Black on Duty: A Study of Black Police Officers Navigating the Era of Black Lives Matter

In 2020, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests against police brutality sparked a renewed focus on racial justice issues. Despite the divide between Black communities and the police agencies that serve them, approximately 13% of U.S. police officers identify as Black. How do these officers, as members of seemingly antithetical groups, navigate their intersectional positions? In-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight self-identified Black officers reveal their perceptions of community relations, policing, and the impact of their race on their careers. Black officers inhabit a conflicted space in a career where their racial identity both helps and hinders their relationships with community members and fellow officers. They hold nuanced ideas about recent police killings, protests, and Black Lives Matter, highlighting the complicated nature of racial issues in American society. Interviewees’ responses could be used to move towards a more inclusive and positive future for policing in the United State