African American Man Sentenced to Death by Racist Juror

Keith Tharpe, an African American man, was sentenced to the death penalty for the murder of his sister-in-law by a racist juror in Georgia. Tharpe struggled  both academically and financially, resulting in a lack of the proper representation in a case that would conclude with his death. As the juror would describe Tharpe in vulgar and unacceptable names such as a "ni**er", he demonstrated an initial bias against Tharpe simply due to the color of his skin. Rather than being given the opportunity to prove his innocence in a fair trial, Tharpe was incapable of fairly fighting for his life due to his inability to even afford food or clothing with a juror that had made his decision before hearing what the defense had to say. With an IQ of 74, Tharpe would be identified as someone who is intellectually challenged as well, meaning his fight to prove his own innocence could potentially be an even greater challenge. 

With such racial bias carrying a presence in court, African Americans have experienced unfair trials throughout American history and in the current days. The color of one's skin and the amount of money one possesses carry significant roles in our society, as they could be the deciding factors of whether one lives or dies. An example reviewed and analyzed in class has been the case of O.J. Simpson, as with money and fame he was able to free himself of being punished for murder and escape the death penalty. Despite the fact that like Keith Tharpe he was a man of color, his financial superiority was able to afford him the best lawyers money can buy and a representation that was able to set him free at any expense. This lack of balance puts a hole in the fairness of our judicial system and in the idea that it protects everyone regardless of their social status and financial capabilities.

Source: https://time.com/4949761/keith-tharpe-death-penalty-supreme-court/