This Assignment Is For Introduction To Africana Studies

This Assignment Is For Introduction To Africana Studiesafter Reading T

This assignment is for Introduction to Africana Studies. After reading the articles and looking at the video, in 400 words or more, compare and contrast the policing of people of African descent in America during the enslavement period, post-enslavement, and the 21st century. Do you believe the start of policing in this country has anything to do with the way in which people of African descent have been policed in this country? If more whites are killed by the police than black people, why is there such uproar in the black community about police brutality? What are your views on the Stop and Frisk policing program of New York? How has policing of people of African descent negatively impacted their communities? What role do you feel socio-economic status has to do with policing? Is there a way to decrease police brutality? (Read pp. 42-45) (This is only 4:25 long) Race and the Police | National Police Foundation (Very Short) Race and the Police | National Police Foundation By Clarence Edwards. Race continues to influence how people of African descent in the United States are treated.

Paper For Above instruction

The history of policing in the United States reveals a long and complex relationship between law enforcement and marginalized communities, particularly people of African descent. From the era of slavery, post-abolition, and into the modern 21st century, policing practices have evolved but often retained discriminatory and oppressive elements rooted in racial oppression. During slavery, enforcement mechanisms were directly designed to control enslaved Africans, suppress rebellions, and uphold the economic interests of white supremacy. Slave patrols emerged as a precursor to modern policing, their primary role being to monitor, enforce, and reinforce the brutal system of slavery. These patrols targeted enslaved individuals suspected of resistance or escape, creating a foundation for racially biased law enforcement practices (Sewell, 1992).

Following emancipation, formally enslaved persons were legally freed but faced systemic racism that continued to dictate policing practices. Black communities were disproportionately targeted through policies like Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and suppressed Black political and economic power. Police were often used to uphold white supremacy, suppress Black civil rights movements, and maintain racial hierarchies (Alexander, 2010). This era witnessed the emergence of practices such as voter intimidation, violence, and selective enforcement, aiming to preserve white dominance. The 20th and 21st centuries saw the rise of police militarization, stop-and-frisk tactics, and the criminalization of Black communities, depicting a systemic pattern of racial bias (Geller & Fagan, 2019).

In the 21st century, debates around police brutality have intensified amid widespread protests following incidents like the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Despite statistical evidence indicating that White civilians are more frequently killed by police than Black civilians, protests in the Black community are fueled by the perception and reality of disproportionate violence, systemic bias, and racial profiling. The Stop and Frisk program in New York City exemplifies this issue—it disproportionately targeted Black and Latino residents, leading to increased mistrust and community alienation. Social-economic status further compounds these issues, as impoverished communities of color often face heightened police surveillance due to assumptions about criminality linked to poverty (Fagan et al., 2019).

Reducing police brutality requires comprehensive reform, including community policing, implicit bias training, accountability measures, and addressing socio-economic inequalities. Recognizing the historical context of racialized policing helps in understanding and dismantling systemic barriers. The relationship between race and policing underscores the necessity for reforms rooted in justice, equity, and community empowerment.

In conclusion, the policing of African Americans has deep historical roots intertwined with slavery and systemic racism—roots that continue to influence practices today. Addressing these issues involves acknowledging historical injustices and implementing policies that promote fairness, transparency, and community trust (Tyler, 2017).

References

• Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
• Fagan, J., Geller, A., & West, H. (2019). Race, poverty, and policing: Understanding the relationships. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 38(4), 902-920.
• Geller, A., & Fagan, J. (2019). The criminalization of poverty and the policing of impoverished communities. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 685(1), 174-188.
• Sewell, W. H. (1992). Slavery and the birth of the modern police. The Journal of American History, 79(3), 839-862.
• Tyler, T. R. (2017). Why they take the law into their own hands: Deciphering the perceptions of police legitimacy. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(3), 377-394.