Marginalization of The African American Male

It is a fact that we have been marginalized as African American men in the American society. This is not, self pity nor is it an attempt to evoke pity. I am merely stating what I believe to be true. African American men in general have done and continue to engage in self destructive activities. (ie. selling drugs, black on black crime) This is done in response to environmental factors that dictate the daily life of many African American men. However, most African American men have not hurt anyone, have never committed any felonies against persons, or necessarily done anything that I consider criminal. Until they have contact with the criminal justice system, typically for minor offenses, everything changes. Stigmatization, labeling, and the stereotypes, occur all at once and the African American male is no longer a young man but is now a "Criminal." The term criminal and the records containing criminal offenses are forever attached to the individual and internalized. With that in mind, I have encountered numerous barriers due to a domestic dispute and DUI on my “criminal record.” As a matter of fact, I have been denied numerous jobs that I was otherwise qualified to do because of my infractions. The government has chosen to blindly prosecute any African American male to the fullest extent of the law to inhibit his ability to be successful in this life. My misdemeanor convictions have barred me from entry into the workplace in many situations, certain professions, and therefore the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. I recently read a book by Michelle Alexander called The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindess. This book opened my eyes to the race-related and political phenomena going on in the post civil rights era in America. The current levels of mass incarceration are entirely unsustainable but have worthy targets. Young African American men make great candidates to be targeted, profiled, charged, and then warehoused in prison. Once the label of ‘criminal’ or ‘felon’ is attached, African American males are forever trapped as second class citizens. The US criminal justice system uses this stigma in the continuation of traditional and new forms of discrimination. Primarily African American men and to a lesser extent Latino men are marginalized by legal discrimination measures in employment, education, and voting rights. We all know that every single company, business, and organization- private or public will ask for a criminal background check. Not necessarily stating that this is a bad thing. However, whenever a certain segment of the population, in this instance, African American men are 50 times more likely to have involvement with the criminal justice system than their Caucasian counterparts, it is a travesty. Without the ability to earn a living wage people will find an alternative. In doing so they will only perpetuate their involvement in the criminal justice system and the process will continue.  I am a living example, of how a somewhat intelligent, African American male can be stigmatized and marginalized because of his youthful inability to conform to the standards set forth by the majority population.  I want to do so much to be an asset to my community. I’m sure that the only way to garner human rights and gain equality is through the practice of  law.