The Reflector

Issue Number:28

Date: 02/17/1934

p. 01-02, c. 02-02

At the close of 1933, the police records of ten large southern cities showed that the percentage of crime among Negroes was proportionately higher than among the other various nationalities classified as the white race. Certain observers among our race and some ultra liberal writers of the white race, more interested in fuss than in facts, regarded the recors as "prejudicial ballyhoo" and pointed out that, after all, the figures had been compiled, in most cases, by white authorities, not overanxious to do justice to the Negro race. Yet the average reader of newspapers will recall how often he has seen holdups, housebreaking, assault and murder charged to a Negro offender, and will not find it hard to believe the police records released by ten of our largest southern cities.

It is a surprising revelation that ninety percent of the crime, allotted to the Negro, is committed within his own circle, which gives ground for the theory that he is not a born criminal. In fact, leading psychologists agree that his general disposition is any but vicious. Thus, we conclude that there is some other reason for this high per cent of crime other than inborn characteristics.

A study of the decisions handed down in many cases, in these southern cities, with this alarming percentage of crime, throws much light on the subject. For example; a Negro who killed his wife in one case was given two years and pardoned after six months because some of the "citizens" of the town knew him to be a good honest man". A Negro rapist who injured a thirteen year old member of his race, was excused and admonished, by the presiding judge of the court to "never do that again", despite the fact that the state penalty for such an offense was life imprisonment or death. A Negro "Jesse James," was fined twenty dollars and costs, although he was drunk, disorderly and had shot several men and women in a dance hall.

As long as such decisions are handed down in our police courts, we may well expect an ever increasing percentage of crime among Negroes. It has been the stumbling block in our path to progress, has lowered the respect of the public and weakened the morale of the race. Crime among negroes must be checked but this cannot be done until our court officials realize the folly of burlesqueing grave offenses and conclude that strict punitive measures are the only remedies for crime, regardless of the color of the offender.