That's the quote attributed to former British PM Benjamin Disraeli. And his words are cautionary for any journalist. Statistics can be used and twisted for a wide range of arguments.
So, I present my analysis of 2007 Jefferson County Homicide statistics in as unvarnished a fashion as possible:
Homicide Victims by sex:
male: 78%
female: 22%
By Age:
0-9: 2%
10-19: 20%
20-29: 34%
30-39: 12%
40-49: 14%
50-59: 12%
60-69: 0%
70-79: 6%
By Race:
Hispanic: 12%
White: 18%
Black: 70%
Note:
THE LATEST CENSUS FIGURES SHOW THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP ONLY ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF THE METRO LOUISVILLE POPULATION.
THIS ANALYSIS DOES NOT INCLUDE FOUR SHOOTINGS BY METRO POLICE OFFICERS, INCLUDING LAST WEEK'S SHOOTING OF A GUNMAN AFTER A BANK STANDOFF.
Carol, do you think the majority of people behind the guns of homicides committed towards African Americans are white? The facts say enough one sided or not.
On your story on 2007 Lousville Homicide statistics, you rightly note the terrible racial imballance in homicides (70% Black). I saw similar statistics recently in the newspapers. I am wondering about the other shoe dropping to that story, that no one seems to be willing to drop. That is, frankly, what percentage of homicides, locally, are COMMITTED by Blacks? Watching the news, it sure seems painfully true that at least 70% of the crimes are not only commited ON Blacks, but also BY them. What is the breakdown of crimes committed by race?
Regarding the story on demograhphics of murders in Louisville, if you are going to state what age and race is more likely to be murdered, I feel it should also be stated what age and race these people are being murdered by. It appears to be a one-sided telling of the facts.