The media stereotypes young black men as violent offenders. Some people believe that most crimes are committed by blacks. This is not true. Crime has no color. According to Banks, whites account for 75% of drug convictions and blacks 13%. The public simply views a young black male as a "street thug". The media uses the excuse of whites committing crimes due to life factors in their past such as trauma, abuse, and psychological factors. I remember watching the news and a young white male shot and killed his mother. Reports stated that he experienced severe depression as a child witnessing domestic violence between his parents resulting in hatred for his mother, whom was still his primary caretaker. The results of his case lead to a lesser sentence based on previous diagnosis of depression. Blacks are portrayed as the main dealers and users of drugs, when in reality, in some areas whites are indeed superior in the drug trade. This leads to the controversy of crack cocaine vs. powder cocaine. In the eyes of many, an ideal criminal is a young black male standing outside waiting for the bus but he is really selling drugs on the street corner. The public thinks if you dress a certain way, baggy jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers that you are a criminal. Forget the fact that some African Americans have broke the chains of statistics and have a degree and a promising career. Crime does not discriminate. When you enter a correctional facility, you witness a melting pot of all different races.

                                                                          Reference
Banks, C. (2013). Unethical Situations. Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice (3d ed.) (pp.173). Location: Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.