Dehumanization in the United States

Dehumanization of Blacks in relation to Crime and Race

Dehumanization of Blacks is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: To dehumanize means to deprive a person of human qualities, attributes, and rights. It is the psychological process of demonizing a person, making that person seem less than human and hence not worthy of humane treatment. In addition, dehumanization morally excludes individuals from the basic norms of society. In dehumanizing, one sees the other as subhuman in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the violation of basic human rights. Dehumanization has existed since races and ethnic groups culturally clashed on the soils in America. Understanding the historical implications of dehumanization through the analysis of race and gender provides a foundation for understanding complex issues surrounding the many identities in society as a whole. This section examines the concept of dehumanization as it relates to the victimization of Blacks in American society (both physically and psychologically) and describes both historical and contemporary instances of dehumanization.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Dehumanization of Blacks in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also