Sociology in the News : “We are Part of the Problem” by Jesse Wegman Essay

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Discussion

In the article, the author discusses the statements made by members of the judicial branch regarding racial inequality and injustice. Although it is common for judges not to express their personal opinion on social issues because of the principle of impartiality, they have made an exception at this time. The Chiefs Justice of the States’ Supreme Courts state that the judicial system is part of the problem and has “historically been located on, or at least very near, the tip of systemic racism’s spear” (Wegman par. 8). The author notes that such statements from judges throughout the United States are a sign of commitment to change the situation.

The role of the judiciary

In an open letter to the legal community, the Supreme Court Justices recognized the role of the judiciary in devaluing black lives. They referred to the Supreme Court’s unfair decision to justify the refusal of the cemetery to bury black parents’ children. The author also discusses mechanisms for justifying systemic racism, including in the criminal justice sector. One of these is the “qualified immunity, which makes it almost impossible to hold law-enforcement officers and their supervisors accountable” (Wegman par. 14). The author notes that many other legal instruments are also used unfairly towards people of color, including jury selection, prosecution, and parole. The article indicates that initiatives such as the abolition of qualified immunity should be taken by the Supreme Court, although Chief Justice John Roberts, in the author’s opinion, does not take racial discrimination seriously enough. The article concludes with the fact that George Floyd himself dreamed of becoming a Supreme Court Judge in his childhood.

This article relates to what we are learning in class as it reflects existing social processes and the evolution of public opinion on such a complex issue as the law enforcement authorities’ racism. The author emphasizes that such statements by superior judges are incredibly significant since they acknowledge the problem and their burden to address it (Wegman par. 10). Thus, the judiciary is responding appropriately to the protests and outrages taking place throughout the country. It may be concluded that this article covers the subjects of relationships between the government and the people, social and ethnic contradictions, and the freedom of speech.

Work Cited

Wegman, Jesse. “We are Part of the Problem.” The New York Times, 2020, Web.

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"Sociology in the News : “We are Part of the Problem” by Jesse Wegman." IvyPanda, 20 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/sociology-in-the-news-we-are-part-of-the-problem-by-jesse-wegman/.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Sociology in the News : “We are Part of the Problem” by Jesse Wegman." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sociology-in-the-news-we-are-part-of-the-problem-by-jesse-wegman/.

1. IvyPanda. "Sociology in the News : “We are Part of the Problem” by Jesse Wegman." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sociology-in-the-news-we-are-part-of-the-problem-by-jesse-wegman/.


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IvyPanda. "Sociology in the News : “We are Part of the Problem” by Jesse Wegman." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sociology-in-the-news-we-are-part-of-the-problem-by-jesse-wegman/.

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