As years pass, and time goes on, a pattern begins to form. The unfair treatment of African American citizens has become a normal occurrence in society. They are the first immediate suspects when a crime takes place; they are the ones whose voices are silenced. Their problems and their struggles are viewed as nothing but a trend to be posted in a Twitter bio, mocked by those who will never know what it’s like to have their heart rate skyrocket the second those flashing blue lights appear behind them. They won’t know what it’s like to have thoughts flood your mind as you wonder if this car ride will be your last. Recalling the last time you told your family you loved them. You think about every bad thing you’ve ever done and why you got pulled over in the first place. But never forget to put your hands on the dash and comply.

The sad truth is, even after complying, and following every direction given by the man with the badge, things might not always go well. Tell him you have a gun, he’ll draw his in response. Reach for something without saying your action out loud, he’ll draw his gun. Unarmed black men are shot dead, while white terrorists can storm the capital and walk free. Black boys can’t even play with guns, but a white child can shoot up a school and get escorted out peacefully? From a young age black children are told to comply and be respectful to the man with the badge. “Put your hands on the dash as they approach the car. Speak calmly and respectfully, and make sure your hands are in view at all times.” Is this something to be proud of? Having children live their lives in fear of the ones who are supposed to protect them?

African Americans take up 14.2% of the American population, yet are the ones most present in our prisons. False allegations, improbable belief, poor schooling, and poor housing locations have a clear impact as to why these numbers are so high. Poor housing location impacts the amount of opportunities for young black children. Poor schooling doesn’t show children the difference between right and wrong. It doesn’t educate them, and teaches them nothing but ignorance. For years, black men have been viewed as dangerous, and to have commited the larger number of crimes. They are the ones society looks at when a robbery occurs, they are the targets of the law, and this has been proven time and time again. Recent events, such as the Elijah McClain trial have proven this. Being in the right place at the wrong time can cost you your life as an African American in America.

Black women also are affected by the harsh stereotypes of society. They are viewed as “ratchet” or “ghetto” by just being themselves. They’re normally the girls that are referred to as “fast” and “rude”. Stereotypes like these ruin people’s lives. They cause people to change who they are, just so they don’t fit into the horrible stereotype assigned to them by years of racism. Beads, braids, bonnets, and durags are banned in certain school districts because they are viewed as a “distraction”. This is just another way to oppress black culture in modern times. Because it’s become so normalized, nobody ever bats an eye.

We need to change and better our society for the sake of the African American population. Black history and its contributions to society are completely brushed over. The racism, prejudice, and injustice they face is something that can be changed by reorganizing the justice system, rewriting the outdated history books, and educating the general public about the accomplishments they have made. If we were to do this, we would be one step closer to bringing peace and ensuring the safety and future of the African American community.