老美看美國：種族主義的數學--秘密戰爭

老美看美國： 種族主義的數學—秘密戰爭

文/他爹，翻譯/他娘

（2012年1月17日）

在美國，種族緊張關係和不平等已有超過 200 年的歷史，這是這個偉大國家的一個污點。我們為此進行過內戰，60年代民權運動以後 40 多年的時間裡發生過騷亂和抗議。我們創建了新的法律以反對種族主義，但是種族主依然存在。

對於我們創建的所有新法律以及地方和國家的政客們的華麗談論而言，這個國家正在進行對黑人的秘密戰爭，這些事是不會在公共場合公開討論的，但對於那些參與它的人來說，這仍是一場戰爭，一場利潤豐厚的戰爭。

同樣犯有販毒罪，如果你是一個黑人，你坐牢的可能性就是白人的 10 倍。

關在監獄或從監獄假釋的黑人男性比這個國家奴隸制時期的奴隸還要多。

美國男性監獄人口中40%是黑人男性組成，雖然它們只佔美國總人口 （僅適用於男性) 的 7%。

美國去年在"私人監獄"上的開銷是 740 億美元。沒錯。企業擁有並經營這些監獄。把人關在監獄是可以賺很多錢的— — 因為監獄可以為私人擁有，但賬單卻由美國納稅人支付。

地方、 州和聯邦政府可以使用執法檢獲的錢和財產 （汽車、 房子、 珠寶首飾等）來支付他們自己的預算。像這樣的法律基本上就是給政府動力來奪取你的財產，他們通過將你定罪並把你送到監獄，以確保佔有您的錢和財產。

如果你是一個黑人，被送進監獄，把你關在那裡是符合政府利益的。因為現在你不能投票，你還能為那些公司創造利潤，公司又反過來把錢捐給那些把你關進監獄的人，

在這個國家公司基本上是由白人男性擁有並管理的。有權有勢的白人與政府里有權勢的朋友通過提供資金和合同給那些私人監獄，私人監獄把經營獲利又反過來捐給他們的競選活動，如此循環往複保持著他們權勢。

對毒品的戰爭並不只是針對多毒品的戰爭。這是一場針對美國黑人尤其是黑人男子的戰爭。把他們關在監獄里非常有利可圖。

當一個黑人比一個白人坐牢的機會高10 倍，即使是完全一樣的犯罪，這是不公平的。

如果美國要成為那"山上閃亮的城市"，它就必須照耀全部。如果「在上帝的護佑下，永不分割， 所有人永享自由和正義」意味著什麼，那麼對於我們作為這個國家的人，就必須認識到並警惕那些代表我們的政府在這個社會做錯的事情。對諸如此類的濫權視而不見，不僅創建二等公民，而且分裂這個國家。那句「所有人享有的自由和正義」如果不包括每一個人，則這些漂亮的詞語就沒有任何意義。

解決這個問題很困難。當你把巨額利潤（每年為監獄創收七百四十億美元）與奴隸制及種族主義的歷史和權力機構混合在一起時，而這基本上是一群在政府和企業機構的老牌白人構成的權利機構時，指望讓他們來制定平等和公平的制度，幾乎是不可能的。

歷史告訴我們要改變社會和意見需要時間。在這種環境中，變化似乎很緩慢。不過，我相信我們作為一個民族可以前進和並改正對美國黑人的錯誤。放棄把人關在監獄的利潤。把錢還給納稅人。當我們人民參與其中並問「為什麼」情況會是這樣，改變將會發生。當我們說「為什麼不糾正它"時，改變就會實現。

        「有些人只看問題的表面，只會說「為什麼?」我夢想從未有過的事情，並問「為什麼不？」----羅伯特 · 肯尼迪

(譯者後記：本文數據來自聯邦調查局有關資料，作者為美國白人，能為其他族裔鳴不平，有如此胸懷，值得鼓勵。根據村友提議，就亞裔在美國的地位，他也將做一些研究調查后，寫點自己的感受)

（原文）

THE MATHEMATICS

OF

RACISM

THE SECRET WAR

By Tadie

Racial tensions and inequality has been a stain on this great country for over 200 years. We have fought a civil war over it, we have had riots and protests for 40 years during the civil rights movement of the 1960』s, and we have created new laws to fight the racism that still exists.

However, for all the new laws we create and for the flowery talk of politicians locally and nationally – there is a secret war going on against blacks in this country that remains hidden from public discussion, but it is a war and a very profitable war for those involved.

If you are a black man you are 10 times more likely to go to prison than a white man convicted of the same exact drug crime.

There are more black men in prison or on parole from prison than there ever was as slaves during the slavery period of this country.

40% of the United States male prison population is made up of black men – but they only represent 7% of the total U.S. population ( males only ).

The United States spent $74 billion last year on 「private prisons」. That』s right, prisons that are owned and operated by corporations. There』s big money in keeping people in jail – because the prison may be privately owned but the bill is paid by the American tax payer.

Local, state, and federal  governments can use money and property ( cars, houses, jewelry, etc ) seized by law enforcement to pay for their own budgets. Basically, laws like this give the government the 「incentive」 to take your property and make sure they keep your money and property by convicting you and sending you to jail.

If you』re a black man and sent to jail it』s very much in the governments interest to keep you there because now you can』t vote, and you generate profits for the corporations who in turn donate money to the very people who put you in jail.

Corporations in this country are essentially owned by white men and managed by white men, Powerful white men with powerful friends in government who stay powerful with the money that is donated to their campaigns from the profits generated by the private prisons where the money and contracts are given out by the powerful in government.

The war on drugs is not so much a war on drugs as it is a war on black America and black men specifically. It』s very profitable to keep them in jail.

There is no fairness when a black man is 10 times more likely to go to prison than a white man even if the crimes are exactly the same.

If America is to be that 「shining city on a hill」 it must shine for all.  If 「one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all」 is to mean anything then we as people of this country must be aware and vigilant of the wrongs done in society by those who represent us – the government. To turn a blind eye to abuses such as this not only creates second class citizens and divides this country but those wonderful words 「with liberty and justice or all」 mean nothing  at all if they do not really include everyone.

It』s a difficult problem to solve. When you mix huge profits ( $74 billion each year for prisons ) and a history of slavery and racism and a power structure that is basically a bunch of old white men in government and corporate structure that is basically a bunch of old white men as well – making the system equal and fair is not impossible, but it almost is.

History teaches us that societies and opinions take time to change. In this environment it seems to be a slow change. However, I am confident that we as a people can move forward and correct this wrong against black men in America, take the profit out of keeping them in jail, and give the tax payers their money back. It will move forward as we the people    get involved and ask the question of 「why」 are things this way – but will be completed when we say 「why not correct it」.

        「 Some men see things as they are, and say 「why」? I dream of things that never were

           And say why not?」   -     Robert F. Kennedy

data sources:

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/64

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