Baldwin and Criminology Theory

• In Event: Race and Justice Presents: James Baldwin at 100, Session 1

Abstract

Theories cannot equally apply to American citizens, scholars, educators, families, or individuals when fear and freedom have not been distributed to all American men and women equitably. The colliding theories of control and rehabilitation are meaningless when foundational elements of inequality presented by the great Sir James Baldwin are ignored. Baldwin stated this during an interview on the James Cavett Show with Paul Weiss, in 1969, when Weiss disagreed with him about scholars finding common ground in America. Baldwin stated, “I was discussing the difficulties, the obstacles, the very real danger of death thrown up by society when a Negro, a Black man, attempts to become a man” (1969). Sir Baldwin meant that the difference between scholars are foundationally incomparable in the American society because of the element of fear of death for one, and the element of freedom of safety for the other. This concept is important because a man denied safety cannot be compared to a man guaranteed freedom in life. The paper will present the American fundamental justice theories of control and rehabilitation pointing out the problem of inequity in a hypocritical society, and need for leaders who have vulnerable demographics in healing justice.

Author

• Truth Thelma Akins, Cerro Coso Community College