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Joshua Provine Dr. Bazzell English 1213-061 12 March 2013 Races I !ac" on #"hle"es #ccuse$ o% a &ri e Pro%essional a"hle"es have an incre$i'le a oun" o% in%luence over "he (ou"h o% "o$a(. )hese su!ers"ars serve as role o$els an$ ho* "he( con$uc" "he selves have conse+uences

'e(on$ ,us" "heir inner circle. -hen one o% "hese high !ro%ile a"hle"es encoun"ers a cri inal !ro'le . "he *a( "he a"hle"e is !or"ra(e$ an$ "he resul"s o% "he cri inal !rocee$ings can have a $evas"a"ing i !ac" on "hese vulnera'le (oung !eo!le. # crucial "o # ericas inori"( a"hle"es role is es!eciall(

inori"( (ou"h. I 'eca e in"eres"e$ in "his "o!ic *hile $oing research %or os" %re+uen" +ues"ions as0e$ a'ou" inori"( a"hle"es in

( essa( in English 1213. /ne o% "he

"rou'le is *ha" i !ac" $i$ race have on "he cri inal cases involving "hese !ro%essional a"hle"es. )he in%luence o% race in # erican socie"( is no" a ne* issue. 'u" *i"h "he e1haus"ive coverage o% %a ous I %oun$ "ha" "he inori"( a"hle"es. i" is e$ia

ore a" "he %ore%ron" %or $iscussion an$ $e'a"e "o$a(. s!or"s ,ournalis"s an$

a,ori"( o% "he research on "his "o!ic ca e %ro

sociologis"s. I also learne$ "ha"

os" o% "he ar"icles ha$ 'een *ri""en in "he las" "*en"( (ears. an$

"he a oun" o% in%or a"ion on "his "o!ic *as li i"e$. I "hin0 i" is i !or"an" "o have an in-$e!"h un$ers"an$ing o% ho* !ro%essional a"hle"es race i !ac"s "heir "rea" en" i% "he( are accuse$ o% a cri e. B( co 'ining "he in$ivi$ual "heories on races in%luence on "he cri inal cases o% !ro%essional a"hle"es. I *ill arrive a" "he holis"ic i !ac" "a0ing in"o accoun" "he "hese high !ro%ile cases an$ "he a"hle"es res!onsi'ili"( "o ac" a!!ro!ria"el(. e$ias role in

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I s"ar"e$

( research '( loo0ing a" ho* race i !ac"e$ "he cri inal !rocee$ings o% "*o

%a ous a"hle"es. /. J. 2i !son an$ Michael 3ic0. )he +ues"ion "ha" *as consis"en"l( 'eing as0e$ in 'o"h cases *as $i$ race !la( a %ac"or in "heir si"ua"ions. I *en" "o "he /0laho a 2"a"e 4i'rar( *e'si"e an$ searche$ EB2&/ %or in%or a"ion on "he /.J. 2i !son cri inal "rial. )he %irs" source I revie*e$ on "he /. J. 2i !son case $is!elle$ "he "heor( "ha" 2i !sons cri inal an$ civil cases ha$ *i$es!rea$ racial an$ socie"al i !lica"ions. )he $ivi$e 'e"*een #%rican# ericans an$ *hi"es over "he !ros!ec" o% la* en%orce en"s ac"ions alrea$( e1is"e$ *a( 'e%ore "hese "rials. an$ "he resul"s 'rough" "he $i%%erences "o ligh" 5&ose 366. #no"her au"hor re!u"e$ *as "ha" a ("h "ha" "he

a,or racial $ivision *as a" !la( *hen "he !re$o ina"el( &aucasian a$e u! o% os"l( inori"ies vo"e$ %or 2i !son. 'u" 7i"

,ur( vo"e$ agains" 2i !son an$ "he ,ur(

*oul$ 'e ri$iculousl( naive "o sa( "ha" race *as no" a %ac"or in ei"her "rial8 5&ose 366. In su 'egan ar(. race $i$n" con"rol "he ou"co e o% "he 2i !son cases. 'u" *as a con"ri'u"ing %ac"or. I ( research on "he 3ic0 case '( searching on his na e in Pro9ues". an$ I %oun$ Dais(

