Institutional Inequity and Ferguson

Abstract 

Racism is a social vice which impedes the harmonious coexistence of individuals in a community. This implies that when there are cases of racism in the community, there is an aspect of friction which is created between the two parties and it may lead to tragic cases. In this case, the essay evaluates how the dysfunctional system can be a healthy recipe for cases of anxiety among the members of a race which has been deemed inferior. Also, the essay evaluates the case of Ferguson society and how structural racism has played a unique part in inflicting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety among other disorders in the lives of the Black African Americans in the country. Besides, the essay makes use of the report by the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (2015), specifically on the investigation touching of the Ferguson police department. 

Institutional Inequity and Ferguson 

Introduction 

The community of Ferguson comprises of people belonging to diverse ethnic backgrounds. The white race happens to be the dominant ethnic group which means that they are likely to be favored in the society in comparison to their African American counterparts that are in the community. Based on the report by the US Department of justice on Ferguson police department (FPD), 93% of arrests made, 90% of citations and 85% of vehicle stops happen to individuals of African American descent ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2015) . The dominant race is committing the acts of discrimination, and the government institutions such as the police play a significant role in creating indifferences that are present in Ferguson society. The harsh living conditions that a majority of marginalized groups that are present in the Ferguson community have a high susceptibility rate of suffering dire consequences of victimization and discrimination activities that apply to marginalized groups in the society. In this case, the alternative hypothesis is that; the people of the Ferguson community more likely to experience generational Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/anxiety/trauma around white people as a whole. This means that they are raised in a society where even just the sight of a white person causes anxiety. 

Negative stereotyping of African American can create an unfounded sense of superiority and entitlement among the dominant white race and on the other hand, create a sense of internalized hopelessness among the blacks in the community. The report affirms that the municipal courts happen to practice disproportionate harm on individuals who descend from the black community ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2015) . Priorities offered by institutions and government officials in the community can play a significant role in creating a sense of inequality among individuals the black community can develop trauma when they come into contact with their white counterparts and begin to analyze priorities offered to white individuals in the community. The black population can create a sense of worthlessness as they can always expect their rights to be violated by the government and people belonging to the white race. The thought of inadequacy can lead to most black individuals to suffer from depression as they are likely not come to terms with inequality practices that are present in the Fergusson Community. 

Psychological distancing might occur in the community as most African Americans can be unwilling to interact with their white counterparts in society. For instance, the report affirms that African Americans are judged with whatever they do even their mode of walking. The statement can be evidenced by the fact that 95% of the African Americans are confronted by police due to their manner of walking ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2015). In evaluating the current state of the Fergusson community, it is quite evident that multiple indifferences are present in which relates to revenue-generating activities (Lawrence, 2004). The revenue-generating activities might be a good idea by the state government of Fergusson to create a sense of sustainability in society. The revenue-generating criteria that can be applied by officials, it is quite evident that it might end up causing distress among a larger population of African Americans in the community. Psychological distancing can happen when African Americans always believe that individuals from the white race enjoy more privileges ion the community. Psychological distancing can lead to most African Americans developing trauma whenever they come into contact with the white race due to perceptions that they hold regarding their white counterpart that are present in Fergusson society. 

The people of Ferguson are likely to be traumatized by duties and actions that the Municipal Court plays in the community. The Municipal Court is a highly critical institution in the society of the Ferguson Community. The primary reason is that the Municipal Court has the role of dealing with issues relating to the legislature that guides citizens of Ferguson Community. However, in analyzing the current events that occur in Ferguson Community, it is quite clear that there is a significant indifference that is happening in the community that negatively affects people belonging to marginalized groups in the society. The rulings that are being offered by the Municipal Court will play a significant role in creating negative perception towards the African Americans and functions that the court performs in currently ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2015) . In recent years, most African Americans who have undergone the system of the municipal court have ended up being victims of practices of the court. The enormous amounts of the fine that are being rendered by the Municipal court will be crucial in creating trauma incidences whenever they come face to face with rulings of the Municipal Court. The actions will create a high level of inequality which will lead to most African Americans suffering from stress due to the result that they receive from the Municipal Court. African Americans in the Ferguson community are more likely to be traumatized in the sight of their white counterparts as they will have a perception that individuals belonging to the white race are superior thus, always having fear whenever they are around individuals belonging to the race in public places. 

