American Indians and Alaska Natives experience the second-highest rate of race-based hate crimes in the U.S.
According to
data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 115 Native Americans were the victims of hate crimes in 2012. Even though the number appears to be low, it accounted for 3.3 percent of all race-based incidents that year.
American Indians and Alaska Natives represent just 1.2 percent of the general population, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau. So the FBI data means that Native Americans are more than twice as likely to victims of race-based hate crimes than other racial groups.
Highlighting the disparity, Wonkblog at The Washington Post converted the data to a per capita rate. According to the blog, 30 out of every 1 million Native American persons were the victims of hate crimes in 2012.
The rate is surpassed only by one other group. According to Wonkblog, more than 50 out of every 1 million African Americans were the victims of race-based hate crimes that year.
Going back to the FBI data, 1,805 single-bias incidents targeted African Americans in 2012. That accounts for 66.2 percent of all race-based hate crimes.
African Americans represent 13.2 percent of the general population, according to the
U.S. Census Bureau, so they are more than five times as likely to be victims of hate crimes than other racial groups.
The
latest data from from 2013 paints a worsening situation. According to the FBI, American Indians and Alaska Natives accounted for 4.5 percent of race-based hate crimes that year.
Get the Story:
The ugly truth about hate crimes — in 5 charts and maps
(The Washington Post 6/18)
Church Massacre Suspect Held as Charleston Grieves
(The New York Times 6/19)
For accused killer Dylann Roof, a life that had quietly drifted off track
(The Washington Post 6/19)
From the Indianz.Com Archive:
One in 10 hate crimes target American Indians (October 1, 2001)
Related Stories
Robert Cook: Racism
remains a problem for Native students (05/07)
Dennis Chappabitty: How I
survived a racist attack in Oklahoma (03/31)
Jury rules against
Cheyenne River Sioux man in 'KKK' scar case (03/30)
Oglala Sioux Tribe seeks
federal probe into attack on children (02/20)
Authorities file just one
charge for racial attack on Indian kids (02/19)
Tim Giago: Racism
continues to be tolerated in South Dakota (02/16)
Robert Flying Hawk: Hate
and racism too common in Rapid City (02/12)
Native Sun News: Second
beer splashing incident investigated (02/12)
Albert Bender: Indian
children victimized by hockey game fans (02/04)
Supreme Court declines hate crime case involving Navajo victim (3/25)
Native Sun News: Plea deal
reached for branding of Navajo man (8/18)
Native Sun News: Navajo man
files lawsuit against McDonald's (2/21)
Federal hate crimes charges
for attack on disabled Navajo man (11/15)
Join the Conversation