The Takeaway on WNYC, May 2022
The shooting in Buffalo is being investigated as a hate crime, and given the gunman’s racist writings all indications are that he targeted the Black community.
We’re joined by Jack McDevitt, Professor of the Practice in Criminology and Criminal Justice and Director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University, to explore the connection between racism in America and hate crimes, and consider why explicit racism has declined over time, yet racist hate crimes have recently hit a 12-year high. We also consider when the switch happens from people holding racist views, to acting them out in lethal ways.
