Understanding the Current Socio-political Issues in America
Police Killings of Unarmed Black Americans May Affect Health of Black Infants
Introduction
Most of the current political and social issues in America have a long history. As a result, a high number of upcoming historians have shown interest in researching and understanding the historical setting of these socio-political issues. Besides, Americans accredit all these issues to the building and recording of their country’s history.
Moreover, it is through the analysis of the same issues that citizens receive the relevant information on the various historical problems by relating them to the modern-day events. In this essay, we focus attention on an article that discusses the police killings on unarmed black Americans and the impacts on the unborn black infants.
Discussion
Some of the few unarmed African Americans who have been killed by police officers in the recent past include Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice. These happenings have resulted in sufferings among the affected families and long-term effects on the community at large. According to new studies, such events are closely associated with adverse health results among the unborn black infants. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Statistics show that police officers kill about 1200 people in the United States annually and among these are minorities. Sadly, black Americans are murdered almost three times the rate of whites. There has been a lot of controversy due to the deadly forces used by the police on the blacks. According to a Harvard University sociologist, Joscha Legewie, birth records in California revealed that black infants born in events of police killings were most likely to be born at a premature condition[1]. Besides, a large number of these babies had lower birth weight.
However, the sociologist could not find a similar relationship between Hispanic infants or white or black infants who were exposed to these killings of American Africans or other races. Additionally, the maternal stress that is related to these killings is viewed as discriminatory or unfair may contribute to health impacts. Based on his findings, Legewie concludes that only the murder of unarmed black individuals was significantly associated with the health of black infants.
Although the exact procedure is not yet known, he proposes that maternal stress from the killings may trigger cells in the placenta and fetal membranes to produce the corticotropin-releasing hormone, which is known to cause premature birth and low birth weight. According to research, low birth weight and preterm birth tend to affect the cognitive development negatively among babies. It associates them with reduced test scores, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.
When one member of a community is killed, especially out of racial discrimination, the impacts on the community as a whole can be devastating due to the collective anger, fear and grief. According to Florencia Torche, A Stanford University sociologist, police violence causes huge effects on black populations. The results may extend to the most innocent community members and most specifically the unborn infants[2]. Violence attacks on a community with over 50% population of children and infants are highly questionable.
In his Senate speech, Robert Byrd states that contemplating violence and war is thinking about the most horrible human experiences[3]. Violence based on racial discrimination can be a very destabilizing and unwise act that leads to future uncertainties, especially in a world where globalism is vital. Racial discrimination is based on misinformation, lack of trust and suspicion by the whites on the black Americans. A great nation like America should take a challenge of trusting all its citizens by treating them fairly.
According to the National Security Strategy of the United States, freedom is not negotiable, and it is a demand for human dignity[4]. In every civilization, every person has the right to be treated fairly without being threatened by military war or violence. The United States should, therefore, avoid using its strength and power to mistreat the weak black Americans. Besides, the country fails to seek the creation of balance and fairness on black Americans by allowing the police to take violence actions on the group.
From the textbook, we learn that humanity holds the opportunity to extend freedoms success over all acts of war and violence[5]. Therefore, America must preserve peace by establishing healthy relationships among all citizens. Globalization suggests that all civilized nations should encourage a free and open society and where citizens are allowed to lead safe lives. Therefore, all black Americans should live in a country that is safe and which enables them to develop their lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, police violence on black Americans has received a lot of media attention in the recent past. There is a thin line between police killings and black infant health, an issue that should not be taken as definitive. Thus, to engage in violence against black Americans should be the last option and not the first choice. It is imperative for the American police to value black persons life and think about the possible consequences before deciding on any form of violence against them.
[1] Legewie, J. (2019). Police violence and the health of black infants. Science advances, 5(12), 78-94.
[2] Torche, F., & Villarreal, A. (2014). Prenatal exposure to violence and birth weight in Mexico: Selectivity, exposure, and behavioural responses. American sociological review, 79(5), 966-992.
[3]. Byrd, R. C. (2003). We stand passively mute—speech delivered on the floor of the Senate, February, 12.
[4] House, W. (2002). National security strategy of the United States. President of the United States, Washington DC.
[5]. Foner, E. (2016). Give Me Liberty! An American History: One Volume. WW Norton & Company.