-hi"ne(s ar"icle on ho* E2P: covere$ "he "o!ic o% race in "his cele'ra"e$ case. EP2:s 3ice Presi$en". E$ Durso. su e$ u! "heir !osi"ion on race '( sa(ing. 7)ha" $oesn" ean race *as

an issue in Mr. 3ic0s si"ua"ion or "he coverage o% i"; i" si !l(

eans "ha" "o cover Mr. 3ic0

%airl(. "he ne"*or0 ha$ "o con$uc" a $ialogue on race8 5-hi"ne( 266. M( research $i$ no" %in$ an( evi$ence "ha" race *as a %ac"or in 3ic0s si"ua"ion. 2ince "his ini"ial research $i$n" e !ha"icall( sho* "ha" Mr. 2i !sons an$ Mr. 3ic0s race ha$ !la(e$ a signi%ican" role in "he ou"co e o% "heir cases. I $eci$e$ "o loo0 in"o !eo!les his"orical vie* on race an$ ho* i" coul$ i !ac" "hese high !ro%ile cases. I searche$ on "he na es o% several high-!ro%ile !ro%essional a"hle"es "ha" ha$ 'een in "rou'le. #%"er revie*ing an( ar"icles. I %oun$ so e co !elling research regar$ing e or(s

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i !ac" on "he !u'lics reac"ion "o "hese a"hle"es. I learne$ "ha" a !ersons his"orical 0no*le$ge an$ vie*s on race can have a signi%ican" in%luence on ho* "he( reac" "o a inori"( a"hle"es

curren" s"a"e. In his ar"icle 7#na"o ( o% a 2!ec"acle< Race. =en$er. an$ Me or( in "he >o'e Br(an" Ra!e &ase.8 Mar0ovi"z con"en$s "ha" !eo!les his"orical re%erence an$ collec"ive in%luences "heir vie* o% curren" si"ua"ions. )he au"hor sugges"s "ha" a !erson *ill %or an e or(

o!inion a'ou" a si"ua"ion such as Br(an"s guil" or innocence in his allege$ ra!e case 'ase$ on "heir his"orical un$ers"an$ing o% racial in,us"ice. 2o eone "ha" is *ell verse$ an$ i !assione$ '( our na"ions !as" racial !ro'le s *ill %or a $i%%eren" o!inion in a !resen" $a( case "han e or(. all

so eone *ho $oesn" have "ha" e1!osure. ?e e1!lores ho* a !ersons collec"ive

!as" e1!eriences. in%luences "he !ersons o!inion on curren" even"s. )he au"hor also 'elieves "ha" en"i"ies such as "he e$ia *ill !la( on "his his"orical 0no*le$ge %or "heir o*n 'ene%i". ?e use$ asculine s"ereo"(!e. an$ ho* "ha" can co e in"o !la( in cases e "o loo0 %ur"her in"o "he e$ias !ar" in "hese

"he e1a !le o% a 'lac0 a"hle"es

involving violence. )his in%or a"ion le$ cri inal $ra as.

M( search in EB2&/ loo0e$ %or research on "he a"hle"es *i"h a cri inal !ro'le . I $iscovere$ "ha" "he

e$ias role in covering

inori"(

e$ia has an enor ous in%luence on e$ia coverage $oesn" !resen" "he

!eo!les !erce!"ion o% "he si"ua"ion an$ "he a"hle"e. I% "he a"hle"es cri inal accusa"ions in a %air an$ res!onsi'le

anner. "he !u'lics o!inion on "he e$ia coverage can 'e

a"hle"es guil" can easil( 'e s*a(e$. In a$$i"ion. "he a oun" o% over*hel ing in "hese high !ro%ile cases *i"h

os" !eo!le %or ing an o!inion +uic0l(. )he /.J.

