# why is it that African Americans never seem to be charged with hate crimes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 26, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002 "2012-04-26T12:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/1 "2012-04-26T12:10:15Z")
Hello everyone, Once again it seems that crimes based on race committed by blacks against whites are being discounted as hate crimes. The most recent here: > **[Newsradio WFLA Orlando - News - Weather - Traffic](https://wflaorlando.iheart.com/)** > > News Radio, Talk Radio, Conservative Talk Radio. In this news story the police in Alabama refuse to classify the beating of a white man by a black group a hate crime, even though during the beating one of the assailants shouted “this is justice for Treyvon” Are we to expect Jesse Jackson and All Sharpton to run to this victim’s bedside with TV cameras in tow demanding justice? Or are those two blind to racism if it is committed by members of their own race? The reason I ask this question is I can’t seem to recall an African American being chartered with a hate crime or if they were it making national news. There seems to be a sick double standard here, if we expect racism to die in this country, then EVERYONE has to be treated equal. Am I the only one noticing this? Oh, just because I ask the question doesn’t make me a racist. If anyone has their fingers itching to start tapping at their keyboard to call me one, save your energy and go get bent. I hate racism as much as the next person, but if we are going to take a stand against it, we have to take a stand against all of it. Not just the feel good PC kind. And let’s try to have a civil and respectful conversation. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/2 "2012-04-26T12:26:32Z")
[You’re wrong](http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/26/teen-charged-with-hate-crime-says-he-was-mad-about-trayvon-martin/). ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/3 "2012-04-26T12:32:46Z")
[You were also wrong in 2010](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IvqWDUXuQU). [And 2008](http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=121355387311981300). ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/4 "2012-04-26T12:34:02Z")
You say “once again” but do you have examples other than this one to imply it’s endemic? Because this case is still in the early stages and we don’t know the full details yet. While one witness claimed to hear the “justice for Treyvon” thing, [another witness](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/333265/20120425/matthew-owens-justice-trayvon-knives-assault-alabama.htm) claims Owens threatened the children with two knives and said a number of racial slurs himself. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/5 "2012-04-26T12:37:47Z")
[Also](http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2010-hate-crime-statistics): [QUOTE=The FBI] Of the 6,008 known offenders, 58.6 percent were white and 18.4 percent were black. For 12.0 percent, the race was unknown, and the remaining known offenders were of other races. [/quote] African Americans make up [12%](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Race_and_ethnicity) of the population of the US. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/6 "2012-04-26T12:43:03Z")
I never claimed that it has never happened, I said I can’t recall any and certainly none that have made national news for days and weeks. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/7 "2012-04-26T12:46:30Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > I never claimed that it has never happened, I said I can’t recall any and certainly none that have made national news for days and weeks. Then what’s the point of this thread? Fact is, African Americans _are_ charged with hate crimes, at a greater rate relative to population demographics than white people. You just haven’t been paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/8 "2012-04-26T12:46:50Z")
And yet when shown that in fact blacks are charged with hate crimes at a higher rate than one would expect based on their population you still stick to your claim? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/9 "2012-04-26T12:50:19Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/10 "2012-04-26T13:09:47Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > I never claimed that it has never happened, I said I can’t recall any and certainly none that have made national news for days and weeks. By now you should recognize that “ma[king] national news” does not map directly to what is really happening in the country. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/11 "2012-04-26T13:29:58Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > I never claimed that it has never happened, I said I can’t recall any and certainly none that have made national news for days and weeks. Your thread title was a bit more declarative than that. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/12 "2012-04-26T17:05:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Your thread title was a bit more declarative than that. Well, he said “seem”. If the OP is relying on such superficial observation methods, it’s true that it can _seem_ that something isn’t happening. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/13 "2012-04-26T17:13:23Z")
“Oops,” says the OP, “It looks like I was wrong. Thanks for dispelling my ignorance!” That’s what the OP in my fantasy world says when so conclusively proven incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/14 "2012-04-26T19:15:07Z")
Just like the OP, I lie awake at night thinking about the gross unfairness of this misconception. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/15 "2012-04-26T19:24:05Z")
I only see cats at night. Why are they all grey? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/16 "2012-04-26T19:47:24Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Then what’s the point of this thread? He was just asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/17 "2012-04-26T23:11:59Z")
It’s not that blacks arent charged with hate crimes, it’s simply that many news stations will not report black on white crime unless there’s a public outcry large enough to force their butts to move on it. For example, the Trayvon case turns up tons of results on CBS and NBC / MSNBC. Google it. However those same news outlets when doing a google search (and searching their sites) for “Matthew Owens” turns up ZERO articles. _(Matthew Owens was the white guy beaten by some blacks the other day and someone shouted “This is for Trayvon” or something similar)_ It does appear the local media outlets do cover these things, but dont look for the big Alphabet news to keep you informed unless it fits their politically correct narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/18 "2012-04-26T23:41:10Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Then what’s the point of this thread? > > Fact is, African Americans _are_ charged with hate crimes, at a greater rate relative to population demographics than white people. You just haven’t been paying attention. Wow, you’ve shown the OP to be precisely, specifically wrong in every way. I don’t suppose we have long to wait for his voice to be raised in defense of the reverse proposition! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/19 "2012-04-27T00:20:27Z")
Heck, we didn’t have to wait long at all for somebody to blame the liberal media. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002/20 "2012-04-27T00:25:42Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Heck, we didn’t have to wait long at all for somebody to blame the liberal media. Didnt take long to do a simple search and report the findings. Btw, Fox News covered them both. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-african-americans-never-seem-to-be-charged-with-hate-crimes/620002.md?page=2)