What is the role of police in American society? Is it serving as protectors of people and defenders of citizens’ civil rights? Does the police role include partnering with communities that they serve? The logical answers are a resounding “yes.” Therefore, why do minority communities feel left out of those positive parts of the police equation? Dating back to slavery and the slave patrols, law enforcement in one form or another has been viewed as an oppressor by the African American commu- nity. The stories of police abuse have been handed down from generation to generation in the African American community, and it is coupled with the fact that many African Americans have felt violated in one form or another by police today. Rooney (2010) argues: “White people living in America now are not responsible for slavery and the injustices associated with slavery. This happened before this generation was born and for anyone to dwell on the past only fuels resentment” (p. 13). Rooney’s argument would have merit if Afri- can Americans were not reminded through personal experiences/contact, the media, and social media posts of police actions showing that some officers in the United States still act as if Blacks here have no rights. Depending on their location in this nation, some African Americans see police as an occupying army in their community. Conversely, I have seen social media posts where police officers argue that the “kinder, gentler police are nothing more than social workers.” 1 History and Oppressive Police Practices against Minorities
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