Final answer:
The different views of the criminal justice system between black and white Americans are influenced by disparities in treatment, racial profiling, and media portrayal, leading to a system where black individuals face harsher penalties and more involvement with the criminal justice process.
Step-by-step explanation:
One factor contributing to the different views of the criminal justice system between black and white Americans is the perceived and statistically supported disparities in treatment. Angela Davis, among others, highlights these disparities, arguing that the justice system acts within a 'prison-industrial complex' that more heavily penalizes nonwhites. Studies and statistics support the notion that courts dismiss charges against whites at higher rates and impose harsher sentences on nonwhites.
Another consideration is the role of racial profiling in law enforcement, leading to unequal treatment and outcomes for different racial groups. The media's portrayal of African Americans and the perception of them as more prone to criminality can also influence public opinion and policy, further deepening the divide in perspectives on criminal justice. Additionally, the strong reactions of black communities to events such as the January 6 Capitol riots can be rooted in historical experiences of injustice and unequal treatment.
Awareness of these factors is important, as they contribute to a system where one in four black men in their twenties is involved with the criminal justice system, and where even policies aimed at encouraging black enrollment in education or the workplace can be controversial due to historical and ongoing racial inequalities.