Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South: African Americans and Law Enforcement in Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans, 1920-1945

Southern police departments played a significant role in maintaining white supremacy during the Jim Crow era by targeting African Americans through violent interactions, unjust arrests, and the enforcement of segregation laws and customs. Brandon T. Jett's book "Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South" reveals previously unrecognized efforts by African Americans to use, manage, and exploit policing, exposing a more complex relationship between police and minorities. Black residents of southern cities complained about violent policing strategies and law enforcement's lack of interest in crimes committed against African Americans, but they also voiced a desire for the police to become more involved in their communities to reduce crime. Jett's book contributes to current debates around the relationship between the police and minorities in the United States.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2023
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Throughout the Jim Crow era, southern police departments played a pivotal role in the perpetuation of white supremacy. Police targeted African Americans through a myriad of actions, including violent encounters, unjust arrests, and the enforcement of segregation laws and customs. Scholars have dedicated significant attention to law enforcement's use of aggression and brutality as a means of maintaining African American subordination. While these interpretations are essential to understanding police and minority relations, Black citizens often feel powerless in their interactions with law enforcement.

Brandon T. Jett's groundbreaking book, "Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South," offers a fresh perspective on this complex relationship. Jett reveals previously unrecognized efforts by African Americans to use, manage, and exploit policing. Through his meticulous research, Jett exposes a much more nuanced relationship, suggesting that while violence or the threat of violence shaped police and minority relations, it did not define all interactions.

Black residents of southern cities expressed their concerns about violent policing strategies and law enforcement's apparent lack of interest in crimes committed against African Americans. Despite these criticisms, Blacks also expressed a desire for the police to become more actively involved in their communities to address the seemingly intractable problem of crime, which was often exacerbated by racial discrimination and other structural factors associated with Jim Crow. While the actions of the police were problematic, African Americans believed that law enforcement could play a role in reducing crime in their communities.

During the first half of the twentieth century, Black citizens repeatedly demanded better policing and engaged in behaviors designed to extract services from law enforcement. They organized community groups, petitioned government officials, and even took matters into their own hands to address perceived injustices. These efforts were met with resistance and violence from law enforcement, but they did contribute to the gradual erosion of Jim Crow laws and practices.

In conclusion, the Jim Crow era saw southern police departments play a critical role in maintaining white supremacy. Police targeted African Americans through violent encounters, unjust arrests, and the enforcement of segregation laws and customs. While these interpretations are vital to understanding police and minority relations, Black citizens often felt powerless in their encounters with law enforcement. Brandon T. Jett's book "Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South" offers a fresh perspective on this complex relationship, revealing previously unrecognized efforts by African Americans to use, manage, and exploit policing. Through his meticulous research, Jett exposes a much more nuanced relationship, suggesting that while violence or the threat of violence shaped police and minority relations, it did not define all interactions. Black residents of southern cities demanded better policing and engaged in behaviors designed to extract services from law enforcement, contributing to the gradual erosion of Jim Crow laws and practices.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807180402