Annotation A revelatory examination of one of America's most serious domestic problems--awholly unique work that investigates historical and sociological roots and grapples for solutions. From the beating of Rodney King to the shooting by New York City police officers of the unarmed and innocent Amidou Diallo, incidents of police brutality have galvanized and polarized the nation in a way few other contemporary events have. Jill Nelson, author of the best-selling memoir Volunteer Slavery, was so disturbed by the Diallo killing--as well as the torture of Abner Louima and other acts of police violence--that she was moved to pioneer this extraordinary, landmark anthology. Police Brutality is a collection of thirteen original essays--by academics, historians, social critics, a Chicago congressman, and an ex-New York City police detective, among others--placing this centuries-old problem in much-needed historical and intellectual context, and underscoring the profound influence police brutality has had in shaping the American identity. Contributors include Robin D. G. Kelley, Ishmael Reed, Michael Ross, Katheryn Russell, Patricia Williams, Bobby Rush, Derrick Bell, Stanley Crouch, Ron Daniels, and Claude Clegg III.
>From the Publisher
A landmark work by twelve leading critics and community leaders—essential
reading for anyone interested in the history of American race relations.
Ignited by the infamous shooting of Amadou Diallo, unarmed and innocent, at the hands of New York City police officers, journalist Jill Nelson was moved to assemble this landmark anthology on the topic of police violence and brutality: an indispensable collection of twelve "groundbreaking" (Ebony) essays by a range of contributors—among them academics, historians, social critics, a congressman, and an ex-New York City police detective. This "important and valuable book" (Emerge) places a centuries-old issue in much-needed historical and intellectual context, and underscores the profound influence police brutality has had in shaping the American identity.
Author Biography: Jill Nelson is an associate professor of journalism at the City College of New York and has written for the New York Times Book Review, among other publications.
What People Are Saying Police Brutality provides historic, empirical, and personal accounts of police brutality, in some cases dating back more than a century. These essays generate rage and response to some of the thoughtless brutality described, and provide delight in that noted scholars are standing up for the voiceless and powerless masses. The sheer volume of instances of brutality recounted in this book is staggering, and the continuity of the abuse, as recent as the Diallo case reminds us that this book could not be more timely. This book should be read by anyone concern about ending brutality, and should be required reading in police academies throughout America! —(Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., author of Beyond the Rodney King Story: An Examination of Police Conduct in Minority Communities) —Charles J. Ogletree
This collection of analysts on the subject of police brutality is not only timely, but explores and exposes the sickness of this unbalanced, uncivilized Western pastime thoroughly. —(Chuck D of Public Enemy, author of Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality)
From the Critics
>From The Village Voice
Given the rising agitations against police brutality in the wake of Abner
Louima's sexual torture in a precinct house bathroom and this year's
acquittal of the four white officers who executed Amadou Diallo on his front
doorstep, this anthology is perfectly timed...illuminating and
thought-provoking...
>From Booknews
Academics, fiction writers, and professionals offer interpretations of
police brutality and racism in this collection of essays. They offer
personal stories of police hazing of black police officers and the
pervasiveness of police brutality in the black community, and examine topics
such as FBI surveillance of the Nation of Islam and the school shootings in
Littleton, Colorado. Essays are accessible to students and general readers.
Lacks a subject index. Nelson is a regular columnist for and teaches
journalism at The City College of New York. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,
Portland, OR (booknews.com)
>From Library Journal
Currently, there are accusations of police corruption and brutality
throughout America. Hate groups are accused of operating within the ranks of
the Cleveland Police Department, the falsifying of information in an LAPD
gang-tracking database has potentially contaminated numerous court cases,
and the recent incidents of alleged police brutality in New York involving
Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo, and Patrick Dorismond shocked and alarmed many
citizens. Unfortunately, such incidents are not rare. Nelson (journalism,
CUNY), the author of Volunteer Slavery, has compiled a very timely
collection of 12 original essays detailing numerous examples of police
brutality perpetrated primarily against African Americans. Contributed by
the likes of Derrick Bell and Stanley Crouch, the pieces in this very
informative book examine the long history of abusive police behaviors and
include descriptions of lynchings, racial profiling, and the hazards of
"driving while black." This mostly one-sided approach in examining police
brutality could have benefited tremendously from the inclusion of interviews
with the police themselves, as they try to justify extreme behaviors.
