"This book is a brave, honest, forceful intervention in that debate", wrote William A. Galston and David Wasserman in the Wilson Quarterly, adding, "With restrained passion, he documents the myriad ways in which our legal system has betrayed the principle of fair and equal treatment for African Americans." Kennedy argues in the book that African Americans have suffered at the hands of the criminal justice system, but also claims that blacks have committed a "notably large proportion" of the crimes that people are most afraid of (robbery, rape, murder, aggravated assault). He likewise argues that the need to protect black communities from crime has often been neglected.
"This book is a brave, honest, forceful intervention in that debate", wrote William A. Galston and David Wasserman in the Wilson Quarterly, adding, "With restrained passion, he documents how our legal system has failed to ensure fair treatment for African Americans." Kennedy argues in his work that African Americans have been disadvantaged by the criminal justice system and claims that blacks are responsible for a substantial portion of crimes people fear most (robbery, rape, murder, aggravated assault). He also contends that protecting black communities from crime has often been neglected.