People See Black Men as Larger, More Threatening Than Same-Sized White Men

People have a tendency to perceive black men as larger and more threatening than similarly sized white men, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. “Unarmed black men are disproportionately more likely to be shot and killed by police, and often these killings are accompanied by explanations that cite the physical size of the person shot,” said lead author John Paul Wilson, PhD, of Montclair State University. “Our research suggests that these descriptions may reflect stereotypes of black males that do not seem to comport with reality.”

http://www.apa.org