In my project, I sought to convey the psychological trauma inflicted by events of police brutality, analyze and critique the response of the racial justice protests from the 2020 Presidential Candidates, and lastly propose solutions to police brutality. I considered an important part of the protest summer to be the fact that it occurred side by side with one of most hard fought, and engaging elections of our lifetimes. I established an historical context and background for my project through the use of scholarly journals, as well as newspaper articles. I learned more in depth how structures of institutional racism can provoke fear and anxiety in minority groups. In terms of analyzing the 2020 Presidential Candidates, I learned more about the historical background of their past actions, and messaging on the issues. I specifically studied the origins and passage of the 1994 crime bill, specifically Joe Biden’s role in securing it as law. I also became more aware of the similarities and differences between President Trump’s use of “law and order” messaging and that of President Richard Nixon use of the messaging which contributed to his election in 1968. I also learned through my research investments in community social services, such as mental health, rather than policing can be effective at reducing instances police brutality. My concluding message in my media project is rather than seeking to empathize with supporters, in the case of Biden, or deliver a message of “law and order”, in the case of Trump, politicians should be seeking to reduce instances of police brutality through investments in social services, such as crisis intervention teams.
Alang, Sirry. "Police Brutality and the Institutional Patterning of Stressors." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 110, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1597-1598. ProQuest, https://northseattle.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/police-brutality-institutional-patterning/docview/2456176591/se-2?accountid=36118, doi:http://dx.doi.org.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305937.
Sirry Alang writes in this scholarly journal the impact of police brutality on mental health. Focusing on how it is a mental stressor, an event which causes mental stress and trauma, especially toward African Americans and their communities. The article explains the role of systemic racism, and marginalized statuses in creating stress. Specifically, how the societal dominance of police officers, and lower social hierarchical status of African Americans causes the group to experience greater fear, and anxiety than whites. Alang also explains how acts of police brutality can lead black people to lose trust in institutions, which would provide mental support services. In return, the lack of institution trust could lead to more crime. The argument is made resources should be reallocated away from police and invested in community resources such as mental health services and after school programs, which would reduce crime, and therefore the need for police.
Through this scholarly journal, I gained insight on the real-world impact of instances of police brutality. Specifically, learning about the fear that manifests in people of color when these instances occur. Information I sought to include in my project from this article was how black people are more likely to worry about experiencing police brutality than whites, as well as the contribution of institutional power and societal hegemony toward their fears, and stress. I seek to portray the emotional impact of instances of police brutality. In addition, I seek to use this insight to make the case for reallocating money away from policing, and investing in communities, specifically in the area of mental health.
Clare, Rod. "Black Lives Matter: The Black Lives Matter Movement in the National Museum of African American History and Culture." Transfers, vol. 6, no. 1, 2016, pp. 122-125. ProQuest, https://northseattle.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/black-lives-matter-movement-national-museum/docview/1801656191/se-2?accountid=36118, doi:http://dx.doi.org.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/10.3167/TRANS.2016.060112.
This scholarly journal by Rod Clare discusses the featuring of the Black Lives Matter movement in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which was not yet open at the time of this writing. Clare provides rational for the inclusion of recent and ongoing movements into the museum. He describes Black Lives Matter as a continuation of centuries long movements in the push for equality. In addition, he provides context for the struggles of African Americans such as past racial zoning laws, and makes the case the idea there are places blacks do not enter led to the birth of the movement in 2013. Specifically, he discusses how blacks being punished for crossing boundary lines is nothing new, “...their movement and associations were always strictly monitored and in many cases, prohibited by laws, slave patrols, and other means.” Other than discussing the museum exhibition itself, the article is packed with historical information.
Through this scholarly article, I was able to gain more insight and background on the origins of Black Live Matter. I had forgotten some of the details of early cases that led to the birth of the movement, such as the murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. The fact Martin was stopped as he was simply out of place as a black man in the neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The article iterated on how these incidents can be placed in a long-term view in the battle for where African Americans are allowed to roam. As a result of reading this article, I am more aware of the origins of Black Lives Matter, as well as long standing struggles of African Americans.
"Crime Bill Roots Reach Back to Concern about Drugs: [all 08/29/94 Edition]." The Christian Science Monitor (pre-1997 Fulltext), Aug 29, 1994. ProQuest, https://northseattle.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/newspapers/crime-bill-roots-reach-back-concern-about-drugs/docview/291226050/se-2?accountid=36118.
This newspaper article written by the Christian Science Monitor provides a perspective on the origins and passage of the 1994 crime bill. In addition, this article is from the time of its passage in August 1994. The article specifically highlights the role of then-Senator Joe Biden in securing its passage. It is highlighted Biden played a key role in its formation as he was the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time, and also how he fought numerous times unsuccessfully to pass it through both houses of Congress. I consider this source to be particularly valuable, as it provides a 1994 perspective compared to a 2020 perspective.