Recommended for academic libraries.--Tim Delaney, Canisius Coll., Buffalo
Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\
>From Publisher's Weekly
In tones ranging from soulful to provocative to didactic, these 12 fiery
essays by a variety of distinguished contributors argue that there is
currently a plague of police brutality, foisted upon minority communities as
a result of drug war "innovations" in policing. Editor Nelson (Volunteer
Slavery), who teaches journalism at CCNY, addresses in a terse introduction
the "outrage," "disgust" and "sadness" she felt after the police shooting of
unarmed Amadou Diallo in New York City, which drove her to assemble this
volume. Most of the contributions are excellent and even startling. Most
thought-provoking is journalist and critic Stanley Crouch's fusion of harsh
personal recollection (of his teenage brother being pummeled after heckling
a police officer) balanced by the more modulated idea that the real danger
to minority communities is their alienation from the police. Columbia law
professor Patricia Williams contrasts the presumption of guilt that appears
to hover over black youths with the presumption of innocence that allowed
Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris to amass guns, ammunition and grenades in
Littleton, Colo. Gripping "secret histories" of black experience come from
Claude Clegg III's fascinating reconstruction of Elijah Muhammad's nascent
Nation of Islam and its alternate hostility toward and pragmatic cooperation
with the FBI and with Mayor Daley's Chicago machine. Other pieces (by NYU
historian Robin D.G. Kelley and novelist and poet Ishmael Reed, among
others) take an overly rhetorical, separatist tone. In light of the
egregious violations represented by the tragic figures of Abner Louima,
Rodney King and other victims of actual and alleged police brutality, one
forgives this volume its forcefulness. This is a memorable and useful
contribution to an increasingly volatile national dialogue. (May) Copyright
2000 Cahners Business Information.|
>From Barnes & Noble.com
An important and valuable book...Without hysteria or hyperbole, she examines
the issue of police abuse in literary form.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS - An Open Forum Number of Reviews: 3 Average Rating:
Glenn (glennrobert at juno.com), a 37-year-old journalist in N.J., May 11, 2000, Jill Nelson Does It Again!!! Jill Nelson just seems to get better with each new book, but she simply surpasses just about everyone else with her riveting and stunning new book, 'Police Brutality.' From the powerfully written introduction by Nelson to the ending essay from a doctoral student named Ron Daniels, the book ensnares readers with its venomous verbiage and salient tales about the 'Boys in Blue.' With all of the negative publicity about the police, Nelson's book is right on target and pokes some much needed jabs at the NYPD and others. Nelson continues to speak-out loudly, boldly and cogently about issues that are foreboding to many African-Americans...racism, discrimination, abuse and police brutality. No one can write about it better than Jill Nelson!!!
Also recommended: Volunteer Slavery, Straight, No Chaser, Invisible Life, The Harris Men, Something's Wrong With Your Scale, This Too Shall Pass, Understanding the Tin Man, Walkin'the Dog, Sweet St. Louis, Single Mom and Father Found.
Dick Gregory, Activist, May 10, 2000, A Brilliant and Necessary Work In the wake of such extreme incidents of police brutality in the cases of Amadou Diallo and Abner Louima in New York City, and the general heightened awareness of police misconduct nationwide, it is an understatement to simply say that this book is timely. However, beyond being timely, this work provides a brilliant historical overview of police brutality that the more recent victims and protestors need in order to connect them to the larger struggle that individuals like myself have been battling for decades. Along with connecting the young to the old, probably the most powerful element of Nelson's work is how it connects police brutality to the overriding issue of institutionalized racism in America. Not only is this book a must read, it's a must study for anyone concerned with equality for all.
A reviewer, a journalist from New York City., March 28, 2000, POLICE BRUTALITY SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE IN THE U.S. ESPECIALLY RUDY GIULIANI This book comes at a time when police brutality is spinning out of control. This book is an amazing account of police brutality suffered by many throughout history. Jill Nelson is an incredible writer and activist who inspires the fight for justice and change in America.
Also recommended: Straight, No Chaser By Jill Nelson Volunteer Slavery By Jill Nelson
FROM THE BOOK
Table of Contents Part I. Historical Perspectives
"Slangin' Rocks ... Palestinian Style''
Dispatches from the Occupied Zones of North America—Robin D. G. Kelley
Persecution of Negroes by Roughs and Policemen, in the City of New York, August 1900 Citizens' Protective League—Frank Moss
Police Brutality—Portent of Disaster and Discomforting Divergence—Derrick Bell
Nation under Siege—Elijah Muhammad, the FBI, and Police-State Culture in Chicago—Claude A. Clegg
Part II. The Politics of Police Brutality
"What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue?'' Police Violence and the Black Community—Katheryn K. Russell
Obstacle Illusions—The Cult of Racial Appearance—Patricia J. Williams
What's New? The Truth, As Usual—Stanley Crouch
Part III. Policing the Police
>From the Inside Looking Out—Twenty-nine Years in the New York Police
Department—Lieutenant Arthur Doyle (Retired)
Part IV. Repression and Resistance
Another Day at the Front—Encounters with the Fuzz on the American Battlefront—Ishmael Reed
Under the Veil of Suspicion—Organizing Resistance and Struggling for Liberation—Richard Austin
Point No. 7—We Want an Immediate End to Police Brutality and the Murder of Black People—Why I Joined the Black Panther Party Flores—Alexander Forbes
The Crisis of Police Brutality and Misconduct in America—The Causes and the Cure—Ron Daniels
Biographical Notes
Acknowledgments