Catena 1

Olivia Catena

Minbiole

CAS 137H

6 November 2016

Police Brutality: The Transformation From a Case to a Movement

Police brutality is a problem that has always been a part of our countrys history.

Instances of this violence can be traced back to the African-American Civil Rights Movement,

the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the Rodney King case. At the time of these occurrences,

the backlash was present, but contained. The acts of violence committed by police may have

been done so with the inherent approval of the legal system at that time. Recently, there has been

a surge in the occurrences of police brutality, most notably in the case of Michael Brown. This

violence is no longer supported by the system and has created an extensive, feverish response.

Americas view of police brutality shifted from a case by case mentality to a cultural movement

after the recent Ferguson riots sparked a reaction in media and popular culture.

The United States has a record of cases involving police brutality. A multitude of these

particular acts of cruelty occurred during the Civil Rights Movement. African-Americans were

fighting for justice and racial equality when they were subject to this violence, solely because of

their race. This mistreatment prompted an outcry that mostly came from the black community,

and was not regarded as a problem that needed to be addressed. The majority of people decided

to look the other way, police use of excessive force had a widespread and accepted place in law

enforcement (Henry 587). Even though this brutality was present, it wasnt seen as a threat by

everyone. The first example that most closely reflects the problem we see today is the case of
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Rodney King. King was unjustly beaten by police officers after he protested their orders. This

mistreatment was caught on tape and initiated six days of intense rioting. America had not seen

another case like this until recently. At this time, it was clear that police viewed black men and

other minorities as underprivileged. They were treated differently simply because of the color of

their skin. The problem today is that these circumstances still havent changed. American society

as a whole has made a lot of progress in terms of equality, but it has not been enough. The black

community along with many other minority groups are still underprivileged in the eyes of

society, even if it isnt explicitly communicated. In recent years, this problem has intensified.

There have been many cases of police harming, or even killing, black men that it is now a

question of systematic racism. The public has begun to question if this recent behavior among

police is still a structural problem rather than a case by case issue. It has become apparent that,

racism goes beyond individual attitudes or interpersonal exchanges and extends to structural

factors such as institutional policies and societal norms (Garcia 28). Previously, police brutality

cases only visibly affected the public with each individual occurrence. Since the recent surge in

violent instances, these cases have been widely discussed by all races and classes. The conflict

between police and the black community is now an open conversation that occurs even when

there is no specific case to tie it to.

The shooting of Michael Brown and the riots in Ferguson were the first major events in

the recent series of police brutality cases; these incidents ignited the most backlash that America

has seen since the infamous police brutality involving Rodney King. The difference was that this

time, the disapproval wasnt going to be silenced. The conversation about police brutality still

hasnt stopped today. Another disparity is that the black community isnt the only group of
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people that has spoken out about their discontent. It was becoming more apparent that the

underprivileged status of blacks and minorities had not improved over the years. This epiphany

sparked a movement to close this growing gap of inequality. Now, people of all races are raising

awareness of this problem, and lending their support to the many victims. At the time of this

shooting, the majority of the population in Ferguson was black, and every city official was white

(Mirzoeff 49). Michael Browns case had such an immense cultural impact not only because of

his death, but because of the court case that emerged after as well. Darren Wilson, the police

officer that killed Brown, was investigated by the Justice Department but was not brought up on

any criminal charges. All the public needed to see was that a boy died, and the man who killed

him was set free. This verdict outraged the city of Ferguson and people all over the country,

inciting violent protests and riots that carried on for more than two weeks. The backlash from the

not guilty verdict was spread across the country. There was not a single person that didnt know

about the events that were taking place in Ferguson, Missouri. This occasion sparked a

movement that is still in progress today. People were done being silent, this was the last push

they needed to speak out. In this particular case, the relations of force inherent in the racial

hierarchy of the United States that the policemeaning the entire apparatus of social

controltry to prevent us from seeing became visible but not transparent (Mirzoeff 49). These

relations became more and more visible as new cases of police brutality presented themselves in

the following months. Eric Garner was killed not even a week later by Officer Daniel Pantaleo in

Staten Island. Then, twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by Officer Timothy

Loehmann in Cleveland. The list kept growing, and a rising number of these officers were not

being indicted. Browns murder, and the reaction it evoked, is what initiated the new way police
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brutality is viewed by the public. The response to what started from a single case has shifted to a

cultural movement that represents all victims of this brutality, in the past, present and future.

The new mentality concerning police brutality was supported by the media and popular

culture. The Ferguson riots were covered by almost every news outlet and spread on social media

overnight. Without this unprecedented backlash, the story would not have been discussed enough

to reach the audience that it did. The platforms that this story was spread on did not exist during

the time of the Rodney King case. Different methods of communication are one reason for the

shift in public view from that time. The message could be spread further and faster, allowing

more people to be exposed to this problem. As more cases emerged, more people began to talk

about this issue. The increased exposure of the topic, compared to past occurrences, has initiated

the development of the cultural movement that this country is in the midst of. Social media has

played an immense role in spreading the stories of these victims. The entire movement itself was

born from just a simple hashtag: #blacklivesmatter. Now, when anyone hears that phrase, they

automatically know what it is referencing. It is an ideology that has been instilled in the minds of

millions. It has inspired a nationwide effort to reach equality, and raise awareness of the violence

that so many black citizens are still facing today. This movement has gained enough traction to

force several police departments to alter the way they operate. In cities where brutality instances

have occurred, many departments have turned inward in an effort to regulate the conduct of

their officers (Henry 591). By taking partial responsibility for the crime, these departments are

able to somewhat salvage their reputation. The public simply wants to see an effort to change

this society for the better. For many, it is known to be true that isolated instances of police

brutality may be unavoidable, [but] a number of accountability measures can be implemented in

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an effort to reduce overall patterns of police brutality (Henry 591). When officials exhibit that

they are doing something to help the current circumstances, it is proof that this movement is

productive. Another sign of productivity is the introduction of body cameras into many

departments. These cameras promise to change the way police work is done-and [serve as] a

means of civilizing the police and increasing police accountability (Lippert 113). The use of

this method of surveillance puts the public at ease because it makes it so nothing can go unseen.

