Racial Hoax

Kelly Welch

A racial hoax is a false accusation of criminal victimization that is contingent on the race of a fictitious perpetrator. Typically, these lies are used to direct attention away from the individual making the accusation, who is often the actual criminal offender. Race is a central factor in these stories, because the stories are generally created by individuals attempting to increase the credibility of their allegations by capitalizing on the fears, stereotypes, and assumptions about those of another race. Although racial hoaxes may be created by individuals of any race against individuals of any other race, it is most often the case that Blacks are the victims of racial hoaxes perpetrated by White accusers. The racialization of crime in America has increased the likelihood that racial hoaxes will continue to proliferate, unquestioned by criminal justice authorities, and serve as further justification for the questionable practices of racial profiling and DNA ...

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