MSNBC legal analyst Bro. Charles Coleman and civil rights attorney Bro. Ben Crump have sparked a contentious debate with their suggestion to redefine crime in the United States to better accommodate “black culture.” Their provocative remarks were made in a new NBC documentary titled “Black Men in America: Road to 2024,” where they delved into the complexities of the criminal justice system under President Joe Biden.
In the documentary, Coleman, who also boasts a background as a former prosecutor, shed light on what he described as a “circular argument” within law enforcement circles, where authorities often justify their actions by claiming they are merely responding to existing crime hotspots.
“I tell people all the time, if you’re looking for something, you’re going to find it,” Coleman stated. “So it becomes self-fulfilling in terms of ‘Well, we go where the crime is.’ No, you’re going and you’re finding crime, and if you went somewhere else, guess what? You’d find it there too.”
Crump, known for his advocacy in high-profile civil rights cases, echoed Coleman’s sentiments, emphasizing the role of profiling in law enforcement practices. He asserted that the laws themselves are designed to target and criminalize aspects of black culture, perpetuating a cycle of discrimination and injustice.
“They come up with things to profile us for,” Crump interjected. “And so whatever laws were made — I believe this … We can get rid of all the crime in America overnight, just like that, and people ask ‘How, Attorney Crump?'”
“Change the definition of ‘crime,'” Crump declared. “If you get to define what conduct is gonna be made criminal, you can predict who the criminals are gonna be … They made the laws to criminalize our culture, black culture.”
Crump further illustrated his point by referencing the tragic deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, both of whom were involved in non-violent encounters with law enforcement that ended fatally. Garner’s death in 2014 occurred as a result of an altercation over the alleged sale of loose cigarettes, while Floyd’s death in 2020 transpired during an arrest for the alleged use of a counterfeit bill.
The deaths of Garner and Floyd, and the circumstances surrounding them, have been focal points in the ongoing conversation about police brutality and systemic racism in America.
While Coleman and Crump’s assertions may ignite controversy and debate, they underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive examination of the criminal justice system and its impact on marginalized communities. As calls for reform grow louder, it remains to be seen whether their proposed redefinition of crime will gain traction as a viable solution to address systemic inequities.
