The Big Picture

This editorial introduction to Issue 14(3) of Race and Justice addresses the critical themes of policing, protest, and racial injustice in contemporary society. It underscores the urgency of the contributing authors’ work in providing empirical analyses and insights into racially disparate police violence, the criminalization of dissent, and the systemic inequalities entrenched within the criminal justice system.
What We Did

The issue compiles rigorous research articles and notes that explore various facets of racial injustice, including the legacy of historical racial violence, gendered experiences of policing, the school-to-prison pipeline, the impact of protest on public opinion, and the erosion of legal legitimacy due to procedural injustices. The scholarship utilizes diverse methodologies, including statistical analyses, intersectional approaches, and critical discourse analysis, to examine the intersection of race, policing, and protest.

1

Association Between Historical Lynchings and Contemporary Police Shootings:

Research highlights a connection between the legacy of historical lynchings and modern patterns of police shootings, particularly affecting Black communities.

2

Disproportionate Invasive Policing of Black Women

Black women are subject to disproportionately invasive policing practices, which reflect broader systemic biases within law enforcement.

3

Racial Disparities in School Disciplinary Practices

Stark racial disparities exist in school disciplinary measures, with Black students facing harsher punishments compared to their peers, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline.

4

Impact of Procedural Injustice on Perceptions of the Law

Procedural injustice, characterized by unfair legal processes, negatively impacts public perceptions of the legal system, particularly among marginalized groups.

5

Systemic Racism in Lethal Police Shootings

Evidence points to systemic racism as a significant factor in lethal police shootings, disproportionately affecting Black individuals.

6

Patriarchal and Victim-Blaming Narratives in Media Coverage

Media coverage of incidents like Breonna Taylor’s killing often employs patriarchal and victim-blaming narratives, which can skew public perception and hinder justice.

This research is crucial in highlighting the pervasive role of racism as a fundamental organizing principle within the criminal legal system and other social institutions. By centering on the lived experiences of communities of color, the issue aims to provide empirical evidence that can inform policy debates, activist strategies, and public discourse, ultimately working towards a more equitable criminal justice system.

The issue calls for leveraging the tools of social science in service of racial equity and justice. It advocates for evidence-based solutions, the transformative potential of collective action, and a commitment to diverse and intersectional scholarship. The research aims not only to diagnose social problems but also to envision and enact solutions that promote racial justice and equity.

About the Study

This editorial introduces a collection of articles and research notes in Issue 14(3) of Race and Justice. The contributing authors employ a variety of disciplinary and methodological perspectives to examine the intersections of race, policing, and protest. Their work contributes to the growing body of scholarship aimed at addressing racial disparities and advancing justice through empirical and theoretical research. The full APA citation is: Henderson, H. (2024). Issue 14(3) Introduction. Race and Justice, 14(3), 263-264. https://doi.org/10.1177/21533687241253345