In the context of my media artifact, I view this source as providing valuable information. In my media artifact, I highlight then-Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden’s response to the calls for racial justice surrounding the death of George Floyd. Through this article, one learns Joe Biden contributed to the present issue of racial injustice in the criminal justice system. The 1994 crime bill is cited as a key factor in the disproportionate sentencing of African Americans compared to whites. The article provides a compare and contrast of Joe Biden’s positions and actions in the past with the present, which I seek to include in my media artifact.
Glauser, Wendy. "Why some Doctors Want to Defund the Police: CMAJ." Canadian Medical Association.Journal, vol. 192, no. 48, 2020, pp. E1644-E1645. ProQuest, https://northseattle.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/why-some-doctors-want-defund-police/docview/2466370090/se-2?accountid=36118, doi:http://dx.doi.org.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/10.1503/cmaj.1095905.
This scholarly journal written by Wendy Glauser of the Canadian Medical Association Journal discusses the Doctors for Defunding the Police organization in Canada, and the group’s goal of reallocating resources away from policing, and instead into community social services. The article states young black men have disproportionately been killed in police custody in Canada over the last few years, and argues the inability of policing to handle mental health issues is to blame. The article discusses proposed solutions such as having mental health professionals only respond in certain situations, as well as crisis intervention teams which would combine police and mental health workers in first responses. This article provides a balanced viewpoint in it’s assessment, and isn’t set on promoting a particular agenda, as it includes data to back up claims, and presents informed individuals in the fields of mental health and policing.
The contribution of this article to my media artifact is support for my critique of President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden’s responses to the protests for Black Live Matter, and racial justice. Specifically, the fact neither one of them was supportive of reallocating money away from police department, and into social services as part of criminal justice reform. Furthermore, this article lists specific solutions to reduce police brutality such as creation of mental health response teams, as well as combining of police and mental health workers in the form of crisis intervention teams. Through this journal article, I have expanded my knowledge on police brutality, and proposed solutions.
Megerian, Chris. "Trump, Like Nixon, Talks 'Law and Order' to 'Silent Majority'." Los Angeles Times, Jun 03, 2020. ProQuest, https://northseattle.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.northseattle.idm.oclc.org/docview/2408726023?accountid=36118.
Chris Megarian of the Los Angeles Times wrote an article comparing President Trump’s messaging of “law and order” to that of President Richard Nixon. The article describes the similarities and differences between the two men and their tactics, as well as the eras of their campaigns (late 1960s vs 2020). In addition, the article provides an assessment of the concerns of the nation at their respective times. Specifically, Nixon’s successful messaging was uplifted by raising crime at the time, and sustained civil unrest from the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement. An important distinction was noted as well, which was the fact Nixon was the challenging candidate, not the incumbent or the incumbent party’s candidate. Overall, the article presented an analysis of Trump’s tactics as ineffective, or not suited for the times.
This article gave me insight into President Trump’s use of “law and order” messaging, and its effectiveness in response to the surge of Black Lives Matter protests. Highlighting the fact the tactic had been successful in the past, as Nixon won the 1968 Presidential Election. However, I learned crime was of greater concern in the late 1960s than today. In addition, the country had experienced prolonged civil unrest by 1968 under Democratic administrations. Also, it was pointed out how Trump’s messaging on crime ignores the fundamental issue at hand, which was racial tensions. For my media project, it gives more background in assessing Trump’s messaging on Black Lives Matter, and other protests.
Upon concluding my research, I find myself to be more supportive of movements to “defund the police.” More specifically, supportive of allocating money away from policing, and into social services. I gained insight into how the mental trauma of police brutality erodes not just trust in policing, but other institutions in African Americans, which could curtail the need for policing (mental health services). I also learned how the establishment of mental health response teams, or crisis interventions team (police along with mental health workers) would be a viable alternative, as many acts of police brutality have occurred due to lack of understanding of mental illness. One of the most interesting snippets of information I found was how acts of police brutality have occurred where African Americans are crossing preconceived boundary lines. My opinion of President-elect Biden and outgoing President Trump responses have become more unfavorable. I have realized both of their responses were either tone deaf, or lacking in support of actions to address society’s reliance on policing. President Trump’s response of cracking down on “rioting and looting” was ignorant of the underlying issue, and ill suited to the times, as crime is nowhere near the level of concern today as in prior decades. I also realized though, President-elect Biden responded with empathy toward the protesters, however his response lacked in actions to move away from policing. Also, as I researched, Joe Biden played a key role in passage of the 1994 crime bill, which contributed to many of the present injustices the protests over the summer were rallying against. Overall, my research made me more aware of the social injustices, and the need for change.
Comments
Post a Comment