Institutional Affiliation
Nova Southeastern University
Start Date
January 2026
End Date
January 2026
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
On-campus
Proposal Description
Abstract
This document serves as a call to action, emphasizing the ongoing conflict between law enforcement and minority communities. For years, there have been persistent allegations of unfair treatment—such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, and discriminatory policing practices—by some law enforcement officers towards minority and economically disadvantaged communities. With recent escalations in tensions, there is an even greater need for immediate and effective action to address these conflicts. Statistics reveal that in the United States, law enforcement officers have shot and killed an equal number of unarmed Caucasian and unarmed Black individuals, with each group having a count of 50. However, since the Caucasian population is approximately five times larger than the Black population, unarmed Black Americans are five times more likely to be shot and killed by police officers. These statistics underscore that this issue is not merely a problem; it is a severe crisis that demands urgent attention. The purpose of this qualitative study is to provide empirically grounded recommendations for addressing this long-standing issue. The study will focus on law enforcement officers and community members, who will be interviewed using semi-structured and online methods. This document will investigate the sources of conflict by examining the historical disputes between these two groups. It will address issues of police brutality and racial disparities while proposing transformative solutions to reduce conflict and cultivate a more equitable relationship between law enforcement agencies and Black Americans. If implemented, these solutions have the potential to bring about significant positive change.
Keywords: Police brutality, law enforcement, peace and conflict studies, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and social justice.
Included in
Building Bridges: Addressing the Conflict Between Law Enforcement and Black Americans for a Better Future
Abstract
This document serves as a call to action, emphasizing the ongoing conflict between law enforcement and minority communities. For years, there have been persistent allegations of unfair treatment—such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, and discriminatory policing practices—by some law enforcement officers towards minority and economically disadvantaged communities. With recent escalations in tensions, there is an even greater need for immediate and effective action to address these conflicts. Statistics reveal that in the United States, law enforcement officers have shot and killed an equal number of unarmed Caucasian and unarmed Black individuals, with each group having a count of 50. However, since the Caucasian population is approximately five times larger than the Black population, unarmed Black Americans are five times more likely to be shot and killed by police officers. These statistics underscore that this issue is not merely a problem; it is a severe crisis that demands urgent attention. The purpose of this qualitative study is to provide empirically grounded recommendations for addressing this long-standing issue. The study will focus on law enforcement officers and community members, who will be interviewed using semi-structured and online methods. This document will investigate the sources of conflict by examining the historical disputes between these two groups. It will address issues of police brutality and racial disparities while proposing transformative solutions to reduce conflict and cultivate a more equitable relationship between law enforcement agencies and Black Americans. If implemented, these solutions have the potential to bring about significant positive change.
Keywords: Police brutality, law enforcement, peace and conflict studies, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and social justice.