The Routledge History of Police Brutality in America

This handbook provides a comprehensive historical overview and analysis of police brutality in US history, covering topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, police reactions to protest movements, legal and legislative outgrowths, popular culture representations, and the role of technology in publicizing such abuses. It is a valuable resource for students and scholars of American history, African American history, criminal justice, sociology, anthropology, and Africana studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 536 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Police brutality has been a persistent and contentious issue in modern society, particularly highlighted by the tragic murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the widespread protests that followed in 2020. While this issue has garnered significant attention in recent years, it has a long and complex history in the United States. This handbook aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of police brutality throughout American history, spanning from the era of Antebellum slavery to the present day.

The history of police brutality in the United States can be traced back to the period of Antebellum slavery, where African Americans were subjected to brutal violence and discrimination by law enforcement officers. During this time, police officers were often employed as tools of oppression and control, with little to no accountability for their actions. This continued into the Gilded Age, a period of immense economic growth and prosperity, but also marked by a lack of social and political progress. During this time, police brutality was used to suppress labor strikes and other forms of dissent, often with little regard for human rights.

The Progressive Era, which followed the Gilded Age, saw a significant push for reform and accountability in law enforcement. This period was marked by the rise of civil rights movements, which challenged the systemic discrimination and violence faced by African Americans and other marginalized communities. However, even as these movements gained momentum, police brutality continued to be a problem. During the 1960s and 1970s, police departments across the country were plagued by protests and riots in response to police brutality and systemic racism.

The two world wars also saw the emergence of police brutality as a tool of war and repression. During World War I, police officers were used to suppress dissent and maintain order, often with little regard for human rights. During World War II, police officers were again used to suppress dissent and control populations, particularly in Japanese American internment camps.

In the twentieth century, police brutality continued to be a problem, particularly in response to social and political movements. During the civil rights movement, police officers used brutal force to suppress protests and prevent civil rights activists from achieving their goals. During the Vietnam War, police officers were used to suppress anti-war protests and to crack down on dissent.

In recent years, police brutality has again become a major issue in the United States. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked widespread protests and calls for reform, and the issue has gained international attention. The protests have highlighted the systemic racism and discrimination faced by African Americans and other marginalized communities, and have called for greater accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

This handbook aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of police brutality in American history. It will explore the various forms that police brutality has taken, including physical violence, excessive use of force, racial profiling, and police misconduct. It will also examine the historical and social factors that have contributed to the problem of police brutality, including the history of racism and discrimination in the United States, the militarization of law enforcement, and the power dynamics between law enforcement and communities of color.

The handbook will also explore the legal and legislative responses to police brutality, including the passage of laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. It will also examine the role of the media and popular culture in perpetuating stereotypes and narratives about police brutality, and the ways in which these narratives have influenced public opinion and policy.

Finally, the handbook will examine the protest movements that have emerged in response to police brutality, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the Movement for Black Lives. It will explore the strategies and tactics used by these movements to achieve their goals, and the challenges and obstacles they have faced.

In conclusion, police brutality has been a persistent and contentious issue in American history, with a long and complex history that spans from the era of Antebellum slavery to the present day. This handbook aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of police brutality in all of its major lived forms and confronts a wide range of topics including race, ethnicity, gender, police reactions to protest movements, legal and legislative outgrowths against police brutality, representations of police brutality in popular culture, the role of technology in publicizing such abuses, and the protest movements mounted against it. By examining these topics, this handbook will provide a vital reference work for students and scholars of American history, African American history, criminal justice, sociology, anthropology, and Africana studies.

Weight: 1170g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367626105