Black Lives Matter is a global movement consisting of diverse people and organizations aiming at eradicating oppression, social injustice, and unfairness against Black people. In the U.S Black Lives Matter serves as a critical tool in creating awareness and mitigating police brutality, white supremacy, and racial marginalization (Peay& Camarillo, 2021). Presently, digital media has played a crucial part in organizing and mobilizing participation within the Black Lives Matter fraternity. This paper examines various sources, and their approaches and relevance regarding the media’s role in the BLM movement. police brutality, and Black youth perceptions concerning law enforcement.
According to Hogue (2020), escalating police brutality and killings against the Black community in the United States indicate the criminal justice system as rooted in white supremacy and institutional racism. As Hogue (2020) notes, police brutality remains rampant due to several factors. Firstly, law enforcement’s current laws regulating excessive or deadly force provide police with an upper hand and presumably a higher power to execute suspected lawbreakers with impunity. As it has occurred with many civilian killing cases and judgments, existing statutes allow the use of deadly force in preventing escape and apprehending suspects. Besides, self-defense laws permit officers to discharge their weapons even when the situations are not life-endangering.
Further, stereotypes on the Black male community as being armed and dangerous play a significant part in the increased racially motivated police brutality. By analyzing recent data on killings committed by law enforcement on civilians and vice versa, it is quite shocking that most victims of police shootings are Black people (Hogue, 2020). Equally, convictions on civilian killings remain low as officers employ labor statutes in evading prosecution. Conclusively, it is critical to reevaluating and the current guidelines regarding the use of deadly force, criminalizing police shootings, and prosecuting racist police officers are monumental steps in achieving social justice and equity in the United States society (Hogue, 2020). Although this study indirectly highlights the topic, it provides an insight into police brutality in the United States and its influence on the relations between law enforcement and the young Black community.
As Thema et al. (2020) motes, the Black community is worst affected by racialism, socioeconomic marginalization. In alleviating the crisis, institutions and studies have explored and formulated various strategies in mitigating police brutality. Despite these advancements, scanty research exists on the trauma caused by police brutality on the Black community. In developing a reconciliatory approach, it is critical to explore the psychological impacts of police brutality. Typically, institutional racism is the main factor behind the stereotypes and excessive force against the black community members.
Consequently, the Black community is traumatized across three broad dimensions. From an interpersonal scope, Black women often face police brutality as sexual assault, sexism, and sexual harassment at the interpersonal level. Intergenerational trauma presents as substance use, antagonism, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in present generations due to repeated and unending police injustices against Black people. Complex trauma manifests as consciousness in the black community. Such consciousness depicts the community as a target and emphasizes the need to exercise caution in avoiding violent encounters with the police (Bryant et al., 2017).
Nevertheless, familial support, spirituality, therapy, and socialization serve as practical coping strategies. Presently, the media and social movements like Black Lives Matter play a critical role in fighting police brutality and other injustices against people of color (Bryant et al., 2017). This article resonates with the topic as it highlights the influence of police brutality on mental health and how social movements are responding to the issue.
Racial discrimination against the Black community contributes significantly to juvenile delinquency (Kang&Burton, 2014). Many young African Americans have directly or indirectly experienced traumatic experiences such as physical violence, threat, and loss of family members due to racism. Consequently, a vast portion of the young Black population is experiencing stress, depression, and PTSD. Such symptoms increase the risk of juvenile delinquency among the Black youth. Equally, some security procedures (like the stop-and-frisk protocol) increase the risk of trauma and negligence among young black people(Kang&Burton, 2014). In easing the burden on Black youth, it is essential to review discriminative policies and explore clinical approaches in mitigating the impacts of discrimination. Although this study does not link with police brutality, it examines racism and its effects on young African Americans’ psychological wellness.
According to Hamilton et al. (2021), family violence is becoming rampant in contemporary society, with studies indicating that most incidences are repeated. It is agreeable that the traditional approaches and responses are ineffective in mitigating family violence. In this light, contemporary strategies involve the various agencies, specialized units, and advanced mechanisms. This study examines Alexis (a family violence program in Victoria, Australia). Unlike previous initiatives, Alexis builds on accountability, a collaboration between agencies, resource allocation, and professionalism (Hamilton et al., 2021). Besides, the program fosters a recognizes family violence as a severe criminal offense and promotes detailed investigative procedures. Observably, Alexis is achieving notable success in reducing family violence. This study, however, does not address the issues highlighted in the topic.
