil Rights Act of 1964 aimed to guarantee legal protection from discrimination based on race,
color, religion, sex or nation origin, racism persists in society against many different
communities including Black citizens.
Among many social injustices that African Americans face, one is segregation. The roots
of segregation can be traced back to the post-Civil War era, when Jim Crow laws were enacted
to enforce racial segregation in public facilities and housing. One of the most visible
manifestations of segregation was in the realm of education. Black students were forced to
attend segregated, underdeveloped, underfunded schools which lacked basic resources. In the
article, “From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter”, the author, Aldon Morris, mentioned how racial
segregation set him apart from the rest of humanity and labeled him as an inferior by writing,
“as a child, I drank from “colored” water fountains, went around to the back of the store to buy
ice cream, attended schools segregated by skin color and was handed textbooks ragged from
prior use by white students.” (Morris, 2015) The consequences of segregation are profound are
enduring.
Segregation has resulted in the isolation of Black communities, limiting social interaction
with other racial groups. This contributed to a sense of exclusion and marginalization. Black
families who dared to traverse the boundaries separating White and Black space were
frequently the victims of physical violence, ranging from thrown rocks and beating to
firebombing. (Bailey, 2020). The history of segregation against Black communities in America is a
testament to the enduring legacy of systemic racism. Segregation contributed to a persistent
racial wealth gap, with Black families facing greater economic challenges and limited mobility.
The poverty resulting from intergenerational lack of wealth and equity was then used to
reinforce notions of Black inferiority.
Another social injustice faced by Black communities in America is incarceration and
policing injustice. At every stage, from policing practices to sentencing, Black Americans face
vastly higher rates of incarceration and excessive punishments that perpetuate poverty and
family instability. Black neighborhoods and individuals are also targeted by excessive policing.
Although, African Americans account for a much lower percentage of the population, Black
Americans represent over a quarter of all police shooting victims, which is almost 3 times higher
than white individuals. Yet only a few officers face charges let alone convictions. This
underscores a lack of accountability that enables patterns of excessive force against Black
individuals. Black individuals, especially young kids, are not only victims of racism and police
brutality, but they are also traumatized by the viewing of such racism on social media. Sherri
Williams, in her article, “Stream of Sadness: Young Black Women’s Racial Trauma, Police
Brutality and Social Media” wrote, “Black women and girls are affected by police brutality as
victims of police violence and viewers of police brutality videos and images.” In her journal, she
talked about how people experienced anger, frustration, sadness, and grief after viewing videos
of police brutality. (Williams, 2021)
Harris and Carbado, in their article, “Loot or Find- Fact or Frame,” explore the ways in
which social interaction and perceptions can reinforce racial stereotypes and contribute to the
marginalization of Black communities. The authors examine how the framing of certain actions,
such as looting versus finding, can be influenced by racial biases. Harris and Carbado argue that
Black individuals are often subjected to negative racialized framing, where their actions are
perceived as criminal, or deviant compared to the actions of white individuals. The article
highlights how these racialized frames are perpetuated and reinforced through media
representations and public discourse. Media coverage of protests or civil unrest often focuses
on the actions of Black individuals in a way that reinforces negative stereotypes, perpetuating a
cycle of bias and discrimination. One example of racialized frame is reinforced through media
from the article is, “descriptions of survivors isolated in the New Orleans Superdome arena
awaiting evacuation focused on African Americans in ‘deteriorating and horrific conditions’
despite people of diverse backgrounds sheltering there for aid. Such contrast reveals the subtly
toxic ways media and public discourse perpetuate the marginalization of Black communities.
When social injustices such as police brutality, discriminatory policies, or biased
practices persist without accountability, it destroys individuals trust in public institutions like law
enforcement or government. This further marginalizes Black communities and voices within civil
society. Racial trauma stemming from violence, poverty, oppression links to higher chronic
illnesses and mental health struggles. Social injustices against Black communities like
employment discrimination, unequal education access or discriminatory housing policies result
in large racial income and wealth gaps that compound over time. This cripples the economic
advancement of Black communities.
The ethical framework of “The Justice Approach” can be applied to fighting racial
injustices against Black communities. The Justice Approach advocates for non-discrimination,
equal rights, and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. When applied to the
fight against social injustices and racism against African Americans, by using this ethical model,
we can advocate for legal and policy reforms that address systemic racism, such as criminal
justice reform and anti-discrimination laws. Using this approach, we can advocate for equitable
funding for education, healthcare, and community development in Black communities to
address historical disparities. Justice Approach challenges systemic inequalities, hence,
individuals and organizations can work to dismantle institutional barriers that perpetuate
racism, such as housing discrimination and unequal job opportunities by using approach. The
Justice Approach ethical model provides a framework for addressing social injustices and racism
against Black communities by emphasizing fairness, equity, and the promotion of justice for all
regardless of racial identity. By applying this model, we can work towards creating a more just
society.
Works Cited
Archer, Deborah N. “Transportation Policy and the Underdevelopment of Black Communities.”
Iowa Law Review, vol. 106, no. 5, July 2021, pp. 2125-2152. EBSCOhost,
[Link]/[Link]?
direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=edshol&AN=[Link].ilr106.55&site=eds-
live&scope=site.
Bailey, Yelena. How the Streets Were Made Housing Segregation and Black Life in America. The
University of North Carolina Press, 2020.
Harris, Cheryl I, and Devon W Carbado. Loot or Find: Fact or Frame, 1 Sept. 2005, pp. 620–637.
Morris, Aldon. “From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter.” Lessons in Environmental Justice: From
Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter, 3 Feb. 2021,
[Link]
Williams, Sherri. “Stream of sadness: Young black women’s racial trauma, police brutality and
social media.” Feminist Media Studies, vol. 21, no. 8, 2021, pp. 1270–1284,
[Link]