2i !son cri inal "rial in 1@@A s"ar"e$ "his "ren$ an$ 7 os" !eo!le alrea$( reache$ "heir o*n conclusions a'ou" "he case8 'e%ore "he "rial argu en"s ha$ conclu$e$ 52"one 2-#6. In "he co !rehensive ar"icle 7&harac"eriza"ions o% &ri inal #"hle"es< # 2(s"e ic E1a ina"ion o%

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2!or"s :e*s De!ic"ions o% Race an$ &ri e8 '( Mas"ro. Blecha. an$ 2ea"e. *e %in$ ou" ho* "he e$ia !or"ra(s inori"ies. )he au"hors clai "ha" #%rican # ericans are !or"ra(e$ in "er s o%

s"reng"h an$ na"ural a'ili"ies. *hile whi"e a"hle"es are $escri'e$ 'ase$ on *or0 e"hic an$ $iscern en". -hen a a,or #%rican # erican or 4a"ino a"hle"e ge"s in "rou'le *i"h "he la*. "he ore "han a *hi"e a"hle"e in a si ilar si"ua"ion. In e$ia coverage

e$ia *ill e1a ine an$ chas"ise "he a"hle"e

"his ar"icle. "he au"hors use %ra ing an$ social i$en"i"( "heor( "o $e"er ine i% varies 'ase$ on "he a"hle"es race. )he resul"s !rove "ha" "he "he a"hle"es race *i"h 'lac0 a"hle"es 'eing !or"ra(e$

e$ias re!or"ing $i%%ere$ 'ase$ on

ore as cri inals "han *hi"e an$ o"her

inori"( a"hle"es. )he au"hors o% "his essa( $e ons"ra"e$ a co !rehensive un$ers"an$ing o% "his co !le1 "o!ic resul"ing in a highl( value$ !iece o% research. )hese %in$ing le$ %ur"her in"o "he ne*s organiza"ions !ers!ec"ive. )he research sho*s "ha" "he e$ia can have a a,or i !ac" on "he e 'a""le$ inori"( e "o loo0

a"hle"e an$ "here%ore. i" is i !or"an" "ha" "han *hi"e a"hle"es. I re%erre$ 'ac0 "o

inori"( a"hle"es shoul$ no" 'e !or"ra(e$ $i%%eren"l( ( !revious ar"icle !ro%iling E2P:. &overage o%

!ro%essional a"hle"ics has gro*n su's"an"iall( in "he las" "*en"( (ears *i"h E2P: lea$ing "he *a( in 'roa$cas" coverage. In Dais( -hi"ne(s ar"icle 7E2P: Praise$ %or Pla(ing Bair.8 "he au"hor re!or"s ho* "he ne"*or0 is a$$ressing "he issue o% race an$ $iversi"( so "ha" i"s in%luence on "he !u'lic is %air an$ 'alance$. E !lo(ees are receiving $iversi"( "raining. an$ co !an( "a0e !lace "o a0e sure "ha" "he( are giving high !ro%ile ee"ings

inori"( s!or"s %igures "he sa e

coverage as a *hi"e s!or"s %igures o% "he sa e s"a"ure. )he %irs" s"e! *as "o recognize "ha" "he !u'lic is as0ing "he +ues"ion - #re high !ro%ile inori"( a"hle"es "rea"e$ %airl( '( "he e$iaC

)ha" has le$ "he ne"*or0 "o con$uc" a $ialogue on "he "o!ic lea$ing "o a sho* *i"h e1!er" !anelis"s $iscussing "his sa e +ues"ion in "he Michael 3ic0 case. )he ne"*or0 no* al*a(s as0s

