The Black experience: The entanglement among African American males and law enforcement

Objective There is no greater existential threat to the mental stability of Black males than the entanglement among Black males and law enforcement. The impact of Black males witnessing other Black males murdered by police and broadcasted via social media and television is profound. Until recently, few studies have considered the external threats that impact this subgroup, specifically, law enforcement, and how negative experiences presents significant risks to the overall mental health of Black males. Methods The current study uses a qualitative methodology designed to assess the impact of Black males overall experiences with law enforcement, in addition to the residual effect of Black males witnessing other Black males murdered by police. Results Participants in the current study reported negative experiences with law enforcement, in addition to extreme, debilitating, psychological distress after witnessing other Black males murdered by police and broadcasted via social media and television. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to the extant literature regarding Black males and the many forms of trauma that are experienced by this marginalized subgroup. Moreover, the rich narratives provided by the participants provide a window into the adversarial relationship between Black males and law enforcement.