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Explaining “13/50” and The Misinformation Surrounding It

Updated: Apr 18, 2021

By Jomar Rodriguez


Source via Health Affairs


What is "13/50?"

Within the political discourse on the internet, many conservatives use statistics without context and explanation in order to “prove” their point, 13/50 being one of them. 13/50 refers to the statistic that states that despite making up 13 percent of the population African Americans make up 50 percent of the violent crime. The statistic is commonly used to explain why we need stricter policing but in fact, this could not be further from the truth. If you look at it critically, it actually serves as an argument for the redistribution of wealth.


Why does this happen?


This is an incredibly complex issue but all sociological problems have two causes: genetic and environmental. It obviously does not occur due to genetic differences, and anyone who tries to argue or imply this likely has prejudiced or racist ideologies. In addition, there are hundreds of years of indisputable evidence that goes against this claim. Therefore, the reason for this skewed statistic is purely environmental. This leads us into a discussion about the history of race in America. After slavery ended, the Jim Crow Era began, which was a time in which racial segregation was encouraged and enforced by law. . The effects are still felt to this day, with a New York Time study discussing how cities and schools are still segregated, partially due to the fact that property tax funds public schools, meaning that property tax being paid in lower income areas leads to schools continuing to be underfunded.


What are the effects of this?


It is a well-documented fact that areas experiencing poverty have a higher crime rate as a result of many factors that keep Black people at a disadvantage, like the disparity in incarceration rates between races. Their systemic disadvantages also contribute to this reality, all put in place in order to keep the systematic oppression of African Americans alive.


What can be done about this?


Firstly, racist and bigoted Americans need to stop using 13/50 statistics without context, as it leads to increased misinformation and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes about Black Americans. Also, further efforts to educate people on issues regarding how environmental factors can lead to skewed statistics is important. Furthermore, by defunding the police and investing in lower-income neighborhoods, we are able to make their schools better which is the key to actually lowering the crime rate and making these areas safer.


Written by Jomar Rodriguez

28,267 views19 comments

19 Comments


Eric Grafton
Eric Grafton
Dec 23, 2022

Facts that can't be refuted are dismissed as "misinformation"

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Craig Jauvtis
Craig Jauvtis
Nov 24, 2022

How about instead of defunding the police we make sure money allocated for education goes to students and teachers instead of administration paper pushers.

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David St-Michel
David St-Michel
Jun 17, 2022

Wow, the racist garbage floated to the comment section on this.

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Vinnius Caesar
Vinnius Caesar
Nov 02, 2021

Subsaharan Africa: violent wasteland

Detroit: violent wasteland

Chicago: violent wasteland


Anyone else starting to notice a trend here?

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Azrael
Azrael
Nov 23, 2022
Replying to

So deeply unserious.


Source?


Source?


Source?

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Chris Beasley
Chris Beasley
Oct 04, 2021

Actually whites commit 70% of all crimes in the US. They won't give statistics on rape or sex offenses. I wonder why. Perhaps it doesn't fit the narrative. By the way these are and should be considered violent crimes.

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Matt G
Matt G
Nov 16, 2023
Replying to

He’s not coming back to debate. A lot of these people just made an account to spew the usual right-wing talking points and then just dip. They don’t want to engage in nuanced discussions around these issues nor do some of them actually care about crime or violence (regardless of race), because it’s always “Black people bad!” for them.


For example, Hispanic communities are not immune from violence either.

“Hispanic people, particularly Hispanic youth, are disproportionately affected by firearm violence in the United States. From 1999 to 2020, an estimated 74,522 Hispanic people in the United States died from gun violence, with violent homicides accounting for 60 percent of all gun deaths among Hispanic populations. The latest available data…


Edited
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