Janet E McClellan Ph D

African-American Serial Killers Janet E McClellan Ph D

The book argues that contemporary patterns neglect an important portion of serial killers in the U. S., specifically, African-American serial killers and the lack of recognition neglects to recognize the risks and harm done to their victims and potential victims, most of whom are African-American women and children. The flawed stereotypes surrounding our perceptions of serial killers are: (1) that the killing is almost always a White male, (2) that African-American men rarely, if ever, commit serial murder and (3) that those who commit serial murder are either psychologically complex or significantly intelligent to be able to escape capture/arrest. Those myths are biased and prejudicial to the victims. Victims of African-American serial killers, predominantly African-American women, and children, are further victimized when the violence against them is ignored or underreported. The media misrepresentations and ineffective investigations by law enforcement further deny them justice and further places them in harm's way. The lack of reporting, examination, and investigation of African-American serial killers is prejudicial to the victims and potential victims of violence and murder.