Analysis Of The Film Straight Out Of Compton

a few years now, police brutality has become an extremely controversial topic and has raised many debates and questions about law enforcement and civilians. Police brutality has been common for decades. However after the death of African Americans such as Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile, many other African Americans have rose up in protest and anger. The anger stems from these men dying at the hands of police which the civilians believe they died from situation that should have been handled differently. Cases like these have caused a major divide with African Americans and law enforcement. Many people wonder where the relationship between the two went wrong and how police brutality became such a big issue that seems impossible

In the year of 1988, a song called “Fuck Tha Police” was published and publicly released to the world by the famous rap group N.W.A. on August 9th. The song is an ultimate form of protest. Not only did it reveal racism and police brutality towards African Americans, but it was a real eye opener for the whole world to see how Caucasian people treated people of color back then. The song transcended into a slogan and is now a movement in pop culture all over the world today, you see it on posters, billboards, and even t-shirts. The song hits all three categories of ethos, logos, and pathos. It demonstrates credibility/trust, logic/reason/proof, and emotions/values.

“ Police brutality refers to force used by law enforcement officers that is excessive and/or unnecessary in dealing with civilians. Excessive use of force means more than is needed in a given situation. It may include physical injury…” ( "Police Brutality and Race."). In the book. through pages 19-23, describes an incident that happened between a police officer and a young black male. Rashad was wrongfully accused of shoplifting and assulting a white woman. The white lady stubbles over rashad which causes him to drop his bag of chips next to his bag, this caused the owner of the shop to think that rashad was shoplifting. So, the local police officer took action and handcuffed him. The police officer was hurting Rashad and he moved, Guzzo (the police officer) believes that rashad was resisting and throw him on the ground which results in a broken nose and cracked ribs. The authors purpose is to show the readers about a fictional situation that often occurs in real life. This can cause an effect on readers by showing them how racist some police officers can be. Along with that how stereotypes can often ruin and harm many lives. Many readers can relate to seeing something, that they wished they didn’t, and not knowing what to do after. “.... but i spent most of the night still stuck on the sidewalk outside Jerry’s, me heart pumping fiercely in my throat, and when someone

Rap music provides information, in addition to making issues salient that otherwise may not have garnered much attention outside minority communities. For example, seminal west coast gangster rap group NWA (Niggas with Attitude) accentuate the problem of police brutality in minority communities. Their infamous song ' 'F the Police" resulted in memos from police departments and eventually the CIA. Because the song was deemed a threat to officers across the nation, more serious discussions occurred that questioned the significance, truth, and accuracy of police brutality in minority communities. Years later, rappers Jay-Z and Chamillionaire assisted in the discussions of police brutality and racial profiling with the very popular rap songs "99 Problems" and "Ridin' Dirty" respectively. Through these songs artists were able to demonstrate that issues that plagued the Black community, as publicized by NWA, and the Rodney King beating almost all thirty years ago, were still relevant issues in urban communities today. Such issues include the controversial New York police strategy of stop and frisk and the shootings of unarmed black men by the police force. An examination of how attitudes are formed, followed by an analysis of the influence of music on attitudes in general and on political attitudes specifically,

According to our lecture,“Racism and discrimination are what we call a ‘root problem’ in society because it also affects the way we discuss” various social topics such as violence (Reali, 2018). Hence, the stereotype that young African-American men are violent, which is most likely why the policemen automatically detained Grant and his friends for violent behavior. As for discrimination, the policemen also treated these Black men in an unfair manner by using the N-word, pushing, and physically harming them. It brings up the question of “What would have happened if these men were white,?” and if things would have turned out differently if they were. Furthermore, the gunshot that killed Oscar Grant is another example of the policemen’s prejudice and discrimination towards African-Americans, since he allowed a prejudgement thought influence his actions, even though there was no need to use violence (Reali, 2018). In my opinion, this goes back to the prejudice and discrimination that has lasted hundreds of years against African-Americans that still continues to affect these minorities. One of the characteristics of this minority groups is the unequal treatment they experience with having “less power over their lives than members of a dominant group have over their own lives,” clearly being the case, in which Grant had no power over the fate of his life. (Reali,