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7ho* issues o% race are "rea"e$8 '( "heir s!or" ,ournalis" *hen "he( are on "he air 5-hi"ne( 266. )he e$ia has a res!onsi'ili"( "o $is!el "he his"orical s"ereo"(!es o% inori"( a"hle"es *hen

covering "heir cri inal !ro'le s an$ !resen" "he un'iase$ %ac"s in each case. *hile "he a"hle"e nee$s "o ac" res!onsi'l( *hen %ace$ *i"h "hese $ile his"oricall( "he as. In su ar(. "he %ac"s sho* "ha" a,or

e$ia has !ro%ile$ a "rou'le$ a"hle"e $i%%eren"l( 'ase$ on race. 'u"

ne"*or0s. li0e E2P:. are no* "a0ing ac"ions "o change "he 'ehavior. Binall(. !ro%essional ( research in EB2&/ an$ Pro9ues" !ro$uce$ ul"i!le ar"icles on ho* o$els %or "o$a(s (ou"h. )hese

inori"( a"hle"es nee$e$ "o ac" res!onsi'l( as role inori"( a"hle"es "o

ar"icles e1!lore$ ho* crucial i" is %or

o$el high +uali"( 'ehaviors %or inori"(

inori"( (oung !eo!le *ho are surroun$e$ '( nega"ive in%luences. )hese %a ous

a"hle"es are in a uni+ue !osi"ion "o in%luence change. 7s"ar 'lac0 a"hle"es have no choice a'ou" 'eing role o$els. )he onl( choice is *ha" 0in$ o% role o$els "he( choose "o 'e8 5Par0er 11a6.

?all o% Ba e %oo"'all !la(er Ja es Bro*n s"a"e$ ho* *i$e s!rea$ "he resul"s coul$ 'e i% inori"( a"hle"es "oo0 u! "his cause. )he i !ac" *oul$ 'e huge i% os" in%luen"ial 'lac0 a"hle"es

*oul$ 'ring "oge"her "heir !eers "o solve "he co !le1 inner ci"( issues 5Deager AA6. Being a role o$el eans "ha" "hese su!ers"ars us" "a0e res!onsi'ili"( %or "heir ac"ions. a0es a is"a0e. i" is cri"ical "ha" "he( res!on$ in a

-hen a %a ous !ro%essional a"hle"e !osi"ive

anner an$ "a0e res!onsi'ili"( %or "heir ac"ions. B( "a0ing res!onsi'ili"(. "he a"hle"e is "he iss"e! in "he %u"ure. Michael 3ic0 !rovi$e$ a soli$ e1a !le o%

in a !osi"ion "o recover %ro ho* a

inori"( a"hle"e shoul$ res!on$ "o con"rovers(. 3ic0 con%ir e$ "ha" he shoul$ no" have

engage$ in $og %igh"ing or 'een !ar"nere$ *i"h !eo!le in "he 'usiness "a0ing co !le"e res!onsi'ili"( %or "he 'ehavior o% ever(one involve$ 5=oo$ell 16. Michael 3ic0 %el" "he conse+uences o% his 'a$ ac"ions 'u" has 'een a'le "o recover an$ no* s!ea0s "o # erican (ou"h

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a'ou" ho* "o avoi$ "rou'le. B( con"ras". >o'e Br(an" $i$ no" even a$ i" "o 0no*ing "he *o an "ha" accuse$ hi o% ra!e a" "he 'eginning o% his cri inal con%lic". In 2"ar Par0ers ar"icle 7>o'e ain"ains "ha" "he inori"( co uni"( nee$s

alrea$( guil"( o% hur"ing 'lac0 (ou"h.8 "he au"hor

"o se" asi$e "he issue o% race an$ hol$ "hese 'lac0 a"hle"es accoun"a'le %or "heir ac"ions. )hese %a ous a"hle"es have "he a'ili"( "o in%luence illions o% !eo!le an$ "ha" resul" can ei"her 'e ver( inori"( a"hle"es

!osi"ive or ver( nega"ive $e!en$ing on "heir a!!roach. >o'e Br(an" an$ o"her have 'een given

uch *eal"h. an$ shoul$ use i" res!onsi'l( %or "he 'e""er en" o% socie"(. -hen

inori"( a"hle"es run in"o "rou'le. i" is no" onl( i !or"an" "o "a0e res!onsi'ili"( 'u" "o un$ers"an$ ho* "o naviga"e "he legal s(s"e . )he ar"icle 74a* 101< Du 'ing $o*n "he Blac0 &o uni"(8

