Though society has made much progress in recent years, it is not completely without problems. One of these problems is bias- defined by Merriam-Webster as an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment. Bias ties directly into the problem of bigotry, the devotion to one's own opinions and prejudices. Bias and bigotry can both be incredibly harmful, in the sense of physical violence and mental abuse. Hate crimes have been around as long as bigotry and bias, through many different forms. However, they are still not totally regulated, understood, or cared about by the public eye.
Oftentimes, when the public views/comes about the subject of hate crimes, they do not think of it as a modern day happening. This is suggested to be due to the want to overlook the problems occurring all around them (UC Learning Center). Statistics show that hate crimes are as prevalent as they have ever been, with certain groups of them rising significantly ("Incidents and Offenses" 2016). Hate crimes against Jews, Muslims and LGBT people have increased from 2015 to 2018 statistics, in what seems to be becoming a dangerous trend (Berman). “Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,538 offenses reported by law enforcement.” This is over 21% of hate crime incidents committed in 2016 overall. Attacks on people perceived as Arab has been on the rise, along with those perceived as Middle Eastern, Muslim, or Jewish. Anti-Semitic hate crimes represent 54.2 percent of all religious hate crimes committed in 2016 ("Incidents and Offenses" 2016). In 2015, hate crimes against Muslims went up “nearly 67 percent from the year before.” It was noted that numbers like these have not been seen since the spike in hate crimes against Muslims in 2001, “the year that Islamist militants attacked the World Trade Center, killing thousands…”, and the statistics have continued to rise in the years since (Zapotosky). This trend continued well into 2016. The percentage of hate crimes against Muslims grew from 16.3 percent …show more content…
In 2016, the FBI reported that the majority of hate crimes were committed by White people (46.3%). They were also majorly committed by adults (83.8%) (Hate Crime Summary). This suggests that this is not a matter of innocence, but of specific intention and hate or ignorance. “While the depths of these prejudices vary among offenders, they all share a reliance on similar negative stereotypes, which direct aggression manifests, once it is emotionally triggered.” There are several types of offenders, including “thrill” offenders, “hardcore hatemongers”, and “reactionary” offenders. “Thrill” offenders are characterized by “more shallow prejudices” and the want to fit in or conform to their peers. These offenders commit hate crimes for attention or excitement. “Reactionary” offenders are characterized by a higher sense of prejudice and an event for response, “such as… a terrorist attack or even a person of a different race moving into their neighborhood.” The least common bust most known offenders are the “hardcore hatemongers”, who are characterized by extreme prejudice and the joining of a hate group or a “hub website” (SSR …show more content…
2017, ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2016. Accessed 2 March 2018.
Berman, Mark. “Hate crimes in the United States increased last year, the FBI says.” The Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/11/13/hate-crimes-in-the-united-states-increased-last-year-the-fbi-says/?utm_term=.8cc985f7b25f. Accessed 23 March 2018.
Zapotosky, Matt. “Hate crimes against Muslims hit highest mark since 2001.” The Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hate-crimes-against-muslims-hit-highest-mark-since-2001/2016/11/14/7d8218e2-aa95-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html?utm_term=.206168bc2f0b. Accessed 23 March 2018.
Hate Crimes. Greenhaven Press,
Oftentimes, when the public views/comes about the subject of hate crimes, they do not think of it as a modern day happening. This is suggested to be due to the want to overlook the problems occurring all around them (UC Learning Center). Statistics show that hate crimes are as prevalent as they have ever been, with certain groups of them rising significantly ("Incidents and Offenses" 2016). Hate crimes against Jews, Muslims and LGBT people have increased from 2015 to 2018 statistics, in what seems to be becoming a dangerous trend (Berman). “Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,538 offenses reported by law enforcement.” This is over 21% of hate crime incidents committed in 2016 overall. Attacks on people perceived as Arab has been on the rise, along with those perceived as Middle Eastern, Muslim, or Jewish. Anti-Semitic hate crimes represent 54.2 percent of all religious hate crimes committed in 2016 ("Incidents and Offenses" 2016). In 2015, hate crimes against Muslims went up “nearly 67 percent from the year before.” It was noted that numbers like these have not been seen since the spike in hate crimes against Muslims in 2001, “the year that Islamist militants attacked the World Trade Center, killing thousands…”, and the statistics have continued to rise in the years since (Zapotosky). This trend continued well into 2016. The percentage of hate crimes against Muslims grew from 16.3 percent …show more content…
In 2016, the FBI reported that the majority of hate crimes were committed by White people (46.3%). They were also majorly committed by adults (83.8%) (Hate Crime Summary). This suggests that this is not a matter of innocence, but of specific intention and hate or ignorance. “While the depths of these prejudices vary among offenders, they all share a reliance on similar negative stereotypes, which direct aggression manifests, once it is emotionally triggered.” There are several types of offenders, including “thrill” offenders, “hardcore hatemongers”, and “reactionary” offenders. “Thrill” offenders are characterized by “more shallow prejudices” and the want to fit in or conform to their peers. These offenders commit hate crimes for attention or excitement. “Reactionary” offenders are characterized by a higher sense of prejudice and an event for response, “such as… a terrorist attack or even a person of a different race moving into their neighborhood.” The least common bust most known offenders are the “hardcore hatemongers”, who are characterized by extreme prejudice and the joining of a hate group or a “hub website” (SSR …show more content…
2017, ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2016. Accessed 2 March 2018.
Berman, Mark. “Hate crimes in the United States increased last year, the FBI says.” The Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/11/13/hate-crimes-in-the-united-states-increased-last-year-the-fbi-says/?utm_term=.8cc985f7b25f. Accessed 23 March 2018.
Zapotosky, Matt. “Hate crimes against Muslims hit highest mark since 2001.” The Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hate-crimes-against-muslims-hit-highest-mark-since-2001/2016/11/14/7d8218e2-aa95-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html?utm_term=.206168bc2f0b. Accessed 23 March 2018.
Hate Crimes. Greenhaven Press,