Police Brutality has stemmed from racist attitudes, discrimination, and prejudice to African Americans. In the movie “Fruitvale Station” the subject of police brutality is touched on through the true story of Oscar Grant III an African American young man who was assassinated in 2009. The movie follows Grant who is played by Michael B. Jordan in his final twenty-four hours of life. The shooting takes place after Grant and his girlfriend are on the subway returning home in the early morning on New Year’s with some friends. After a fight breaks out on the subway the police are called and Grant and his friends are taken off the train and handcuffed after a verbal altercation between Grant and the police officers one of the officers takes out and shoots Grant. Grant is taken to the hospital where he passes away. The officer who assassinated Grant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and spent a year in jail. The main theme this movie follows is police brutality. The reason I chose to discuss this movie is because Police brutality is a very large issue that has occurred too often in the past few years in this country. Oscar Grant is one of the many African American men who have lost their life and left behind a family because of senseless police brutality. Police Brutality is a very difficult issue to discuss because people should feel protected around police rather than fear for their lives and for many people of color this is their reality. Police brutality solely stems from racist attitudes, discrimination, and prejudice of African Americans in the United States.

Fruitvale Station depicts the real-life case of Oscar Grant III, a young unarmed black man shot in the back by a white police officer on January 1, 2009 in Oakland. The movie begins with cell phone footage of Oscar Grant’s death recorded by bystanders. Grant’s life was tragically cut short due to a white man’s racism and stereotypical perception of a young black man. The BART police officer Johannes Mehserle abused his authority and shot Grant for no other reason but hatred and racism. At the time of the shooting, Grant was unarmed and pinned on the ground in handcuffs. The movie then walks you through the last twenty-four hours of Grant’s life. As you watch the movie and research the aftermath of Grant’s death you a forced to ask yourself a few questions; why does the media have the right to take away Oscar Grant’s humanity? Where do we draw the line between racism and holding others responsible and will the public’s perception of black men and women ever change? Lastly, we must focus on how this case and others impacts African American society and culture. We also must focus on the necessary changes African Americans must make in order to survive in a world that does not value black lives.

In the closing statement, Ta-Nehisi Coates provides us a statement inquiring that “police are turning to police brutality to solve situations where it's not needed then leading them to overuse their power. The use of excessive physical assault or verbal assault during police procedures, such as apprehending or interrogating a suspect should never be acceptable. Deadly force is not always excessive force. However, when deadly force exceeds the force that is necessary to create a safe environment, it is considered police brutality. This is emphasised in Ta-Nehisi essay when said “his father called the police, who apparently arrived to find the 19-year-old wielding a bat. Interpreting this as a lethal threat, one of the officers shot and killed LeGrier and somehow managed to shoot and kill one of his neighbors, Bettie Jones.” this situation could have been conducted differently Though the officer over used his authority and instead of simply calming the man down governing both the father and son he chose to kill which wasn't rational .

“I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” These were the last words of Eric Garner, a middle-aged African American man. Garner died at the hands of multiple police officers who were trying to restrain him for selling cigarettes. These sorts of images are showcased on television way too often. To the point that some people feel helpless, they know that they alone do not have the power to overthrow the superiority of an officer. So they have really no choice but watch the tragedy unfold. Also fear that if they interfere, that they may be the next victim. “I am most struck by the behavior of the EMTs, who stood along with the police and did nothing as they watched Eric Garner die” (Williams 10). Although some people deny that police brutality is a problem, recent studies and events (such as the one listed above) prove that ultra-aggressive police officers, militarization of police agencies, and the effects of racism have increased police brutality.

