Criminology 101

by Abdul Olugbala Shakur

Criminology 101 is more than just a theory, it is a hypothesis manifested by the socio-political/economic realities of our situation as a people from an our historical and New Afrikan perspective. It would provide our (New Afrikan/Black) People with both the theoretical and practical means to effectively combat and resist the U.S. racist empire endeavors to criminalize New Afrikan People and our communities. This effort to criminalize the New Afrikan and our communities presents a very disturbing question: Why has the criminalization of both our people and communities become a top political priority of this white power structure?

In my opinion we as the people have neglected to examine the above question for our response to their efforts does not correspond with the seriousness of this racist campaign. Clearly overstanding our storical relationship with the enemy empire would facilitate our capacity to comprehensively embrace the true intent and expression of this campaign to criminalize every aspect of New Afrikan life!

The white settlers of North Amerikkka had developed a set of racially motivated hypotheses to find moral logic in the justification for slavery. And the system of Amerikkkan Apartheid (Jim Crow), that same sense of logic is even more prevalent in Today society, but before we explore the present, a brief examination of its historical implications is a prerequisite towards the overstanding of its present application(s). First of all, it is important to note that these hypothesis are rooted in the mythology: white supremacy…Prior to the invasion of our motha-land. The language and law was being developed in the U.S. to morally justify what was to come for our ancestors. Our ancestors were first stripped of their human identity and considered uncivilized, reduced to mere property. This was the language that morally (in the mind of white Amerikkka/Europe) justified the enslavement of our ancestors. Then the enactment of law, which had entitled the white man the right to won such property (i.e., human life). This hypothesis was used to justify slavery, our ancestors were viewed as non-humans, and as long as our ancestors were perceived as such, white Amerikkka for the most part were desensitized to our ancestors ill-treatment!

The hypothesis that was employed to guarantee our oppression into the late 18th century and early 19th century was a direct by product of the first white supremacist mythological hypothesis. The only change that had occurred was that we went from being non-human to 3/5 human, but there was a whole new set of laws to validate our 3/5 status…we had no right that the white man was entitled to respect or even acknowledge, and this was a contributing element in facilitating the justification for the implementation of the U.S. system of apartheid! Thought officially the U.S. apartheid system was defeated in the 50/60’s, but we all know this to be pure B.S. we as a people are still victims of institutionalized and systematic discrimination, you can’t name one Amerikkkan institution where we are not discriminated against, from education to employment, on every level of this society. The same social realities which as characterized Jim Crow. The only difference, the signs are down and the laws have been rephrased, disguised to perpetrate a fraud, and if you don’t believe me look at the crack-cocaine law, that’s clearly a Jim Crow Law, but for the most part white Amerikkka has found moral logic in this open injustice against our people!

We have reached the third stage of our oppression, but now the hypothesis have been identified as Bell curve i.e., The criminalization of our people and community. Proponents of Bell curve contend that there exist a gene which predisposes New Afrikan (Black) People to criminal behavior, this contention set the stage for the facilitation of racist, repressive and draconian laws. Laws specifically designed to justify, and further our oppression as a people. The government is presently contemplating funding research under the Bell curve auspices. This government willingness to fund such a program is a clear indication of the U.S. Government complicity in this conspiracy to criminalize our people and community!

Originally appeared in the Fall 1995 issue of the Black Fist anarchist newspaper.

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