It was recently reported that the Mississippi legislature had recently created an all-white court system in Jackson, MS. This news has understandably sparked outrage among People of Color (POC) who were already struggling to have trust in the justice system due to the ongoing water crisis and other instances of discrimination.
If I must be honest, the news of the Mississippi legislature creating an all-White court system was a reminder that despite the progress made in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, there is still a major lack of equality and diversity present in Jackson.
But this move by the state legislature is a new level of ignorance and disregard for basic human rights that I was not prepared to read about when it hit the news. It has taken me a few days to process and put into words why this is such a significant issue, but here are a few reasons why this issue needs to be addressed immediately:
The unfortunate timing of this decision has me in awe – this decision comes at a time when many communities are fighting for racial justice and progress. The fact that a court system in a state with a majority African American population would be run by an all-White panel is particularly egregious, especially considering that POC have been historically disadvantaged in matters related to criminal justice and civil rights.
Additionally, given the current water crisis in Jackson, MS—which has disproportionately affected communities of color—this move only furthers distrust between these communities and the state government. Given that much of the infrastructure for drinking water has been neglected for decades, it appears as if Mississippi’s politicians are not taking their constituents’ needs seriously nor doing enough to address them.
An all-White court system also means that those who identify as Black or BIPOC will no longer have access to the justice they may need. It also implies that White people are more deserving of justice and sends a message that the judicial system only serves one type of person—the majority. It's not just about lack of representation in the courtroom either; it's about what implications this could have on our society as a whole if we continue allowing these kinds of discriminatory acts to go unchecked.
But let's keep it more real. BIPOC communities have faced discrimination before. We have seen countless examples over history where people were treated differently based on their race or ethnicity when it comes to legal matters -- even though they shouldn't be judged any differently than anyone else. This has had an immense effect on our society, leading to mistrust between BIPOC communities, politicians, and law enforcement, as well as feelings of injustice when going through the legal process.
We should not accept discriminatory practices like this happening in our government and must work together to ensure everyone has equal access to justice regardless of race or ethnicity.
It is up to us as a community—and especially our leaders—to take action against such blatant acts of discrimination and ensure that everyone can access equal rights under the law regardless of race or ethnicity. We must make sure our voices are heard so we can create meaningful change instead of simply accepting this injustice as inevitable.