African Americans and Crime After Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Katherine Scardino 

I wish I had time to research all the statistics that would answer this: Has the situation of the average African-American family improved since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., told the nation about his dream? I would venture that the answer is a resounding “no."

Let me speak from my own experience since I started practicing law in 1984 -- some 25 or so years from the launch of the Civil Rights movement. That should have been enough time for black Americans to digest the teachings of Dr. King -- and for white Americans to make an honest attempt at understanding the plight of our citizens who are not “WASPS.”

When I entered the legal field, it was in an area with one of the nation's highest crime rates, representing indigent defendants -- adults and juveniles. I can state without a doubt that there was a much higher percentage of African-American defendants than any other ethnic group. The majority of the cases did not involve the commission of a violent crime. Most of the crimes, at least from my experience, involved theft, burglary and drugs. I believe that is still the case today. 

I am still waiting for someone to ask -- and answer -- the core questions: Why? Why can't we fix this problem? Exactly what causes this problem? I think most of us know and accept that poverty is a root cause of crime in all aspects of life and with all ethnic groups. And we also know that the great majority of African Americans experience poverty at some period during their lifetimes. Poverty is defined by the federal government as a family of four with an annual income of about $16,000 or less. Dire poverty is defined by the government as a family with income one-half that of the poverty level. 

I am not, repeat not, saying that just because a citizen of our country is experiencing poverty means that we can expect that person to turn to crime as a means to exist. I grew up in dire poverty for most of my childhood, and never once did I ever think about committing a crime to feed myself. But, then, I lived in an era where front doors were never locked; neighbors helped each other, and families consisted of a working father (even if that meant a father who went to the fields to farm every day), a mother who stayed at home and took care of the children, and the children were respectful and helpful. All children went to school, regardless of their economic status in the community.

And, in my humble opinion, therein lies the problem that even the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. could not resolve. Education is the key to winning over poverty. Somehow, over the last fifty years, we have forgotten that children belong in school during school hours and on school days. Children do not get to choose whether they go to school or not. Children do not get to say no to school. That is not their choice. But that assumes there are parents around. We have lost the family structure that held it all together -- and our society has suffered. One of the repercussions of this lack of structure, the loss of the family, the ability of parents to set rules and demand obedience from children is what we now call our “high crime rate”.

I read articles written by intelligent people who portend to have answers to solve our societal problems. But I have yet to hear one person in some form of authority to state that education is the key to the solution, and here is what we are going to do about it in our community. Yes, we have schools. Of course we have schools, but look at them. We have teachers who are barely paid above minimum wage (perhaps this is a slight exaggeration), and who are not able to discipline our children. That means the children rule, and not the teachers. So, now we have the parents, or lack thereof, in the home who are not “ruling” -- establishing and teaching their children ethics and morals, and then add to that situation the teachers who have to put up with unruly, disrespectful students in the classroom who are well aware that no one can really discipline them. I have come in contact with various schoolteachers over the last 26 years, and yes, some of that contact has been as teachers as defendants, but invariably, the teachers complain that they cannot discipline. Is there anyone who really, really believes that you can impress an unruly, rude child with a speech? Further, the teachers now even admit to “teaching to the TAKS test”. That means they do not have any other curriculum other than to get these kids passing this test. And, now in Texas, we see headlines in newspapers discussing whether teachers should be fired because their students are not passing this blasted test. Somewhere we have lost our sight of the long term goal with children and education.

Martin Luther King, Jr. knew that education was a key.He knew that one of the reasons he rose to his stature was because he had the education to communicate with other educated people in authority. He did not resort to crime. He was too busy as a young person going to school so he could make a real change.

Other than the lack of education, young teens today have to deal with the lure of drugs.One of my young black defendants told me that he committed a crime because he wanted to buy a gold chain just like his buddies had. I asked him how his buddies were able to buy their gold chain. My young client told me that they sold dope on the street corner after school. So, that’s what he did, too. This is the same story, over and over. The cycle of poverty, crime and drugs must end. 

So, as we honor one of our most revered Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us all not forget that he is the best role model for all children. Dr. King went to school.He did not commit crimes.He did not use drugs. He gained the respect of America. Thank you, Dr. King. We will try and make you proud. But, we truly need help. We wish you were still here.