Race, Crime & The History They Left Out

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! **Are we looking at the whole picture when we talk about crime, race, and who gets blamed?** In this episode of **Cold World**, DVJ and Michelle tackle some uncomfortable conversations about race, stereotypes, criminal justice, and the way history shapes how we see people today. DVJ discusses how easily we make assumptions about people based on where they live, their political beliefs, or their background. He reflects on his own assumptions and explains why conversations about racism and discrimination shouldn't automatically be interpreted as attacks on every person who belongs to a particular group. The conversation also turns to **Wisconsin politics and the governor's race**, including why DVJ supports David Crowley and why he believes a candidate's character, record, and honesty matter. He questions whether political campaign ads should be allowed to make misleading claims when voters rely on those ads to learn about the people asking for their votes. Then the episode takes a deeper look at **race and crime statistics**. DVJ discusses national crime data, homicide arrests, self-defense, and why a homicide statistic alone doesn't explain every circumstance behind a death. He argues that people should look beyond headlines and raw numbers before drawing conclusions about individuals or entire communities. The conversation also explores **prison reform, incarceration for marijuana offenses, and prison labor**—including concerns about companies benefiting from incarcerated workers and the lack of transparency in some supply chains. Later, DVJ and Michelle examine **racist cartoons and historical animation**, including World War II-era propaganda and demeaning racial caricatures in classic cartoons. They discuss how entertainment once reflected and reinforced racial stereotypes, and why some of those images are now viewed very differently. From political assumptions to crime statistics and old cartoons, this episode asks listeners to question what they think they know, look for context, and consider how the stories society tells can influence the way people see one another. And, of course, there's everyday Cold World, too: Milwaukee, the morning commute, coffee, work, music, and the candid conversations that keep the show real. **Race. Crime. Politics. History. Stereotypes. The stories behind the numbers.** 🎙️ **Cold World w/ DVJ & Michelle — real conversations, challenging questions, no filter.** #ColdWorld #DVJAndMichelle #RaceInAmerica #RaceAndCrime #CrimeStatistics #CriminalJustice #SelfDefense #HomicideStatistics #PrisonReform #PrisonLabor #MassIncarceration #Racism #RacialStereotypes #AmericanHistory #BlackHistory #RacistCartoons #ClassicCartoons #WorldWarIIHistory #MediaRepresentation #WisconsinPolitics #DavidCrowley #PoliticalAds #Milwaukee #MilwaukeePodcast #WisconsinPodcast #SocialIssues #RealTalk #Unfiltered #NoFilter #Podcast #MilwaukeePodcasters