In the early 1990’s African Americans faced racial discrimination throughout their daily lives. Since this was arguably one of the most racially charged decades since the 60’s, African American and Americans alike needed a way to express how the corrupt world was working. The worst part of living in this era was the fact the people who had sworn in to protect us were the ones doing the most harm. Police officers abused their power with no regards to human life. Cases such as the beating of Rodney King by police on March 3, 1991 in Los Angeles demonstrated their disregard. With all of this commotion around the world, it led people to find another way to speak upon how corrupt things were. They had to use nonviolent ways to settle this, because if they fought back they would end up in jail for life or simply dead. This soon inspired a music group who went by the name NWA, or “N*ggas with Attitude”. They lived during this time and used their music as a way to spread their ideas and

Police brutality starts with young biased officers who become engulfed in their unyielding power. The officers abuse their power to aid in their discriminatory actions. A precedent is established that racially biased officers receive no punishment for the excessive force, especially when it results in death. This precedent has become a habitual routine. An African American dies at the hands of police officers, the officers go unpunished, and the town protest. This series of events has to come to a halt and spare the lives of African American citizens and police

Imagine being in the Bart train, going to a party with some of your friends, but while in route, you are shot by the Bart police for a crime you did not commit. This is the story of a young man named Oscar Grant. On New Years Eve of 2009, he was fatally shot. . Police brutality is the use of excessive force, physically or verbally, by a police officer. In one year, how many incidents of police brutality or misconduct do you think have occurred? In the U.S. alone, statistics show that over 2,500 incidents have occurred. Because of the constant stories of severe police brutality, it is clear that the efforts to stop this are not effective. 

With “Straight Outta Compton” being well received and reviewed by major audiences and critics all over, many are excited that a “black film”, a hip-hop biopic even can do so well and make incredible numbers. NWA has played an important role in speaking out about the injustice of their community and rapped about their personal obstacles, which can be still brought up and familiarized today, especially with the surge of police brutality and protest against such terrible injustices.

In many cases law enforcement likes to do justify many of their wrongdoings on the hunch that he was “just doing his job” in the instance of killing or brutality injuring an innocent man or child for being somewhere at the wrong place or time can be validated with a simple statement (Kiely 209). Similar to when Paul was once telling Quinn “It’s harder to be a cop here now than it used to be” (Kiely 167). Nostalgically thinking back on time when Whites made up majority of the town's population and minorities precisely made up a unreasonably small fraction less than half thus implying that because there are more minority races particularly African Americans taking occupancy, the town has become more prone to violence, stealing, and other crimes . According to The New York Times, “In 15 high-profile cases involving deaths of Blacks, one officer faces prison time” (Lee). Implicating that only one officer out of 15 cases was convicted for the crime he committed and the others were given a leave of absences from duty. For the families of those who didn’t receive rightful justice they were granted payouts to pay for funeral expenses leaving the officer able to walk away scot free acquitted of all charges. However, thankfully the family does walk away with a hefty amount of money but, at the expense of their love one’s life. Racism within law enforcement takes so many innocent lives each year on account of just because of race alone regardless if a crime was committed or not. However, society as well is a major component revolved around

As you look around and see that it’s not only white police officers during police brutality there’s also black officers. Black officers are now going against their own race because they are starting to symbolize white power, which means that the white officers have trained them to look at black people differently; however, they are starting to pick up white racism and white repression because they are surrounded by it which it causes them to act this way towards the people. Even though, police officers were trained to tolerate disrespect from citizens, however, some respond with an excessive force. So we ask ourselves, “If police officers are supposed to ignore the disrespect and ignorance, then why do they continue to go against our human right? Is it because of our race or background?”. There’s questions that a lot of people wonder, but they know it wouldn’t get answered or it wouldn’t be the answer they are looking for. As years go by police brutality started to become worse. It all started when Rosa Parks wouldn’t give her seat up to a white person. All the colored people were