As Ince et al. (2017) point out, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement emerged from social agitation and resistance to police brutality against African Americans. Presently, social media plays a vital role in shaping the image, articulation, and perceptions regarding contemporary social movements (Ince et al., 2017). Particularly, the use of hashtags in social media platforms dramatically impacts the message relayed by particular organizations. For instance, the #blacklivesmatter phrase transcended from a simple statement on social media to a global movement against Black people’s police brutality (Ince et al., 2017). This study centers on social media’s role in the formation of decentralized social activities.
There has been an increase in police brutality incidences against minority communities in the United States in recent years. Categorically, Black males are seemingly an easy target to rogue, racist police officers (Baker, 2016). Police shootings are a clear indication of the racialism deeply embedded in law enforcement, among other institutions. Much worse, the perpetrator’s dismissal and acquittal continuously breed hatred and pessimistic perceptions between the police and the young Black population (Baker, 2016). Recently, Black Lives Matter (BLM) has transformed into a global force against the oppression of minority communities. Although this study examines the BLM movement and the youth, it does not highlight media influence.
The United States passes as one of the world’s democracies and a society that upholds civil freedoms and human rights. From a historical perspective, peaceful protests are an essential tool in exposing evil, creating awareness, and initiating positive changes (Peay&Camarillo, 2021). However, it is shocking how some movements like BLM face numerous challenges in articulating their issues through non-violent protests. Racism has a significant influence on the perception and acceptance of a social movement. For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement’s activities often appear violent, uncoordinated, and illegal due to white supremacy and racist media presentation (Peay& Camarillo, 2021). Such a scenario casts doubts on the right to protest as enshrined in the U.S constitution. Despite that this study examines media influence on the BLM movement, it rarely analyzes police brutality and youth perceptions about the police.
According to Lawrence (2020), the United States of America travels a long constitutional journey in creating a harmonious, inclusive, and equitable society. Despite numerous achievements, minority communities remain impoverished, marginalized, and isolated from the majority white community (Lawrence, 2020). Undoubtedly, this situation emerges from racialism and disproportional relations fostered by corrupt institutions. Like other communities, Black people hold a central position in U.S history. However, unconstitutional clauses like equal protection as per the 14th created room for continuous discrimination against Blacks (Lawrence, 2020).
In light of rampant racialism, the 13th amendment is critical in routing unfairness in U.S. society. Firstly, it abolishes slavery and grants Congress power to enforce anti-discriminatory laws. Secondly, it recognizes the historical suffering of the Black community. Lastly, it serves as a solid foundation for reconciliation, equality, and liberty for all the races in the United States (Lawrence, 2020). This study creates an understanding of the origins and events in the struggle for freedom and the BLM movement’s role as the new face of the resistance against social injustice.
Reference
Baker Jr, H. A. (2016). The Black Bottom Line: Reflections on Ferguson, Black Lives Matter, and White Male Violence in America. American Literary History, 28(4), 845-853.
Bryant‐Davis, T., Adams, T., Alejandre, A., & Gray, A. A. (2017). The trauma lens of police violence against racial and ethnic minorities. Journal of Social Issues, 73(4), 852-871.
Hamilton, G. (2018). Policing Repeat and High-Risk Family Violence: A Coordinated Model in Victoria, Australia.
Hogue, K. M. (2020). When an Officer Kills: Turning Legal Police Conduct into Illegal Police Misconduct. Texas Law Review, 98(3), 601.
Ince, J., Rojas, F., & Davis, C. A. (2017). The social media response to Black Lives Matter: How Twitter users interact with Black Lives Matter through hashtag use. Ethnic and racial studies, 40(11), 1814-1830.
Kang, H. K., & Burton, D. L. (2014). Effects of racial discrimination, childhood trauma, and trauma symptoms on juvenile delinquency in African American incarcerated youth. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.
Lawrence, M. A. (2020). The Thirteenth Amendment as Basis for Racial Truth and Reconciliation. Arizona Law Review, 62.
Peay, P. C., & Camarillo, T. (2021). No Justice! Black Protests? No Peace: The Racial Nature of Threat Evaluations of Nonviolent# BlackLivesMatter Protests. Social Science Quarterly, 102(1), 198-208.
