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| "Police" (1932) by Norman Rockwell. |
Why do you think the author uses the term "so-called" when he refers to the "dangerous classes"? Is he implying that they might not have actually been as dangerous as the public perceived them to be?
Do you believe there is something about the industrial cities that correlates with higher crime rates? Are people living in cities more likely to commit crimes that people living in rural areas? Do you think it likely that immigration played a role in the "dread" the public felt for the "dangerous classes" Grann refers to? In Oklahoma today, what kind of people are most likely to have dread of police officers?
I believe a lot of the “riots” that people held were violent protests displayed by people unhappy with the Industrial Revolution, and rather rightfully so. Worker unions were not yet formed, and the rights the employees had were practically zero. So, it was probably the upper class that wanted some way to stop and control such riots and keep their hold on their workers, saving money by not putting in safety precautions and letting the workers basically die for a low salary. There was not a “dangerous class” as much as people trying to make working and living conditions that would not kill them in the long run. The police have always been used in such a way, to keep the majority happy and the minorities in fear. Today, for example, in Oklahoma, and the South as a whole, many African Americans fear for their lives when in front of a police officer, they do not feel safe like they are supposed to when in the presence of an officer of the law. So many have been brutalized and killed by the force that it is hard not see why they would not trust police departments.
ReplyDeleteI think that David Grann was trying to imply that the "dangerous classes" were not as threatening as many believed them to be. In Oklahoma for example, many whites thought that Native Americans were wild and dangerous. The public also had similar ideas about immigrants, so I definitely think that immigration played a role in the dread that people felt. Whether the public realized it or not, that “dread” for Native Americans and immigrants was probably more about their fear of a different way of life and less about actual danger. I agree with Kassie that much of the violence the “dangerous class” displayed in riots was out of desperation for better conditions, not because they were inherently dangerous. Industrial cities had major population growth coupled with civil unrest that led to higher crime. Inequality is a primary cause of crime, and in cities where there is a major gap between the elite and the poor, there will usually be more crime.
ReplyDeleteIn larger cities people are condensed into smaller areas and are not as spread apart as people would be in rural areas. When there are more people in a smaller area, there are more chances for opportunistic criminals to take advantage of their victims. Based on information from victimsofcrime.org, in 2011 the rate of violent victimizations reported to the National Crime Victimization Survey was 2,740 per 100,000 persons age 12 or older in urban areas, and 2,010 persons age 12 or older in rural areas. Based on these statistics, people living in cities are more likely to become the victim of crime than in rural areas. Immigration most certainly played a role in the "dread" people felt for the "dangerous classes" as immigrants would work the same job Americans would work for less money. People today still fear that immigrants are taking their jobs, and, as a result, may show much hostility towards them. In Oklahoma today, the people most likely to dread police officers are those who often engage in illegal activity. Relations between police officers and minorities still remains a controversial subject, and while many speculate that police officers are biased against minorities, there is less brutalization of minorities by undoubtedly prejudiced police officers today than there was in the early twentieth century.
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone here is making fantastic points. Throughout not only America's history, but most of the world's history people who are from different cultures have been perceived as dangerous. It has always been a controversial issue, as many refuse to let go of this old way of thinking. In a world where information of injustices are more quickly and easily spread, relations between police officers and minorities are difficult as videos of police brutality are shown more and more often. It is bringing light to an issue that those who are not minorities may not have been aware of and also raising the public together to try and bring justice to those who face it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the rise in crime rates in urban areas is due to the higher volume of people, like Charles said. While both urban and rural areas share differing levels of poverty or prosperity, in rural areas they tend to have more open access to resources such as growing their own food and also seem to have more community participation than urban areas. In smaller areas criminals have less opportunities and a higher chance of being recognized and caught.
Destiny Rowell
I believe the "dangerous classes" were the people that were mistreated such as slaves or the extremely poor. These classes had nothing to lose and everything to gain which scared the general populous more than a tyrannical and corrupt government.
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ReplyDeleteI believe immigrate definitely played a major role in the "dread" thet people of that time were feeling. You can look as far back as you want in history and you will always see fear from people or the government of people from other countries or even people that do not look like them. Even today you can see that fear in the racist comments and rioting shown by the media. You can also see it in the support for building the wall between the United States and Mexico. I also believe that crime rates are higher in industrial cities for a number of reasons, one being the amount of people living in close quarters. There was more competition for less resources and with more people it was easier to get away with crimes.
ReplyDeleteThe author used “so-called” I believe to express the fact that they were most likely not as dangerous as the public perceived and stated. Throughout history people have shown to be afraid of things they are unfamiliar with, in other words the unknown. Immigrants and Native Americans were both in this category for a period of time. These classes were most likely not as dangerous as perceived to be, but because of the unknown they could be used as a scapegoat. Immigration obviously played a major role in dread that people would report. Economic competition, such as when immigrants would undercut workers for a cheaper labor cost would caused animosity between new immigrants and original citizens. Nativism was also a major part of riots during this time. The fear of losing their culture and space, combined with the previous economic issues made “traditional american” citizens upset.I believe that people that are living in urban areas are not more inclined to commit crimes. In the urban setting, gangs are merchandisers. Due to the large population and towering infrastructure, gangs have both a large black market base for their illegal goods as well as an ample amount of cover to do it in. However, in the rural setting the reduced population and even isolation of the area creates a sense of security for pot growers and other drug producers. Not only this in rural settings the average income is lower, and people will turn to stealing to meet needs. Therefore crime is a fact of life, no matter the setting, as people seek to meet economic needs. Lack of opportunity in a traditional occupational setting, or lack of education could also play a role in this fact.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that people who live in larger cities are more likely to commit crimes. I believe that crime rates soar as the amount of people live in an area rises. That does not mean that because I live in a city, I am more likely to commit a crime. As for people who dread police, this can be due to a number of reasons. One of those is whether or not a person has been exposed to police officers in a positive way. If the only time a kid sees a police officer is when a parent is being arrested or "bad cops" on television, then their perception will be tainted. Another scenario may be if someone lives on the wrong side of the law. If a person chooses to commit crimes, they will come to dread police and fear of being punished for their actions.
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