How to respond to "White People are Killed by Police More Often Than Black People"
By Joshua Boyd
"White people are killed by police more often than black people."
This continues to come up in discussions about police brutality. And you know what...
It's actually true.
But don't stop there. Let's look at some facts:
In 2017, 457 white people were shot to death by police, while 223 black people were shot to death by police. This means twice as many white people died. But don't stop there, there's more to know.
Whites make up over 70% of the US population. Blacks make up around 13%.
Data has found 1-in-1,000 black males will be killed by police in their lifetime, compared to 39-in-100,000 white males (which is .39-in-1000).
That means blacks are 2.5 times more likely to be shot by a police officer. Considering point 1 and 2, per capita, blacks are more at risk and are killed more frequently.
For some, the takeaway here is that whites are killed more often. That black people should shut up because whites are victims too. For me, the main takeaway is that I need to be twice as cautious as a white man. And trust me, I am. I have the utmost respect for anyone in any uniform taking an oath to protect the people of America. As a mental health professional, I've seen the toll that can come with putting on a uniform. Most cops I've come into contact with have been good and respectful. But you better believe if I get pulled over I make sure my hands are always visible, I pull out every possible piece of paperwork ahead of time so I'm not reaching for anything, and I make sure my pocket knife is not in reach or visible. At least once a month I check to make sure all of my documents are in order before I drive. Some white friends have told me they do this too, but the reason has never been out of fear for their life.
The second takeaway for me is to remember that this is a problem with a dual issue. We do have racism, but also an abuse of power in the excessive force that cops can all too often "justify" with any race. We need to talk about both problems.
Please, memorize these numbers so you can challenge the ignorance some people spout when talking about what is happening with police brutality, racism, and protesting.
Sources:
Statistics on being shot by police: https://www.statista.com/statistics/585152/people-shot-to-death-by-us-police-by-race/
Study on the death rates: https://www.pnas.org/content/116/34/16793
Here's an easier to read article: https://bit.ly/3cnlyQx
