edit my paper as shown on the comments

Introduction

Stevenson (2017) argues that the blacks in the USA especially the young men are assumed to be dangerous and guilty. The examples I have chosen to support the author's thesis include the mistreatment of the 204 offenders, conviction of blacks based on their race, lynching and the use of skin color in determining crime committed. The central claim of the author is that the American police and justice given authorities presume that the black young people are guilty. This paper will be explaining the examples chosen to support the thesis statement of the author. Comment by HP: Clear thesis. Comment by HP: The only example that works here is lynching. “204 offenders” is too specific. Stevenson’s general theme for this example is “convict leasing.” “Conviction of blacks based on their race” and “use of skin color in determining crime” are both a repeat of the thesis. You need to focus in on some of the themes Stevenson uses, for example, his personal story, convict leasing, lynching, capital punishment or racial bias in the criminal justice system.

Explanation of the examples

The 204 black offenders were mistreated, as the black-Americans were being treated as slaves. For example, among these offenders, “twenty were dead, nineteen had escaped, and twenty-three had been returned to the penitentiary disabled, ill, and near death (p.2, para. 8). According to Stevenson (2017), the treatment of black prisoners resembled the history of slavery in America. In this context, the author shares a report in which in 1887, black prisoners were leased to a man named McDonald, 204 offenders were given to him. This example shows that black people are victims of racial discrimination in the country as they were mistreated. The issue racial discrimination in this example can be shown by the fact that all the 204 offenders were black people. The offenders were all assumed guilty without even trial showing the racial discrimination that was taking place. The brutal way they are treated is challenged by different channels, but there are only minor effects which reduced the enforcement of such laws. In some cases, the black people are subject to many offenses which cannot exist for white people. Thus, the evidence aptly supports the writer’s claim. Comment by HP: Your topic sentence needs to be about convict leasing. The 204 offenders would be evidence to support the example of convict leasing. Comment by HP: This paragraph needs to be reorganized. Start with an explanation of what convict leasing is and how it connects to your thesis and then give some examples to support the thesis.

The conviction of people was mainly based on the race of an individual where the black Americans were convicted without a trial. For example, the race served as the evidence to consider one as a convict (para. 11). According to Stevenson (2017) race was being used as the tool to convict people where the blacks were seen as criminals even when innocent. Stevenson highlights the disheartening picture of the American society and its criminal justice system. It is not wrong to say that African-Americans are subject to brutal murders and unfair trials. There are many existing examples which indicate this fact. The mass killing of the black people during the start of the 19th century had no substantial reason. This can further be explained by the example of the case in which a woman was raped in North Carolina and naturally, a black man was the first suspect. Comment by HP: See comment above. This is too general.

Lynching was a standard tool to victimize the black people in order to keep them “in line.” For example, the author shares his research in which he finds out that “more than four thousand racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950 in twelve states, eight hundred more than had been previously reported” (p.3, para, 14). We see that racial terror lynching was used as a weapon against the black people, specifically. The hidden purpose is to maintain the white authority and supremacy. These practices raise a question mark to the criminal justice system in the country. These lynchings were viewed as a celebrating event which ensures the white supremacy in the country. Comment by HP: Explain how this connects to Stevenson’s thesis. Comment by HP: How does this support Stevenson’s thesis? You need to make the connections for the reader

The skin color is being used in determining the nature of the crime committed or not committed. For example, in courts, the color of skin is the determiner of crime committed or not committed by people (para, 29). According to Stevenson (2017), the rate of capital punishment increases among the black people due to the discriminatory judicial system. The black community gain more capital punishment as compared to the white people. The author proves his point of view with the help of some factual evidence. For example, the black people comprise 13 percent of the total population; among these, 42 percent are on death row, and 34 percent have been executed since the year 1976. Comment by HP: Here Stevenson’s main point is that the criminal justice system as a whole is unfair to blacks. Use Stevenson’s own language. Comment by HP: Yes, this is good evidence. Include more evidence like it in the other body paragraphs.

Conclusion

The author argues that the black Americans are being assumed to be dangerous and guilty even without a trial. Stevenson, (2017) highlights the reasons and events of discrimination in the country under the framework of the justice system of the country. In the USA, racial discrimination prevails, but its form alters according to changes in society. Therefore, there is the need for reforms to eliminate the racial discrimination especially in the judicial system that has led to the assumptions that blacks are guilty and dangerous.

Reference

Stevenson, B. (2017, 07 17). A Presumption of Guilt. The New York Reviews of Books.

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