The Death Penalty and Race
            
             The death penalty has existed throughout the course of our nation's history and
            
             has always been a part of our judicial system. Over time the criminal justice system has
            
             taken advantage of the death penalty by applying it differently to individual based on
            
             their race.
            
             Evidence shows us that from 1930 to 1995 there were 4,172 prisoners executed
            
             and more than fifty percent of them were African Americans. "When the victim is white
            
             and the offender is African American, the death penalty will be given about 35 percent of
            
             the time, compared to only 14 percent when the relationship is reversed. The death
            
             penalty will be given in 22 percent of the cases when whites kill whites and in only 6
            
             percent of the cases when African Americans kill African Americans."
            
             One reason for this is that society still has racist views towards blacks. Many of
            
             the judges that are on the bench today are predominately white upper class males.
            
             Another reason this may occur is that many blacks that are up for the death penalty come
            
             from poor lower class backgrounds and are not represented with proper defense. The
            
             state only allocates so many dollars that a court appointed attorney can use on a case.
            
             This is only a few reasons why this occurs, but there are many others.
            
             I feel that the criminal justice system and society needs to change their views and
            
             treat each individual fair and equal. If we fail to make a change then the cycle will
            
             just continue itself.
            
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