The document discusses the concept of moral panic and argues that the Black Lives Matter movement sparked a moral panic in the United States. Moral panic occurs when an event disturbs social norms and causes a widespread reaction that something is seriously threatening society. Examples of past moral panics include issues related to gang violence, child abuse, health crises, and terrorism. The document argues that the Black Lives Matter movement disturbed the normal social pattern in America of oppressing and attacking Black people without consequences. This unexpected change generated national concern, hostility, and volatility, which are key features of a moral panic.

1. Aishona Jackson
Dr. Lea: Criminal Justice and Policy Wars
Response Paper #1- Option (A) Moral Panic
When something tragic happens in the world it becomes a major concern for a large
number of citizens. Often times these concerns have the ability to alter public policy or even
become the cause of a new policy. The situation does not always have to be tragic, but if it is
significantly out of the boundaries of the social norm then it can gain an abundance of media
attention and cause a unique response amongst society. These types of cause and effect relations
that shape or make policy, and are often theorized as a moral panic.
Moral panic is the critical action that disturbs the social norm, status quo, or the stability
of an acceptable society. Moral panic is an extreme social response to the belief that the moral
condition of society is deteriorating at a very swift pace. Numerous sociologists have interpreted
moral panic as a device used to distract public attention from underlying social problems and
justify increased social control over the working class and other potentially rebellious segments
of society.i
There are various types of moral panics, and each one exemplifies a different reaction
from different groups of people yet still effects everyone. A few examples that the moral panic
concept are greatly studied and understood through are gang violence, child abduction or abuse,
social injustices or issues, health issues, terrorism, and religious concerns. Factors that play a big
role in the way of which moral panics are based are ethnicity, race, and social class.ii
Something that many people do not like to state is that for a long time it has been normal
for society to accept discrimination and injustice against anyone that is not white. The idea of a
proper society in the minds of many Americans is one that keeps white Americans elite and on a
mountain of superiority, while continuously oppressing people of color. Ironically, for a long
time America has gotten away with maintaining this "proper society", until recently. The recent
acts of crime committed by police against citizens, particularly African Americans, can be
associated with the concept of moral panic.
Though police brutality is a very key factor, it is just a piece of the greater battle of
genocide against African Americans. The absence of justice has recently given way for an
extraordinary wave of social media courts, judges, and jurors. The first wave was set after the
death of Trayvon Martin and through the evolution of the Black Lives Matter movement.iii
It has
been argued that this notion does not follow the characteristics of a moral panic but I beg to
differ. A moral panic is something that sparks great social response due to an unexpected change
that threatens the idea of a proper society. It has been a while since the social norm of attacking
blacks has been challenged. The birth of the Black Lives Matter Movement has disturbed the
way things usually go in America. The normal societal pattern of oppressing blacks and getting
away with it has been interrupted by a group of people that have taken the law into their own
hands by way of protest and social media. The above issue has generated national concern,
disproportionality, hostility, and volatility; all of which are key features of moral panics.iv

2. i Crossman, Ashley. "Moral Panic." About.com. About, Inc., n.d. Web. 27 June 2016.
<http://sociology.about.com/od/M_Index/g/Moral-Panic.htm>.
ii Stoetzer, Oliver R., and Richard T. Schaefer. "CHapter 7: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control." Students' Guide to
Accompany:Sociology an Introduction, 1st Canadian Edition Richard T. Schaefer. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson,
1996. N. pag. Print.
iii Garza, Alicia. "The Creation of a Movement." Blacklivesmatter.com. Haki Creatives. Design for Social Change., n.d.
Web. 27 June 2016. <http://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/>.
iv Goode, Erich, and Nachman Ben-Yehuda. Moral Panics: The Social Construction of Deviance. 2nd ed. Chichester,
U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. 55-60. Print.