The high number of warrants of arrests offered by the municipal court can be negatively affecting a larger population of marginalized groups that are present in the Fergusson Community. The large warrants of arrest associated with minor violations which are being committed in the community of Ferguson. However, in evaluating the cases relating to minor violations that are occurring in the city, it is quite clear that a large population of African Americans is being affected by the warrants of arrest that are being issued by the Municipal Court. African Americans in the community of Ferguson will have a negative perception towards the Municipal Court as they will feel that is targeted by the court which they will believe is advocating the rights of the dominant race in the community. The hefty fines that seem to be affordable to the white race and on the other hand is unaffordable to African Americans will play a critical role in enabling a majority of African Americans to develop stress-related issues (Hardeman, Medina & Kozhimannil, 2016). Most African American issues will end up suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder once they are left in financial distress after paying for the hefty fines that have been applied by the Municipal Court about the minor violations that court offers a ruling. 

The Law enforcement approach that is present in the Fergusson Community can play a significant role in creating trauma among African Americans towards officials of the law. The article points out that there is lack of distrust between the two races and this can be supported through the consideration of Michael Brown’s shooting which has worked to enhance the rift ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2015). In evaluating the current state of Fergusson Community, it is quite evident that African Americans are more likely to be arrested compared to their white counterparts on the community. The approach of Law enforcement manages to indicate that there is a high susceptibility rate of intentional discrimination by various law enforcement officers (Atallah et al., 2018). The African Americans are quite aware of the discrimination and victimization actions that are likely to be committed to them by officer due to the color of their skin. In this case, more African Americans are likely to become traumatized whenever they come into contact with police officers even if they are law abiding citizens. African Americans will be more aware that in case they come into contact with officers of the law, they are more likely to be searched unlawful, their vehicles stopped for random check-ups, and a high susceptibility rate of citations in comparison to individuals belonging to the white race (Atallah et al., 2018). The abrupt vehicle checks, citations, and illegal searches are more likely to cause an average African American who considers himself to be a law-abiding citizen. In most cases, these African Americans are likely to become traumatized in events when they come into contact with officers who happen to belong to the white race. African Americans who are likely to be detained unlawfully might end up developing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder due to the actions police officers might commit to African Americans. 

Individuals belonging to the black race can develop strategies that can perform a core function in eliminating the impacts associated with race discriminations based on color in the community. In this case, the community might develop a suitable strategy that can lead to racial equality in the community (Lawrence, 2004). The system can integrate multiple programs which can have the objective of education programs individuals in the community might be essential in eliminating negative perceptions that the black community might develop in regards to their white counterparts. The primary recommendation is that the law enforcement should recognize the harm they have caused towards the group and scheme ways of correcting the ills ( US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2015). Officials developing an equitable system that takes into account the opinions of all individuals will prove to be essential as also the administrative institutions can be able to integrate people belonging to different races in the community. Individuals from the black community can end up suffering to posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma when they come into sight with individuals belonging to the white race when they hold a negative perception regarding white people. However, African Americans can avoid these psychological issues if they interact with their white counterparts and get to understand each other better which can lead to individuals coexisting in the community. 

All in all, the people of the Ferguson community are more likely experience generational PTSD, anxiety, and trauma around white people as a community, which means that black people raised in a community where even just the sight of a white individual might cause anxiety. Psychological distancing and negative stereotyping can cause most black individuals to develop psychological issues when they come into contact with white people in the community. However, the development of strategies in the Ferguson Community can perform a core function in eliminating the impacts associated with race discriminations based on color in the community. 

References 

Atallah, D. G., Contreras Painemal, C., Albornoz, L., Salgado, F., & PilquilLizama, E. (2018). Engaging critical community resilience praxis: A qualitative study with Mapuche communities in Chile facing structural racism and disasters.  Journal of Community Psychology ,  46 (5), 575-597. 

Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. (2016). Structural racism and supporting black lives—the role of health professionals.  New England Journal of Medicine ,  375 (22), 2113-2115. 

Lawrence, K. (2004).  Structural racism and community building . Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change. 

US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2015). Investigation of the Ferguson police department.  US Department of Justice . Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/04/ferguson_police_department_report.pdf