Guiding Questions

• Is justice truly equal under the law?

• Does law enforcement treat all races the same?

• What happens when those who enforce the law are themselves biased?

“Protect and Serve” — But Whom?

Police officers swear to protect the public. But in many societies, not all members of the public are treated equally.

In the United States, both history and data suggest that communities of color — especially Black, Indigenous, and Latino populations — are more likely to:

• Be stopped or searched by law enforcement

• Be arrested at higher rates

• Experience disproportionate use of force, including fatal encounters

• Receive longer sentences for the same offenses

These disparities raise serious questions: Is policing truly neutral? Or does it reflect deeper systemic injustice?

A Glimpse into the Data

Research spanning decades has consistently found that:

• Racial minorities are more likely to be stopped in traffic, even without higher rates of actual infractions

• Black and Latino individuals are searched more often, despite having lower rates of contraband found

• Black Americans are overrepresented in fatal police encounters relative to their share of the population

These patterns persist even when laws are written in race-neutral language — suggesting that the way justice is applied is often unequal.

What Philosophers Say

• John Rawls – Justice as fairness means protecting the least advantaged. If entire communities face worse outcomes under the law, the system is not just.

• Angela Davis – Argues that modern policing and incarceration reflect a long history of racial control, not merely public safety.

• Michel Foucault – Sees modern justice systems as methods of surveillance and social discipline, reinforcing existing power and racial hierarchies.

Two Views in Contrast

Institutional View

Law enforcement is a necessary institution that can be improved. While some officers act improperly, the system as a whole is capable of reform.

Critical View

The system itself is deeply rooted in historical injustice and structural bias. True justice may require rethinking the very role of policing.

This lesson encourages you to explore both views — and discover where you stand.

 Historical Background

• U.S. policing in the South began, in part, with slave patrols meant to capture escaped enslaved people.

• In urban centers, early policing also targeted immigrants and the working poor.

• Throughout the 20th century, civil rights leaders protested discriminatory enforcement.

• Today, disparities in arrests and incarceration are still evident across racial and economic lines.

Real-World Reflections

Here are just a few testimonies from everyday people:

• “I get followed every time I walk into a store — not because I did anything wrong, but because of how I look.”

• “As a child, I was taught to keep my hands visible around police — just to stay alive.”

• “Our neighborhood has police on every corner, but when we need help, no one shows up.”

These are more than anecdotes. They reveal how unequal treatment shapes public trust in justice.

Reflect and Discuss

• Have you witnessed or experienced unequal treatment by authorities?

• Can a justice system that reflects a biased society ever be truly fair?

• What would a colorblind — or color-conscious — justice system look like?

Suggested Readings

For deeper exploration:

• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• Reports from U.S. civil rights commissions and independent reviews

(Teachers may excerpt or summarize these texts depending on age level and curriculum needs.)

Next Lesson Preview

 Lesson 2: Gender and the Double Standard

Why are women punished for defending themselves — and what does justice look like in a gendered world?

Justice cannot be colorblind until society is.

Our job is to see clearly, ask fearlessly, and imagine boldly.