Final Paper

For My final paper I have chosen an article which is dated in the year 2000, entitled “Black and Blue” which was published in Time Magazine. In 1999, Amadou Diallo, a West-African immigrant, who was trying to start his own business, a young law-abiding man, was shot under suspicion of carrying a weapon. The police officers who killed him were four white males. They had stood trial, and they were acquitted on all charges brought against them. The terms “Black and Blue” are purposefully selected and juxtaposed as a title, since black refers to the race of the victim, and blue is meant to refer to the police force who traditionally wear blue uniforms.  Hence, blue, has also become a race in it’s own sense, since the policing culture is often hyped up on racial profiling. The article is released following the shocking acquittal, and gives readers something to think about, when it comes to whether or not our law judges everyone equally. What is concluded from the article after reading through it, that it is not, and that the law often strives to protect the interests of those representing it, and therefore it’s own. We would all like to think that the justice system by which we abide the law is fair, however it may come as a disillusionment that it is not, and the points brought up in “Black and Blue” are a perfect example of this. The verdict given to the officers who shot Diallo was seen by many as inadequate punishment for their actions. The controversies surrounding the outcome of the trial, and the ingredient of racial profiling is the main reason why I chose this article for my final paper, and I would recommend it as a further reading in connection to the theme of the class.