Human Relations in a Diverse Society

Unit 4

http://www.kucourses.com/ec/media/store/mediacsocj/Policeshooting.wmv

Please watch this before Seminar

What did you see in this video?Was the action justified?What could have been done differently?Why do you think what happened, happened?What actions would you take upon seeing

something like this if any?

As we review the historical information in our text the authors state that the fact of African Americans having been slaves in this country has created great psychological and social problems for blacks and whites for generations to come.

How is this true for both races?

Colonists created “slave patrols”

Segregation laws enforced by the police

Civil rights protests and demonstrationsstopped by the police

Lower socioeconomic class contact created one-sided perspectives of African Americans

13 percent of U.S. population—35 million

Population shifts created two Americas– Blacks in urban inner city– Whites in the suburbs

Blacks are represented in all socioeconomic classes

Society still discriminates against color

Should never be used

Are obscenities and inflammatory

What about singers and rappers using the “n” word in the lyrics of a song?

Black Male (Others’ Perceptions) White MaleArrogant ConfidentChip on shoulder Self-assuredAggressive AssertiveDominant personality Natural leaderViolence prone WaywardNaturally gifted SmartSexual prowess Sexual

experimentation

POLICE ACTIONS

1. Stopped or expelled in “white neighborhoods”

2. Reacting to blacks without distinction between drug dealer and plainclothes police officer

3. Using unreasonable force, beatings, adding charges

4. Negative attitudes, jokes, body language, talking down to people

BLACK PERCEPTIONS

1. Whites want blacks to “stay in their place”

2. Police view black skin itself as probable cause

3. When stopped, blacks must be submissive or else

4. Officers are racists

Perceptions of Police Officers’ Actions by Some

Blacks

POLICE ACTIONS5. Quick trigger, take-

downs, accidental shootings

6. Slow response, low priority, low apprehension rate

7. Techniques of enforcing local restrictions and white political interests

8. Police stick together, right or wrong

BLACK PERCEPTIONS

5. Bad attitudes will come out under stress

6. Black-on-black crime not important

7. Police are the strong arm for the status quo

8. Us-against-them mentality; they stick together, so we have to stick together

Origins are from West African tribes

Use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) does not reflect pathology

Also known as Ebonics and has consistent grammatical rules

Non-Blacks should not try to imitate AAVE. Why?

Whites and Blacks have different perceptions ofwhen a fight starts

Whites perceive shouting as onset

Blacks look for physical movement, action, orprovocation

Officer safety is number one concern, but do not escalate use of force in these contacts

Source: Thomas Kochman

Want equal police services

Supportive of community policing

More African American police officers and police executives in law enforcement today

Strict written rules in all departments regarding the use of excessive force, discourtesy, racial slurs, etc.

1. Leadership2. Vision3. Respect4. Goals5. Strategies6. Mutual benefits for police and community7. Effective communication and practices of

both law enforcement agencies and the community