It is a circular process. Blacks were slaves - so they were looked at as second class citizens when they were no longer used as slaves. This history caused them to become poor because white business owners didn't really want to hire them. As they congregated in areas for the poor (i.e., ghetto) they went into a downward never-ending spiral of poverty with no hope of escaping the ghetto. Poverty is what breeds criminals. Think about it, when you have no hope of making it in white society (i.e., college and climbing the corporate ladder) then what's the big deal about dealing drugs or stealing? The prison system reflects poverty.

Until the War on Poverty took off, blacks had a lower crime rate and our crime problem, insofar as it could be ethnically identified, came more from Irish and Italian Americans than any other group. But the War on Poverty made husbands unnecessary. Without fathers in the home, boys very grow older but never grow up. Until the black illegitimacy problem is solved, the black crime problem will never be improved.

Lots of them are in for drug charges which inflates the number. It all stems from an environment and sometimes a culture where criminal activity is rewarded and condoned as a way to make money and rise from poverty.

At the surface we can blame social economic issues in the US. But all immigrants, forcibly or willingly, try to make a better life here. Noted in the early century the Irish and Italians had their moments, but things were done in a big way, not sheer volume. That explains one of the reasons these mass Europeans are not among the high % in jail. The Asians kept crime among themselves. They didnt go into Harlem or Little Italy to rob or kill someone over sneakers. Most immigrants work themselves up either thru business or school and saved up for a house and their family. Most Negroes dislike school and dont try hard enough. They rather have sex, make an accident and party on the weekends in their beautiful car with not a dime in their pocket. No responsibilities at all. When they dont have the dough, the answer is not to work at McD's. That takes too long....lets rob a sucker Indian hard working business owner for $50 and kill him so not to leave a witness. Its violent energy emanates from the genes in the African Jungle. Its in the blood. Like a pit bull whose nature is to kill, you can only change some.

i don't know why someone downrated a perfectly intelligent question..what your saying is true..many african american males from their 20's-40's are in jail..they are caught more..not only that but living in an urban neighborhood full of crime..you will definitely have a lot more blacks put away then you do whites

If you feel like you're treated like a second class citizen or if you are, you will act accordingly. There are a large number of large blacks in poor areas, with poverty/oppresion comes negative outcomes (crime, voilence,murders,rape,drugs). W/ poverty can come depression or an extreme need to survive not to mention the feelign of not being able to survive,people who feel like this will most likely do what it takes to "make it". It also effects your self-esteem, it can cause you to be defensive and on edge all the time. Often, in poor areas they don't have the chance to recive decent education so going to college seems a bit out of reach (and many don't think they could get in anyway)so drugs and crime are easy ways out. Gangs also thrive in areas like this because many people rely on them and supply the very things a community may need/want (guns,drugs,sense of security, paternal figure). The media tends to show Blacks in a negative light more than other races. If you're being fed these negative sterotypes for most of your life, chances are you've worked it in your head that this is how you should act. From personal exprience, blacks/whites/latinos commit crimes at the same rates.

My boy #1 son Obama is different. He worked up from the ranks and tried very hard. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth just like most immigrants who came here with not a dime. Most come here without the knowledge of speaking, reading or writing English. Granted the European Russians look white, but what about the Asians, SE Indians, Mexicans?? They go on welfare initially and get off it asap, not live off it. They do not have a high % in jail, why is that? Do they go into Little Italy or Harlem to rob or kill?? Do you feel the avg NYorker is safer in Koreantown or Spanish Harlem?? Immigrants work hard to bring resources and food to the hood but y'all drive them out by robbing the delivery dude. Its self inflicted with no body to blame. These stores can maybe even provide jobs, but working means you get off welfare. Cant give up that free thing. So you drown your failures in drugs and beer and take from those that work hard to make it like they OWE you. Most Brothers and sisters can English because we have been here over 400 years and we are yet still not stable. If a corporation has been around for 150 years, they are admired by most. But we are not. Why is that? Allah, God, Church or not, the hood is now the jungle. A place for survival where gold teeth and chains today means more than gold coins tmr. Where #1 comes 1st and the need to take out #1 if I am #2. And the cycle goes on. Things have not changed in the last 30 years for Afro-Americans. It is the fault of the parent by having too many children with too many pops. Its like work overload. Quantity over quality. Maybe they play a % game, that 1 out of 5 kids will do well(if they live that long, a neighbor may take their life over sneakers to support the habit). God Bless y'all