Lois James
Assistant Professor, Washington State University College Of Nursing
Key Findings
- The findings by James et al. are not supported by the evidence cited in the paper, “The Reverse Racism Effect”.
- The James et al. paper did not sufficiently understand the background and implications of race and the criminal justice system.
- The studies used by James et al. were not representative, were outdated, and did not show the breadth of the situation.
- The arguments James et al. used, regarding officer response rate and thought process before discharging their weapon, were not consistent.
- The James et al. study failed to adequately use their position to develop sound methodology to guide policy and practice.
Description
In the corrigendum, “Impossibility of a “Reverse Racism” Effect,” authors Aaron Roussell, Katheryn Henne, Karen Glover, and Dale Willits counter an argument made about the existence of the, “reverse racism effect.” Lois James, Stephen James, and Bryan Vila used the term to describe a phenomenon that suggests police officers show apprehension when dealing with Black individuals out of a fear of negative legal and social consequences. The authors indicate that the findings by James et al. are not supported by the evidence they cite in their paper. First, the authors of the rebuttal cite the historical disenfranchisement of people of color in the criminal justice system and how the term, “reverse racism,” lacks the appropriate historical and cultural understanding of the implications of race in today’s criminal justice reform. The authors question the data and research James et al. used to support their argument, indicating the studies were not representative, were outdated, and did not show the breadth of the situation. Along with research sample discrepancies, the authors note that the arguments James et al. used, regarding officer response rate and thought process before discharging their weapon, were not consistent. Finally, the authors note an ethical concern; that the James et al. study failed to adequately use their position to develop sound methodology to guide policy and practice. They recommend in the future, researchers conduct literary analysis to understand the background and implications of their research.