RESULT Why do young black American men account for a disproportionate amount of crime? I am here to tell you that there is no single explanation for the disproportionate incarceration of young black men. When a person talks about black men committing more crimes than other people, they are talking about violent crime. And when a person talks about young black men committing more violent crimes than other young people, they are talking about the young men in our country, especially young black men. The statistics are indisputable. In the United States, young black men are five times more likely to be incarcerated than young white men. In 2010, there were more than 1.5 million young black men in prison. In 2012, there were more than 1.3 million young black men in prison. If you are not familiar with these numbers, they are stunning. When a person talks about young black men committing more violent crimes than other young people, they are talking about the young men in our country, especially young black men. In 2011, the most recent year for which data is available, young black men were involved in more than half of all robberies. Young black men were involved in more than half of all rapes. Young black men were involved in more than half of all homicides. And when you look at the data, it is clear that young black men commit more violent crimes than young white men. The disparities in incarceration rates between young black men and young white men are even more stark. In 2010, young black men were five times more likely to be incarcerated than young white men. In 2012, young black men were more than four times more likely to be incarcerated than young white men. And that is just the beginning. In 2010, young black men were nearly three times more likely to be arrested than young white men. In 2012, young black men were more than twice as likely to be arrested as young white men. I should not have to tell you that the police stop young black men at a disproportionate rate. In 2010, young black men were nearly three times more likely to be stopped by the police than young white men. In 2012, young black men were more than twice as likely to be stopped by the police as young white men. The difference between young black men and young white men in arrests is not a matter of some vague prejudice on the part of the police. The data shows that young black men are arrested at a disproportionate rate because young black men commit more crimes than young white men