Previously, personal cell phone cameras had an identical effect, but only if there were witnesses

of the crime. The news would air videos taken by bystanders as evidence that the brutal acts

actually occurred. These videos were also shared all over social media, which allowed most of

the population to feel as though they were a part of the case. Now, these body cameras are used

to hold officers accountable for everything they do while on duty. Even if police arent doing

anything wrong, the cameras provide the feeling that they are constantly being watched, which

makes them less likely to commit a crime. These extra preventative measures were established as

a direct response to the growing conversation about police brutality in America.

The rising dialogue of this violence in popular culture worked to normalize the discussion

of police brutality. The majority of the public has been exposed to this issue through social

media or other news outlets, but it has also been discussed on larger platforms. A long list of

celebrities have spoken publicly about the movement, and many have even dedicated their work

to it. In this past year alone, there have been multiple musical performances devoted to past

instances of this violence, and the victims. Beyonc brought the mothers of many victims to the

MTV VMAs with her, while Kendrick Lamar performed his song Alright, now an anthem for

the Black Lives Matter movement, on the Grammy stage. He started the performance shackled in
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handcuffs, and added a freestyle verse where he referenced the death of Trayvon Martin. Kanye

West also pays tribute to this movement in his song Feedback with the line,

hands up we just doing what the cops taught us, hands up hands up then the cops shot us. The

fact that this topic is so present in popular culture is a big reason why the discussion on police

brutality is now so open. Before the shift, there would only be conversation after a single, rare

case. This conversation would be short lived, and mostly only between the black community.

Now, there is talk about the issue of brutality even when there is not a specific case to tie it to.

The problem became so relevant after the Ferguson riots because the brutality never stopped.

Case after case would be presented because nothing went unseen, or unheard of. An act of

violence would be caught on camera by a bystander, or recorded by the officers own body

cameras, and the news would spread like wildfire. After the immediate backlash of a specific

case passes over, the conversation is continued on multiple platforms. Due to this constant

discussion, children are exposed to this serious issue at a very young age. This exposure forces

the topic to become a household discussion. Black families have to explain to their children how

to behave in front of police because they fear for their safety. What used to be a stifled

discussion within the black community has now transformed into an open conversation among

all. Present political circumstances have also played a part in this discussion. The nation was lead

by the first African-American president when this movement began. He also used his platform as

a way to speak to this issue. Now that he will be leaving office, police brutality and gun control

have been major topics debated by our presidential candidates. Citizens are concerned with how

our leader will handle this problem, and how they will try to stop it. The discussion is then

furthered throughout the country because of its presence at a federal level. It has become
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something that needs to be talked about because it now affects everyone, either directly or

indirectly.

Police brutality has become a present issue that has inspired a cultural movement. The

way that the public views this problem has recently shifted. In the case of Rodney King in the

1990s there was evident brutality caught on camera. There were riots and backlash from the

black community, but that was silenced when the immediate reactions passed. When Michael

Brown was killed by a police officer in 2014 on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, the

community retaliated. Rioting soon begun and lasted for over two weeks. People marched,

buildings were burned, and the police fought back. These riots sent a message across the entire

country; the message that black lives matter. This theme resonated with millions and became a

symbol of the fight for equality that still hasnt been silenced. It was applicable to every

occurrence of this brutality, and represented something larger than just an individual case.

Recent technological innovations, social media, and popular culture have all reinforced this

message and contributed to the discussion. This shift is something that must be taken note of

because it is still occurring today. America is still in the midst of this transformation that will

permanently alter society. The Black Lives Matter movement has touched everyone at least once

in their life. Whether it is directly or not, this movement has affected every citizen in this nation.

It is crucial that the discussion continues. It can no longer be ignored as it was in the past. This

movement has gained an undeniable momentum that has already initiated change in our practices

as a society. The problem of police brutality will no longer only be discussed on a case by case

basis. This shift has made enough progress that the way the public views the problem has

permanently been altered. A cultural movement has been born and there is no going back.
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Works Cited

Garca, Jennifer Jee-Lyn, and Mienah Zulfacar Sharif. "Black Lives Matter: A Commentary on

Racism and Public Health." American Journal of Public Health 105.8 (2015): 27-30. ProQuest.

Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

Henry, Jessica S. "Police Brutality." Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Social Issues. Ed.

Michael Shally-Jensen. Vol. 2: Criminal Justice. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 586-592.

Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

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psucic&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX1762600075&asid=957c23b96a1d65bc7210d3a979694e

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Lippert, Randy K., and Bryce Clayton Newell. "Introduction: The Privacy and Surveillance

Implications of Police Body Cameras." Surveillance & Society 14.1 (2016): 113-6. ProQuest. Web.

27 Oct. 2016.

Mirzoeff, Nicholas. "The Murder of Michael Brown: Reading the Ferguson Grand Jury Transcript."

Social Text, vol. 34, no. 1_126, 2016.

Zook, Kristal Brent. "King, Rodney (19652012)." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed.

Thomas Riggs. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: St. James Press, 2013. 171-173. Gale Virtual Reference

Library. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

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cic&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX2735801489&asid=4a121510900e33e5be4604b938f4d5ee