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Alien wedge

Unn9990

New Member
Korean
Hi. I'm reading a book called The Reason Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race, and I don't understand the expression "alien wedge." Here's part of the paragraph:

They also estimated that black men are about four times more likely than white men to have their DNA profiles stored on the police database. This led the commission to comment '...we are concerned that the high proportion of black men recorded on the database (estimated to be at least one in three black men) is creating an impression that a single race group represents an "alien wedge" of criminality.'

Does that mean that the commision is worried that people might think most crimes are committed by black people? If it does, why wedge? As far as I know, a wedge is a small thing you use to divide an object into two or to fix something. Help me!
alien = abnormal

Wedge - A sector of a circle - in this case, specifically of a pie-chart; a proportion, etc. Especially with the nuance that the item (the wedge) has been driven into something by the use of force and that thus creates a metaphorical feeling of discomfort/unease.

It is important to note that, in the context, "alien wedge" is an emotive phrase.

Last edited:
alien = abnormal

Wedge - A sector of a circle - in this case, specifically of a pie-chart; a proportion, etc. Especially with the nuance that the item (the wedge) has been driven into something by the use of force and that thus creates a metaphorical feeling of discomfort/unease.

It is important to note that, in the context, "alien wedge" is an emotive phrase.

Thank you so much. I would have never been able to figure it out on my own!
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