'( #l"on ?. Ma$$o1. Jr. loo0s a" several cases involving 'lac0 a"hle"es an$ cele'ri"ies. an$ con"en$s "ha" "he !ro inen" 'lac0 ci"izens $on" un$ers"an$ "he la* an$ can easil( 'e $eceive$. )he ar"icle raises in"riguing +ues"ions 'u" %ails "o $ra* an( conclusions or a$$ress *h( "hese highl( !ai$ a"hle"es $on" have s"rong legal council "o !ro"ec" "he 'lun$ers. I" is clear "ha" %ro "hese !erceive$ legal

inori"( !ro%essional a"hle"es have a grea" $eal o% in%luence on "o$a(s

(ou"h an$ *hen one o% "hese a"hle"es ge" in"o cri inal "rou'le. "heir res!onse is cri"ical in se""ing an e1a !le %or "he inori"( co uni"(. us" overco e racial s"ereo"(!es an$ occasional. ( !ro!ose$ "hesis 'ase$ uch i !ac" "he a"hle"es

Minori"( a"hle"es charge$ *i"h cri es 'iase$ on

e$ia coverage "o %ace "heir accusa"ions res!onsi'l(. )his is

( research. )he co !elling +ues"ion "ha" s"ill re ains is ho*

race has on "he ou"co e o% "heir cri inal si"ua"ion. #no"her +ues"ion "ha" *arran"s %ur"her research is ho* non-'lac0 inori"( a"hle"es accuse$ o% a cri e are i !ac"e$ '( race since uch

o% "he research onl( %ocuses on #%rican-# erican !ro%essional a"hle"es. M( %u"ure research *ill also %ocus on "he inori"( a"hle"es a'ili"ies "o recover %ro "heir "ransgressions.

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-or0 &i"e$ &ose. Ellis. E=e""ing !as" "he ("hs.E Newsweek 1F Be'. 1@@F< P36. /nline.

7=oo$ell 'ans 3ic0.8 Telegraph Herald 2A #ugus" 200F< 2ec. B. P1. Prin". ?enr(. :eil. 7)he Barr( Bon$s Pro'e an$ "he 2ha$o* o% Race.8 The Black Scholar 2006< 3ol. 3A. PGA-G6. Ma$$o1. Jr.. #l"on ?. 7Du 'ing Do*n "he Blac0 &o uni"(.8 New York Amsterdam News

11 Dece 'er 200H< 3ol. @@. Issue 11. P12-13. Mar0ovi"z. Jona"han. 7#na"o ( o% a 2!ec"acle< Race. =en$er. an$ Me or( in "he >o'e Br(an" Ra!e &ase.8 Sociology of Sport Journal 2006< 3ol. 23. P3@6-G1H. Mas"ro. Dana E.. Erin Blecha. #ni"a #"*ell 2ea"e. 7&harac"eriza"ions o% &ri inal #"hle"es< # 2(s"e ic E1a ina"ion o% 2!or"s :e*s De!ic"ions o% Race an$ &ri e.8 Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic edia 2011< 3ol. AA. PA26-AG2.

Par0er. 2"ar. 7>o'e alrea$( guil"( o% hur"ing 'lac0 (ou"h.8 !SA Today. F #ugus" 2003< P11a. 2"one. 2herr(. 7Bo*ser sa(s 2i !son Di$n" Receive a Bair )rial.8 The "hiladelphia Tri#une

26 2e!"e 'er 1@@A< P2-#. Prin" -hi"ne(. Dais(. 7E2P: Praise$ %or Pla(ing Bair.8 Tele$ision %eek 1F 2e!"e 'er 200F< 3ol. 26. Issue 3A. P26. Daegar. Don. 7Prisoner o% &onscience.8 Sports &llustrated 1A #!ril 2002< 3ol @6. Issue 16. PAG-AF.

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