The Racist History of American Law Enforcement

F*** Your Racist History

We live in troubled times. After numerous killings of unarmed people of color by police over the past decade and beyond, the relationship between the public and law enforcement seems to be on the brink of exploding. On one side of the debate, activists claim a systemic racism problem. On the other, supporters of law enforcement claim these horrific acts of force are either necessary or the actions of a few "bad apples." In 1963, President John F. Kennedy declared the week of May 15th National Police Week and said, "from the beginning of this Nation, law enforcement officers have played an important role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution and in protecting the lives and property of our citizens." But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Join me as we look into the racist origin story of America's laws and the people who enforce them.