Unit 4
http://www.kucourses.com/ec/media/store/mediacsocj/Policeshooting.wmv
Please watch this before Seminar
What did you see in this video?Was the action justified?What could have been done differently?Why do you think what happened, happened?What actions would you take upon seeing
something like this if any?
As we review the historical information in our text the authors state that the fact of African Americans having been slaves in this country has created great psychological and social problems for blacks and whites for generations to come.
How is this true for both races?
Colonists created “slave patrols”
Segregation laws enforced by the police
Civil rights protests and demonstrationsstopped by the police
Lower socioeconomic class contact created one-sided perspectives of African Americans
13 percent of U.S. population—35 million
Population shifts created two Americas– Blacks in urban inner city– Whites in the suburbs
Blacks are represented in all socioeconomic classes
Society still discriminates against color
13 percent of U.S. population—35 million
Population shifts created two Americas– Blacks in urban inner city– Whites in the suburbs
Blacks are represented in all socioeconomic classes
Society still discriminates against color
Should never be used
Are obscenities and inflammatory
What about singers and rappers using the “n” word in the lyrics of a song?
Black Male (Others’ Perceptions) White MaleArrogant ConfidentChip on shoulder Self-assuredAggressive AssertiveDominant personality Natural leaderViolence prone WaywardNaturally gifted SmartSexual prowess Sexual
experimentation
POLICE ACTIONS
1. Stopped or expelled in “white neighborhoods”
2. Reacting to blacks without distinction between drug dealer and plainclothes police officer
3. Using unreasonable force, beatings, adding charges
4. Negative attitudes, jokes, body language, talking down to people
BLACK PERCEPTIONS
1. Whites want blacks to “stay in their place”
2. Police view black skin itself as probable cause
3. When stopped, blacks must be submissive or else
4. Officers are racists
Perceptions of Police Officers’ Actions by Some
Blacks
POLICE ACTIONS5. Quick trigger, take-
downs, accidental shootings
6. Slow response, low priority, low apprehension rate
7. Techniques of enforcing local restrictions and white political interests
8. Police stick together, right or wrong
BLACK PERCEPTIONS
5. Bad attitudes will come out under stress
6. Black-on-black crime not important
7. Police are the strong arm for the status quo
8. Us-against-them mentality; they stick together, so we have to stick together
Origins are from West African tribes
Use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) does not reflect pathology
Also known as Ebonics and has consistent grammatical rules
Non-Blacks should not try to imitate AAVE. Why?
Whites and Blacks have different perceptions ofwhen a fight starts
Whites perceive shouting as onset
Blacks look for physical movement, action, orprovocation
Officer safety is number one concern, but do not escalate use of force in these contacts
Source: Thomas Kochman
Want equal police services
Supportive of community policing
More African American police officers and police executives in law enforcement today
Strict written rules in all departments regarding the use of excessive force, discourtesy, racial slurs, etc.
1. Leadership2. Vision3. Respect4. Goals5. Strategies6. Mutual benefits for police and community7. Effective communication and practices of
both law enforcement agencies and the community