How Meek Mill’s Prison Sentence Is Systemic Racism At Its Worst | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

How Meek Mill’s Prison Sentence Is Systemic Racism At Its Worst

And how the criminal justice system became this tainted.

237
How Meek Mill’s Prison Sentence Is Systemic Racism At Its Worst
Meek Mill / Instagram

On November 6th, 2017, rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison following probation violations. Back in 2008, the Philadelphia MC was arrested for drugs and weapons charges, resulting in eight months of prison time and initially just five years of probation. Those five years were extended to ten additional years in 2009 when Meek left Philadelphia without approval and was once again arrested and put in prison for another five months. Last March, Meek Mill, with only two years left on his probation sentence, was arrested after being in a fight at a St. Louis airport. Just five months later he posted a video on his Instagram story that showed him riding a dirt bike through the streets of Manhattan, leading to another arrest that resulted in a judge sentencing him to two to four years in prison for probation violation.

Following the passing of Meek’s sentence, thousands of people expressed their outrage on social media. The hashtag #FreeMeekMill started trending and dozens of celebrities in both the hip-hop culture and outside of it expressed their sympathy for Meek and their anger towards the criminal justice system for this. JAY-Z, who manages Meek with his Roc Nation label, posted to Facebook about Meek’s sentence: “The sentence handed down by the Judge - against the recommendation of the Assistant District Attorney and Probation Officer - is unjust and heavy-handed. We will always stand by and support Meek Mill, both as he attempts to right this wrongful sentence and then in returning to his musical career.”

The outrage came to a climax on November 13th, when thousands gathered outside Philadelphia’s criminal justice center to protest the sentence handed down by the judge. Those who spoke at the rally include Rick Ross, Macklemore, and PnB Rock. Currently, a Change.org petition asking Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to reconsider Meek’s sentence has over 350,000 signatures, and Meek’s lawyer Joe Tacopina is looking to have the case’s judge removed, as he believes she is holding a grudge against Meek and therefore passed an unfair sentence.

At the rally on the 13th, Rick Ross made a profound statement on Meek: “I want y’all to understand that if it takes Meek Mill to draw this attention, we gonna use Meek Mill to draw this attention that is gonna speak for so many others.” Rick Ross is talking, of course, about the thousands of black people who are unfairly incarcerated every year for probation violations and other small misdemeanors. In this instance, Philadelphia taxpayers now have to pay thousands of dollars collectively for two to four years to keep Meek locked up because he is a supposed “threat to society.”

Meanwhile, he is only going to prison for getting into a fight at an airport, of which the charges have already been dropped, and riding a dirt bike through New York City. This exposes the many faults having to do with probation in our criminal justice system, as even the slightest violation of probation like missing a curfew could deem someone a “threat to society” and get them locked up for even longer than the time they were locked up for committing the original crime. Cases like Meek Mill’s are the reason why America has more people incarcerated than any other country on earth.

Meek’s sentence also exposes the systemic racism that has been in our criminal justice system for decades. While Meek is getting a prison sentence for two small misdemeanors, judges and police are turning a blind eye to white celebrities like Justin Bieber while they are committing worse crimes like DUI, drag racing, and property damage. Meek Mill’s case accurately represents how police and criminal justice workers in the US track black people so much more than white people once they’re on probation, which shows the insane amount of racial prejudice within the modern US criminal justice system.

The reason why black people are treated so unfairly in the criminal justice system stems all the way back to slavery. Ever since slavery was abolished in the US, the federal government has done little to nothing to make sure African Americans in the US have equal opportunities as Caucasians. This eventually led to the more privileged ethnicity taking advantage of the other, which caused sharecropping, segregation, and mass incarceration. White people in America continue to, on average, receive better opportunities for social mobility and economic prosperity than African Americans.

Because of this, many poor communities in America have majority POC populations, and in these communities crime is often seen as an alternative way of providing for the family. Once the people of these communities are arrested, put behind bars, and released on probation for their crimes, they can easily turn back to crime, causing them to be incarcerated again and again and have no hope of ever redeeming themselves in society. These are the effects of systemic racism in America today.

However, if everyone in America were to be given equal opportunities, the incarceration rate would almost certainly decrease. This would lead to the population having to pay fewer taxes to keep people locked up. The saved money from a decrease in incarceration could also be used to eradicate the cruel and unusual death penalty and give the worst criminals in the US life sentences instead. America might finally be able to catch up to more developed areas of the world by doing this.

Hopefully, Meek Mill’s sentencing will finally make people realize the horrid effects of institutional racism in America, and maybe those people could even take active steps to finding a solution to this grave problem.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

14707
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
college

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

6386
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

4716
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Signs You Live At The Library As Told by 'Parks And Recreation'

A few signs that you may live in the library whether you'd like to admit it or not.

4152
brown wooden book shelves with books

Finals week is upon us. It is a magical time of year during which college students everywhere flock to the library in attempt to learn a semester's worth of knowledge in only a week. For some students, it's their first time in the library all semester, maybe ever. Others have slaved away many nights under the fluorescent lights, and are slightly annoyed to find their study space being invaded by amateurs. While these newbies wander aimlessly around the first floor, hopelessly trying to find a table, the OGs of the library are already on the third floor long tables deep into their studies. Here is a few signs that you may live in the library, whether you'd like to admit it or not.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments