The origins of policing in America | Perspective

Summary

The video script delves into the historical roots of American policing, tracing its origins from colonial times to the modern era. It highlights the early role of policing in controlling enslaved Africans and maintaining social order, emphasizing that police departments were designed to protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful. The script challenges the notion that police are broken, suggesting instead that they are functioning as intended, and calls for a reimagining of public safety that moves beyond traditional law enforcement.

Takeaways

• 🕵️ Policing in America has deep historical roots, dating back to Colonial times with night watches, local sheriffs, and militias.
• 🔒 The institution of policing was initially designed to control enslaved Africans and enforce slave codes, which regulated their movements and rights.
• 📜 The 13th Amendment abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime, leading to the creation of 'Black Codes' that criminalized Black freedom and re-enslaved many.
• 💼 After the Civil War, the South exploited legal loopholes to continue controlling the Black population through laws and practices that resembled slavery.
• 👮‍♂️ Police departments in the North were also created to control labor and maintain the status quo for the wealthy and powerful.
• 🏭 Early police forces were often corrupt and served the interests of business owners, acting as enforcers against labor unions and political dissent.
• 🛠 The Pennsylvania State Police, for example, originated from private forces meant to suppress worker rights and unionization efforts.
• 🚔 The history of policing is intertwined with the maintenance of social order that favored the elite, often at the expense of minority and working-class rights.
• ✋ Activists argue for the defunding or abolishment of the police, pointing to a history that shows the institution was not designed to serve all Americans equally.
• 🏗️ The script challenges the notion that police are broken, suggesting instead that they are operating as intended, and calls for the creation of new institutions focused on public safety.

Q & A

When did modern police departments first emerge in Northern cities?

Modern police departments first emerged in Northern cities such as Boston in the 19th century.

What was the original purpose of law enforcement in the United States?

The original purpose of law enforcement in the United States was to track and control enslaved Africans.

What were the duties of the slave patrols in the South during the 1700s?

The slave patrols were tasked with capturing, controlling, and brutalizing enslaved people.

How were slave patrols enforced and regulated?

Slave patrols were required to serve a tour of duty, usually up to a year, and individuals were compensated for their time but penalized if they did not show up for their required service.

What were the 'slave codes' and how did they impact enslaved people?

Slave codes were laws meant to prevent enslaved people from organizing or rebelling, restricting their movements, gatherings, education, and self-defense.

How did the 'Black Codes' exploit the 13th Amendment after the Civil War?

The 'Black Codes' essentially criminalized all forms of Black freedom by adopting broad vagrancy laws that targeted African-Americans who could not prove employment or challenged unfair labor terms.

What was the practice of convict-leasing and how did it benefit states and companies?

Convict-leasing involved lending out prisoners to work in industries like mining and railroads, generating revenue for states and huge profits for companies using the cheap prison labor.

How did the role of police change after the Civil War and the rise of 'Black Codes'?

After the Civil War and the rise of 'Black Codes', the police took over the former duties of slave patrols, effectively re-enslaving those who had gained freedom and enforcing the new laws that criminalized Black freedom.

What was the role of early police departments in the North regarding labor control?

Early police departments in the North aimed to control labor, maintain political power, and were often involved in enforcing the will of the political elites and affluent classes over the poor and working class.

How did the Pennsylvania State Police originate and what was their initial purpose?

The Pennsylvania State Police originated from private police forces owned by those running cons, with the explicit job of controlling workers trying to unionize for rights.

What is the argument for decoupling the idea of public safety from the police?

The argument is that public safety should not be solely dependent on police, as they were historically created to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful, not necessarily to address social issues like crime, inequality, or poverty.