Race/Ethnicity Crime Reporting

THINKING ABOUT RACE & RACISM

“race, n. Group of persons or animals or plants connected by common descent, posterity; house family, tribe or nation regarded as of common stock; distinct ethnical stock.” (The Concise Oxford Dictionary)

1. The first step in thinking about race and racism is that race exists. There is the Negroid, the Caucasian, the Mongoloid. The dictionary does not indicate that it is an imaginary concept like, say, a unicorn.

2. The second step comes from a post by “Doubtful” (May 9, 7:50PM) citing a report, “Violence and Public Safety in the Halifax Regional Minicipality” (2008) in which it was stated that, in spite of the fact that Blacks account for only a small percentage of the population (13,200 out of a total population of 373,000) they were “very over represented in the justice system.” (22% of all young offenders were Black; 26% of all repeat offenders were Black; 40% of Black youth were in custody at one time or another.) The question is whether or not there is a causal connection between #1 & #2.

3. For the “realist” the case is clear. #2 follows from #1. Blacks are naturally predisposed to violent crime. It can be the only explanation for the over-representation of Blacks in the justice system. But the difficulty with the realist case is accounting for the “naturally,” i.e., demonstrating a biological or psychological trait naturally possessed by Blacks which is not naturally possessed by Whites. What is this trait? What does it look like? Further, to say that the incidence of Black crime illustrates possession of the trait is to argue in a circle since the trait, if it exists, must have been present before the commission of a crime. The “realist” has no answer for this difficulty.

4. In contrast, the “constructivist” claims that the incidence of Black violent crime is a product of poverty and racism, i.e., of his social and economic environment. No figures were given for the numbers of Whites living in comparable poverty but the absolute number must be greater and so the per capita incidence of violent crime must be lower. So the main cause must be “racism” in Halifax but if this is the case, how to explain the number of Black youth who do not commit violent crime yet who are presumably subject to the same “racism?” (In addition, the “realist” would say that the “constructivist’s” account implies social determinism, i.e., the absence of free will which renders the entire question moot.) The “constructivist has no answer for this difficulty.

So there we are. What, if anything, is to be done? Suggestions will be gratefully accepted.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!

P.S. Note the change in my pseudonym. Forgot my password and had a change in my e-mail address after getting high-speed which eliminated all possibility of correction.

: Paingirl

Oh dear, so beautiful pictures of the whippets stepping smartly through the snow. Their coats are similar, but not identical, to those of Wynnie, Lily and Harlow which are green plaid trimmed with red piping. And, of course, you will always be “Madame” to me.

I kept my geographic and gender identity so as not to cause confusion and disappointment among the readers. I hope I succeeded.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!

LISTENING TO MUSIC (II)

: Donk (May 12, 8:33AM) – A little elaboration on “Radio (pronounced RHAdio” but swallow the first syllable to make a nice gutteral rumble) Classique de Monrtéal.” First, a lady with a very refined Parisian accent – there is nothing sexier Donk, that a lady with a very refined Parisian accent – comes on with the station’s name and call numbers: “Ici Radio Classique de Montréal, quatre-vingt quinze virgule cinq FM (99.5FM). Then an older guy with a bit of a whisky voice follows: “La belle musique. La plus belle musique au monde. La musique pour changer votre vie.” One is already in the mood, and then the music starts. As I mentioned, Bach’s violin concertos are my favourite followed by Mozart. I find Beethoven a bit too florrid and over-orchestrated for my tastes but, of course, I realize that the fault lies with my tastes and not Beethoven.

My style in the ’80’s followed a simple rule: conservative cut but expensive material. No flash pour Monsieur. Nor any crack (my God!) and “high street,” whatever that might mean (but it doesn’t sound good).

I will, of course, be delighted to answer all of your questions – well, nearly all – for your forthcoming book on Monsieur de Montréal. I can think of no more worthy project. Bon chance!

: zZz (10:40AM) – Yes, zZz, I make it a practice to shower regularly. I suggest that you try to maintain minimal standards of hygiene as well.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!

CHOPIN

Yes, if only the piano were my favorite instrument there would be no hestiation. Chopin is, of course, heard regularly on Radio Clasique de Montréal. His éudes are marvellous. One still wonders about his relations with Georges Sand, his (bisexual?) amensuesis on Ibiza.

However, the clarity and precision of Bach’s violin concertos still prevail, at least for me. Mozart is more melodic perhaps, and attains Bach’s purity on occasion, but Bach’s clarity and precision still trump all else. The resonance of purity, clarity, and precision I guess, is all part of my philosophical background.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!