Police Brutality Against Minorities

In the world today, many people face a problem that is unknown to us. This problem is racism, and those with power who are abusing it. Lately, we have heard more and more about police brutality, especially against those of ethnic difference. They use their power over minorities to hurt them for personal satisfaction, and to follow the current system. If police have the power to do this to people, I believe it is time to make a change.

These images present the idea that America’s racial implicit bias cause the police force to use their power in a derogatory way which does not allow certain African Americans to get out of their socio-economic status.

In March 1991, Rodney King was assaulted by a group of police officers, even though he was alleged to not resist. Even after he was on the ground and ready to listen, two police officers took it upon themselves to inflict wounds on this man, while two others watched. Why did this happen? Because America allows these men with power, to be racist. Because America influences a racial bias that makes people believe that African American people deserve less than white people.  They allow the men with power over civilians to inflict their racial views onto them. This image represents everything that is wrong with the system. Particularly, the detail of the police standing over Rodney ignite the symbolism of power. They are above the man in the picture, representing that the police are better, and more powerful, than the black man. This picture was also taken in the dark. The darkness helps represent that what they are doing is wrong, and that is why they must do it in private. If what they are doing is not proper, then why is it allowed? The power of this shade covering these men show the darkness of the crime, and how dire this situation is. It is an incident that should never be allowed to occur. A absolute betrayal of human rights, taught by the American racial bias.  The contrast between the powerful men and the weakened Rodney highlight the difference between their social situations. The police are able to be powerful and beat on the black man, while Rodney is forced to just take it. This symbolizes the existing relationship between the two, one of weak, and one of power. Incidents like this cause people to be unable in achieving freedom of their current poverty and lifestyle, and that is why these black men are unable to get out of their situations. These police officers took it upon themselves to use their power to take down and beat a man, simply for being a different colour. They use their power to inflict their racial views, and keep them down.

This artwork, titled “ Irony of the Negro Policeman” is Basquiat's opinion on the influence of the police. The police are made to enforce the law that America has instituted into the country’s government system. But, these laws hold African American men into a certain socio-economic status that is below everyone else. The title of the artwork, labelled beside the picture represents the theme of the image. It is ironic because black police officers are used to enforce laws which keeps their own race in the current socio- economic status which they reside in. The racial bias have created these laws, and that is why it is ironic. They are forced to use the bias against their race on their own people. They keep themselves down. It is a commentary on how the police system is run, that it would not make sense to have a police black officer, since one of America's influences is having black men stay in a life without power and influence. The rough artwork represents an imagery of the way the government is run. It is run on unfair laws and power, causing rough treatment of Black people. The attitude of the face represents a brainwashed black man, which goes to show why they will use their power to inflict America’s racial bias, and why they do not realize they are being used.The racial bias is given to towards the same people it is inflicted upon.

   This graphic novel helps tell a tale of how America trains the mind of people in power. In the second strip, you see two innocent black boys. But, when the image focuses on the way cops are taught to perceive threat, all of a sudden you see where the police brutality will stem from. The third strip represents danger. What does this show, everyone? The fact that America has a racial implicit bias, which they give to people in power. This racism causes police to treat black people like bad men, just through profiling their race. This means that cops will do what they must in order to do what they think is right, even though that results in unfair treatment. These actions cause black families to be unable to get out of their life, if they are in poverty. The attitude of the subjects in the third strip represent how a racial implicit bias blinds the men in power to perceiving black men as threats. The last strip represents a theme of power, showing that these police officers have the influence to keep those men in poor social conditions with their influence. The lady speaks that since he's a cop, he must have been right to shoot everyone. But that is far from the truth, and far from what is morally right. The theme in these strips are powerful, as they perfectly explain how people in power are taught to perceive black men as a threat, as if all black men are secretly out to murder every one. This leads to actions led against them, which end up causing these black men, women, and families to live in unfair social situations. This system needs to change from the ground up to stop the stem of racism.

I believe the biggest message and proof of this attitude is the shift throughout 40 years of police brutality. Even though every one heard of the Rodney King beating, it seems as if a change has yet to be made. In Ferguson, people finally went and stood up, after a man was shot down in suspicious circumstances. The town rallied up and finally took a step towards racial equality in terms of police action. In response, the government took to the protests with force, and held the protesters back from their goals. In order to keep them in their current status, police held them back from making change. The first element I noticed in this photograph was the contrast between the two lines of men. The police have items in order to protect themselves and hold the other men back, while the black men are forced to stand up without means of power over them. Secondly, there is a focus on the separation in this image. This separation shows the attitude of those in power, that they believe these races should be separate, and black men hidden away in a certain class. The white men have the power to cause this separation and do, because it is the bias that makes them think that it is how it must be. Finally, the theme of the image is a showdown between people. A war. This proves that there is a difference in power and class here, and a war is themed necessary to improve these conditions. All of these elements work together to show the way police separate class, even though it results in black people being held back from their goals.

This is an issue today that everyone must know about. These pictures explain the harshness of the situation. People are held back, killed, shot, in the 21st century. This is in America. A place people are proud to call a first world country. Why is this allowed? Because it is taught. It is influenced. The implicit bias in America leads towards all black men being dangerous. We must not fall to ignorance, as other people are hurt, in danger, poor, and without power, due to racism. People need to speak out and change the way people think. Go vote. Go protest. Do what you must to get attention and help bring this problem to an end.

Works Cited

Basquiat, Jean-Michel. “Irony of the Negro Policeman.” Wikiart. Visual Art Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 8 June 2015. <http://www.wikiart.org/en/jean-michel-basquiat/ironew-york-of-the-negro-policeman#close>.

Bors, Matt. “X-Race Spex.” Blogspot. N.p., 13 Dec. 2014. Web. 8 June 2015. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8on5QduPYVheF5gJ3Ke6LXk6kIQBkRY0Af2wI2ic7cTTUEdK8VBL5x53AcqDIwnlRTTBv9CObwZGBsI86-mlvj_RJGOC74AAsROV_qEEiiON6z8Z5hps1EndKtXmVC4IUNfKWqeiE5eQ/s1600/xrayspecsbias.png>.

“Ferguson.” Static. N.p., 9 Mar. 2015. Web. 8 June 2015. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8on5QduPYVheF5gJ3Ke6LXk6kIQBkRY0Af2wI2ic7cTTUEdK8VBL5x53AcqDIwnlRTTBv9CObwZGBsI86-mlvj_RJGOC74AAsROV_qEEiiON6z8Z5hps1EndKtXmVC4IUNfKWqeiE5eQ/s1600/xrayspecsbias.png>.

“Rodney King Beating.” PatDollard. N.p., 18 June 2012. Web. 8 June 2015. <http://patdollard.com/2012/06/foul-play-friends-suspicious-of-story-told-by-rodney-kings-fiancee/>.