Introduction
It has been long debated whether Black people should be allowed to serve in the police force. The answer lies in the racial makeup of the officer corps. As a result, the police force is often known for being hostile toward the black community.
Some studies have shown that the number of Black police officers has declined significantly since the 1970s. A study from Yale University suggests that black police officers are more sympathetic to protesters against police violence. However, that doesn’t mean they are more sympathetic to other social causes. Here are ten reasons Blacks may not want to become police officers.
Reason 1: Recruitment hurdles
The recruitment process for police officers is notoriously difficult for black men and women. Although a majority of law enforcement applicants are white, black police officers are at a distinct disadvantage. It is in part because of their lack of representation in policing. This lack of diversity can lead to problematic outcomes, such as the disproportionate number of racially biased arrests.
Reason 2: Dealing with police culture
Police culture is an important facet of law enforcement to consider. The culture of the police tends to bring out the worst in people. The nature of policing can engender deep racial prejudices and stereotypes.
Reason 3: Retention rates
Despite the increased pressure on black men and women to fit into the police culture, most black applicants end up quitting the job. In addition, the fact that there is not enough representation in the ranks may also have something to do with the dropout rate of African-American candidates. While it’s not entirely their fault, the lack of representation may play a significant role in the overall rate of black candidates.
Reason 4: Dismal benefits
While the majority of police officers are white, there are still some problems that blacks must overcome. One of the biggest challenges for black men and women who want to be police officers is that they’re unable to make it in the middle class. They struggle to obtain a decent lifestyle.
Reason 5: Unable to serve and protect
The promise to protect communities makes black police officers feel like the “change” they’ve been waiting for. While many black officers want to be a part in the change in law enforcement, the reality is that they’re not quite sure what their future holds in the profession. In the end, they end up with a job that is not necessarily ideal for them. In spite of it all, black police officers must wrestle with a police culture, which is riddled with prejudice.
Reason 6: Dealing with racism
The issue of race and the fact that the police have been systematically ignoring the black community are not new to policing in America. It is also important to address the racial and cultural stereotypes within the police profession, especially if black officers do not represent the communities in which they live. Black police officers often face hurdles from both spectrum.
On the one hand, black officers cannot always fit in within their department. On the other hand, they may not be welcomed in the black community, for their police status. But black officers must take care of all racial minority residents. The culture of the police isn’t welcoming to black people in the first place. In many cases, the situation in which black officers evolve is inherently anti-Black.
Reason 7: Lack of diversity
There is no doubt that the problem of race has long been a major problem for law enforcement agencies. The lack of diversity among applicants is a result of the inequitable system of hiring. In the past, blacks were not given the option to join the ranks of the police because they were perceived as unwelcome. Of course, this attitude changed in the 1970s and 1980s, when black men were allowed to work with whites in police departments.
Reason 8: Dealing with the remnants of segregation
Historically, blacks were less likely to enter the police force than whites. That was the case partly because black police officers were not allowed to serve in predominantly white neighborhoods. Those who applied to their local police departments were often denied the opportunity to join. Blacks were expected to be racially stereotypical. However, in the 1980s, this was no longer the case. The majority of black candidates were allowed to join; many served with white officers.
Reason 9: Dealing with employment discrimination
Another problem facing police departments is that they tend to hire white men because their backgrounds are more desirable. They tend to deny black applicants the opportunity to join for the opposite reason. That is, black candidates’ backgrounds are less desirable. But that is not the only problem raging on in policing.
Reason 10: Difficult hiring process
It is still a huge challenge to hire black people. There is no uniform set of criteria. If you are black, it is not enough to just want to become a police officer. You have to go through many obstacles. Moreover, it takes years of training and experience to become a cop. That can be a downside to becoming police officers. That reality tends to affect black candidates more than others.
While this may seem counterintuitive, it is a fact in the law enforcement profession, which many applicants do not have the stamina to navigate. This is true for most black applicants.
Conclusion
Despite the racial bias, racial profiling, and the hiring biases, which are common in law enforcement, many blacks would like to join the police. But an irrefutable reality is that it may not be easy for blacks to join law enforcement agencies. As enumerated above, there are countless reasons for that reality.
A police officer’s job is to protect the public. Regardless of their race, he or she must be fair and impartial. It is vital to keep people safe. Sadly, if you’re Black, you may not have many options to prove yourself in law enforcement. Understanding Deadly Use of Force by Police
