Tim Wise

In the following viewpoint, Tim Wise asserts that “gangs” is a racist term because it is only used to define minority youth. According to Wise, if the two teenagers responsible for the April 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in suburban Denver had been African American, their actions prior to the shootings would have prompted a stronger reaction and would have been labeled gang behavior. However, Wise contends, violence by whites is overlooked in discussions about crime, even though white violence poses a greater threat than crimes committed by minorities. Wise is the director of the Association for White Anti-Racist Education, based in Nashville.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Wise’s opinion, on what three things is black violence blamed?
2. According to the author, what percentage...