Basquiat and The Paradox of Black Law Enforcement

Two years prior to “Defacement”, Basquiat painted “Irony of Negro Policemen.” This earlier painting depicts a black cop in a blue uniform with the title painted next to him. To closely examine Basquiat’s message of this painting, we reached out to James Forman Jr. In 2017, he published Pulitzer winning “Locking Up Our Own: Crime And Punishment In Black America” which examines the role played by black people in shaping America’s criminal system today, the history of (notably for this video) black cops, and all of the nuances of this history. See the full interview with James Forman Jr. here: 0:00 Intro 2:27 What Is The Irony? Part I 3:59 James Forman Jr. 4:43 James Forman Sr.’s Arrest 9:11 Why Criticize Black Law Enforcement? 13:32 History of Black Law Enforcement 18:16 The Irony of Black Policemen Part II 25:55 Conclusion If you enjoy watching our videos, and would like to support us, check us out on Patreon: