Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2021 Modern Black Codes: Presidential Crime Control Rhetoric and Black Criminalization Earnest Ujaama Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the African American Studies Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Earnest J. Ujaama has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Karel Kurst-Swanger, Committee Chairperson, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Dianne Williams, Committee Member, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Michael Klemp-North, University Reviewer, Criminal Justice Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Modern Black Codes: Presidential Crime Control Rhetoric and Black Criminalization by Earnest J. Ujaama M. Phil, Criminal Justice, Walden University, 2020 MA. Education, Antioch University, 2015 BA, Near Eastern Studies, University of Washington, 2013 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice Walden University February 2021 Abstract The rate of Black imprisonment in the United States is nearly 6 times that of Whites. Wholesale criminalization of Black Americans denote institutional racism within America’s criminal justice system. Limited research is available examining crime control rhetoric of U.S. presidents to determine if Blacks are constructed as criminals through carefully coded crime control discourse. The purpose of this qualitative, case study was to investigate whether presidents used language that construct Black criminality. A social construction theoretical framework and critical discourse analysis was applied. The data used for this study included scripted speeches. The collection of data began with 54 speeches gathered using an Internet search for nomination, inaugural, weekly addresses, and State of the Union speeches. Words and phrases were examined for theme relevancy according to Fairclough’s 3-step process using Higginbotham’s precepts of American slavery jurisprudence. The research question examined whether crime control language used by Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump construct the implication of Black criminality in the 21st century. Each president, except Bush, constructed implications of Black criminality by repeating prevailing assumptions of welfare, poverty, crime, and violence. The results of this study can be used as talking points for positive social change for how American presidents discuss crime control in the future with the goal of eliminating stereotypes and assumptions that construct Black criminality, institutional racism in criminal justice and genocide. Further research is needed to determine relationships between life chances and the effect or impact that crime control rhetoric has on Black families and their communities. Modern Black Codes: Presidential Crime Control Rhetoric and Black Criminalization by Earnest J. Ujaama M. Phil, Criminal Justice, Walden University, 2020 MA. Education, Antioch University, 2015 BA, Near Eastern Studies, University of Washington, 2013 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice Walden University December 2020 Dedication This is work is dedicated to all of the black and brown people imprisoned, murdered, or eXiled – those who rejected a new system of Black Codes. Acknowledgments I must acknowledge the work of all those scholars before me who made this research possible. You are the real heroes. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................8 Research Question .........................................................................................................8 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................... 9 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................12 Definitions ....................................................................................................................14 Assumptions .................................................................................................................16 Delimitations ................................................................................................................17 Limitations ...................................................................................................................19 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................23 Summary ......................................................................................................................25 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................27 Introduction ..................................................................................................................27 The Current Literature and the Problem’s Relevance ........................................... 30 Literature Search Strategy ............................................................................................32 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................34 Social Construction Framework ........................................................................... 35 i Higginbotham’s 10 Precepts of American Slavery Jurisprudence ....................... 36 Hypercriminalization of African American Communities ................................... 39 Literature Review Related to Key Variables and/or Concepts ............................. 40 The Presumption of Genocide and Human Rights Urgency ................................. 61 Summary ......................................................................................................................63 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................66 Introduction ..................................................................................................................66 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................67 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................73 Methodology: Critical Discourse Analysis ..................................................................74 Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 76 Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................................ 76 Issue of Trustworthiness ..............................................................................................81 Summary ......................................................................................................................82 Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................84 Setting 84 Demographics ..............................................................................................................86 Data Collection ............................................................................................................86 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................87 Emerging Data: Categories, Codes, and Themes .................................................. 88 Evidence of Trustworthiness ........................................................................................91 Results 92 ii Discrepancy in Findings ..................................................................................... 105 Summary ....................................................................................................................107 Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations ..........................................108 Introduction ................................................................................................................108