The Invention of the Police by Jill Lepore

A Critic at Large: The Invention of the Police

  • Author: Jill Lepore
  • Publication Date: July 13, 2020
  • Publication Context: Part of The New Yorker.

Main Thesis

  • The rapid expansion of American policing can be attributed primarily to the institution of slavery.

Key Example: Chinatown Squad

  • Notoriously harsh police unit in San Francisco, 1905.
  • Photograph attributed to the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Additional Context

  • The police's growth in the United States was significantly influenced by socio-political factors, especially those related to race and control.
  • Jill Lepore’s approach combines historical analysis with an examination of modern implications.

Noteworthy Elements from Related Articles

  • The New Yorker Documentary: Focused on the criminalization of humanitarian aid highlighted by Scott Warren's arrest for aiding migrants.
  • Annals of Higher Education: Discusses the dependence of American universities on federal funding and the implications for compliance.
  • Personal Narrative: "My Childhood in the Weather Underground" by Zayd Ayers Dohrn recounts life raised by fugitive parents involved in radical politics.

Cultural Commentary

  • Exploration of how radical organizations and youth programs seek to cultivate masculinity through extreme activities.
  • Examination of international perspectives on capital punishment, specifically in relation to the guillotine in France compared to contemporary U.S. practices.

Contemporary Issues and Case Studies

  • Marimar Martinez Incident: Details a U.S. citizen's shooting by a Border Patrol officer, shedding light on recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actions and subsequent media portrayals.
  • Political Analysis: The Trump Administration’s impact on government agencies designed to protect citizens from financial hardship, likened to a "zombie regulator" effect.
  • International Relations: Discussion regarding U.S. strategies toward Cuba amidst the Trump Administration's geopolitical stance.

Ethical and Philosophical Questions Raised

  • The articles provoke critical questions about race, policing, and the legitimacy of exerting control over marginalized communities.