PERCEPTION

Why Racism Still Impacts Who’s Seen as a Law-Abiding Citizen

Perception is a powerful precondition of our treatment of others

Black male model posing in a tree | Photo by Sherman Trotz via Pexels

What does a law-abiding citizen look like? This may sound like a loaded question, but it’s one most Americans consider. It’s a topic of debate at neighborhood watch meetings whether a Black teenager wearing a hoodie is enough to spark suspicion. In busy cities, there are signs that read “see something, say something,” encouraging onlookers to report any suspicious packages or characters. It sounds great, in theory, to encourage citizens to develop an awareness of their surroundings and to speak out if anything seems amiss. However, in America and many other nations, racism taints assessments regarding public safety. Often, Black people are stereotyped as dangerous for no other reason than their skin color. This not only creates a hostile environment but also poses a threat to public safety.

The murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young Black man in the winter of 2020, is a prime example of racist presumptions gone awry. This tragedy began when he jogged through Satilla Shores, a neighborhood in the state of Georgia. That’s when three White men, Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and a neighbor, William Bryan, noticed him. To them, he looked suspicious, as if he…