NCJ Number
5283
Date Published
1969
Length
210 pages
Annotation
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERIENCED BLACK NEW YORK CITY POLICEMEN SHOW THAT THEY FACE A UNIQUE SET OF PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO RACE.
Abstract
IT WAS FOUND THAT BLACKS WERE OFTEN MOTIVATED TO ENTER POLICE WORK BY THE LACK OF ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER MIDDLE CLASS PROFESSIONS. THE BLACK POLICEMAN SEES THE FORCE AS DOMINATED BY A WHITE OFFICIALDOM, WHILE WHITE OFFENDERS OFTEN DENY THAT A NON-UNIFORMED BLACK MAN CAN BE A POLICEMAN. SINCE HE IS MOST FREQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO GHETTO COMMUNITIES, THE BLACK POLICEMAN BECOMES THE TARGET FOR EXPRESSIONS OF RAGE AND FRUSTRATION BY INNER CITY RESIDENTS WHO PERCEIVE HIM AS AN AGENT OF WHITE REPRESSION. HIS CHOSEN PROFESSION ALSO AFFECTS THE BLACK POLICEMAN'S SOCIAL RELATIONS. HE SOMETIMES AVOIDS THE FRIENDS OF HIS YOUTH SO THAT HE WILL NOT LEARN OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THEY MAY AVOID HIM FOR SIMILAR REASONS. ON AND OFF-DUTY, THE BLACK POLICEMAN IS DRAWN INTO AN ENCLAVE OF OTHER BLACK POLICEMEN AND BECOMES A MEMBER OF A MINORITY GROUP WITHIN A MINORITY GROUP. THIS BOOK WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS FOR THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEMS FACED BY MINORITY MEMBERS OF HIS ORGANIZATION. (SNI (SNI ABSTRACT)