Final answer:
Racism has been shown to affect legal sentencing, with historical and contemporary examples illustrating racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The term 'prison-industrial complex' reflects these systemic biases, where nonwhites often face harsher penalties and convictions. This is exemplified in the differential treatment of crack versus powder cocaine and other documented cases of legal injustice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of Racism on Legal Sentencing
The influence of racism on legal sentencing is quite profound, demonstrating the intersectionality between the criminal justice system and societal biases. A stark example is the historical sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine, which disproportionately affected African American communities due to biased assumptions about the users of each substance. The anecdotal examples cited illustrate how racism can exacerbate legal outcomes, including the case of a black woman who was put in a headlock after calling 911, and the treatment of Angelo Herndon and other black Communists in the early 20th century. Angela Davis, a scholar and activist, posits that the term prison-industrial complex better describes America's current justice system, given the endemic racial disparities. Studies support that nonwhite individuals often face harsher penalties and increased likelihood of conviction compared to their white counterparts.
Moreover, the anecdote involving an individual who was beaten, yet accused of assault and unable to afford bail, underscores how economic disadvantages often intertwine with racial prejudice, leading to injustices in the judicial system. These instances provide evidence of institutional racism, where individuals of color may not receive the same legal protections and considerations as white individuals, impacting everything from traffic stop procedures to severe criminal penalties.