In a recent piece, I discussed the motivations of those advocating for the defunding of police. While some individuals seek to completely abolish policing, a larger faction aims to reallocate a significant portion of police funding towards social services that promote equitable opportunities, thereby reducing the likelihood of criminal behavior. I also touched on America’s troubling tendency to criminalize issues that should not be classified as crimes, including mental health challenges, substance abuse, and homelessness.
However, we must confront the undeniable reality: policing is fundamentally rooted in racism. The institution of policing has evolved through a legacy of racial bias, and it continues to be an embodiment of systemic racism. For many white individuals, it can be challenging to fully grasp the extent of this issue. Racism is not merely an individual flaw; it permeates our systems. Unfortunately, education often fails to cover the harsh truths of racism, particularly the violent and oppressive history of law enforcement. Many believe that by simply removing a few “bad apples” from the force, the systemic issues will vanish.
Before proceeding, I want to clarify: I am a white woman on a path of discovery, much like many other white readers. I do not claim to be an authority. I write to fellow white individuals because it is often easier for us to resonate with each other’s experiences, especially when they reflect our personal awakenings. It can be comforting to realize that you are not alone in your journey of understanding. However, my intention is not to educate but to encourage you to seek knowledge from the voices of Black authors and activists who articulate their experiences with remarkable eloquence and truth. More importantly, it is vital to act upon that knowledge.
The War on Drugs: A Case Study
A stark illustration of how policing perpetuates racism—and vice versa—can be found in the “War on Drugs.” Initiated during the Nixon administration in 1971, this policy was not about protecting the youth from addiction; it was strategically designed to disenfranchise Black voters. John Ehrlichman, Nixon’s domestic policy advisor, candidly revealed in a 1994 interview with journalist Dan Baum that the campaign aimed to associate antiwar activists with marijuana and Black individuals with heroin. The intention was clear: criminalize these groups to undermine their political power.
Anyone who attended college during the height of this era can attest to the prevalence of drugs on campuses. While I attended Florida State University from 1997 to 2001, drugs were easily accessible, and the overwhelming majority of users were white, enjoying their illegal activities without fear of severe repercussions. The government’s focus on policing Black communities rather than addressing drug use in predominantly white spaces highlights the systemic inequities at play.
By 2009, some states began to roll back the harsh sentencing laws enacted during the War on Drugs. However, by that time, countless Black individuals had already been branded with felony records, significantly hindering their ability to vote. Today, nearly 6 million Americans are disenfranchised, with Black individuals disproportionately affected—approximately one in 13 Black Americans has lost their voting rights due to a prior conviction.
This is not mere coincidence. Elections are often decided by razor-thin margins. In the 2016 election, while Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a substantial 2.9 million, she lost the electoral college by only 80,000 votes across three pivotal states. The War on Drugs imposed stringent penalties on drug use and unleashed police forces on Black communities, intentionally keeping them away from the polls.
Confronting Systemic Racism
This modern example serves as just the beginning. Racism is embedded in the very fabric of American society. Schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods suffer from underfunding due to the historical effects of redlining, making it more challenging for Black families to accumulate wealth, secure employment, and access quality healthcare. Unsurprisingly, the resultant inequities often lead to criminal behavior, perpetuating a cycle where systemic racism fuels discriminatory policing, reinforcing stereotypes that label Black individuals as criminals.
Until we confront racism across all sectors of American life, policing will remain tainted by bias. The goal of defunding police is to dismantle these racist structures and reshape law enforcement into an institution that genuinely serves and protects all citizens, rather than one that has historically been used to oppress Black Americans.
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In summary, understanding the push to defund police is merely the starting point in addressing the systemic racism entrenched in American policing and society. We must actively work towards dismantling these inequities to create a just system for all.