Basquiat on Black Cops
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:
• Interview with James F...
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
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#Basquiat
Thank you James Forman Jr for giving this super insightful interview! You can find the link to full interview in the description of the video! Thank you so much!!
Wake up babe new Canvas video just dropped
Same
I already watched it babe. I'm a member
Three months late but im up babe
As a clerk on the midnight platoon in a New York City police precinct in the late 1970’s, officers told me that black PO’s were rougher on black alleged perpetrators than white PO’s because black PO’s wanted to “clean up” the neighborhood. This was a time when the ”tune up” was the rule. Where are we now? I hate to think. Thank you for your work.
Buddha Ruci :: Five BPO's, in Memphis, a couple of weeks ago, beat a BM to death :: Tadarrius Bean Demetrius Haley Emmitt Martin III Desmond Mills, Jr. Justin Smith All from a special _Scorpion Unit,_ that has since and conveniently been disbanded.
James Baldwin covered this a long time ago. He was the one who taught Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. nearly everything he knew. "Black policemen were another matter. We used to say, 'If you must call a policeman'- for we hardly ever did-'for God’s sake, try to make sure it’s a White one.' A Black policeman could completely demolish you. He knew far more about you than a White policeman could and you were without defenses before this Black brother in uniform whose entire reason for breathing seemed to be his hope to offer proof that, though he was Black, he was not Black like you." They see themselves as heroes and protectors of the peace against troublemakers in "the ghetto". Which leads to tragedies like Tyre Nichols, Manuel Teran and many more. Too many names, too many names... He's been saying some of the same things Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were saying back in the 50s and 60s, using poetry and literature instead of comedy. Instead of looking at individuals, we really need to look at systems. It's been 70+ years. Nothing's changed. Trying to reform a system that refuses to change is a fool's errand. Abolish it.
Cut the Legs off the fkn Table..? We'd have to abolish Netflix first, then maybe TicTok, and cut most of the SOMA out of YT. That's your obstacle: Apathy , Distraction and the Casual indifference it engenders toward suffering of others. Healthy information, News has become blended with entertainment, mindless celebrity gossip to make a kind of simplistic, easily digestible Junk Food which produces fewer positive outcomes and poisons people minds with increasingly polarizing reactions. We are being played off against one another , constantly trained to react in predictable ways to defend our sense of identity, 'values' and position in our own carefully constructed illusion of society. Why would uneducated Black Police Officers be any more likely to change their behaviour than a bunch people sitting on the Internet.? respect
so qwhite cops are good and police unions good and biden who loves police protection good?
Abolish the cops and replace them with what? Or are you just a child who wants to pitch fits and tear stuff down, giving no thought to anyone around you?
I'll never forget that I took an Ap art history course in high school and to understate a fact I knew more that our teacher about what I thought art history was. It was in college when two European friends told me who Basquiat was. I had literally never heard of him before. Im black and spent my whole life in Texas, to say the least I was so embarrassed. I don't think Republicans have to worry about teaching black history in schools, they already don't. Public school in America just seems to be a never ending indoctrination into the national myths.
Let's face it, white supremacy is baked into the European Project, period.
I definitely learned about many black leaders in American public school. I don't think it's as simple as "if they don't mention Basquiat, then they are hiding the truth." People who had big impacts are always left out of history class. There's only so much they can include. I'm sure the vast majority of artists (even famous artists) were excluded from your class. There are thousands... I think it's important to not oversimplify these issues
@@brixan... I don't think I ever mentioned anyone hiding the "truth". I was mainly talking about my AP art history class. I do not think its an overstatement to say black history in American public schools in neglected. Especially black history from a black perspective. If I remember well most classes were just centered around teaching toward a test at the end of the year. There was no critical analysis or in depth divulging into any subject. I think its odd to have an entire art history class and not mention a single black artist. Also you said they have to prioritize certain information, but why prioritize an entire year to Texas history (from the white colonizer perspective). Also I was just giving a personal anecdote. How is that an oversimplification? And why did you choose to take a non charitable position? Also just to go back to the art history thing; why is Michelangelo no matter what always mentioned? Him and all the other "grates"? Why ?
@@dominikcunningham9079 "Indoctrinating" implies that the teaching is one-sided, and therefore leaving out something you think they should include. American schools do "teach to test." It sucks, but I don't see what that has to do with black artists. The oversimplification was the idea that "if they don't mention Basquiat, they're just indoctrinating" (edited for clarity). I actually took a more charitable position in saying that leaving out Basquiat isn't inherently evil, racist, deliberate, etc. Could just be time and content restraints. Michelangelo is one of the most famous artists in the world... Like, ever. That'd be like teaching Basketball history and leaving out Michael Jordan. When you're teaching history, you have to address the giants in that area, and then include the others.
@@brixan... Why is Michelangelo a "giant"? Who decided that? Vasari? Why isn’t Basquiat a "great". Is it because he hasn’t had the same power structures built around his legacy. Also to imply that there are no political views and or biases that are present when constructing a curriculum, is insane. And yes the curriculum is one sided and racist because of that fact. When we learn about manifest destiny do we get a rebuttal? Maybe from an indigenous perspective? No we don’t. And that is an implicit bias. And you saying imagine teaching a history of basketball and not mentioning M.J. furthers my point. If you think that an art history class which is supposed to cover world art history doesn’t have to mention one black artist than you must think that there are no black artists that are "giant" enough to be mentioned.
I love your channel
Hey, Gawx!
One could simply say that this is another great video on this channel, but this one has a special resonance for me as a French citizen. We are going through times in which systemic problems of this nature in institutional bodies, such as the police, have become obvious to even the most blind among us. Thank you for your great work.
whoa
I’m so glad you interviewed James Forman Jr.! I listened to the audiobook on my own and I’m trying to get my local DSA to read it. I want to invite him to a panel discussion for our Defund MPD work here in DC where James used to work.
You should definitely send him an email! He was really nice and generous with the interview. However, he might be busy as I know he's working on his next book. Best of luck! :)
So sorry I missed the live session, Shawn. As one of the first four women hired as fully fledged, trained law enforcement in a major metropolitan department in 1975, just substitute "woman" throughout this interview. And yes, many female cops were very overly aggressive and violent, apparently trying to prove they were one of the boys, and to avoid the ridicule. I had hopes of rising to a position where I could make policy and procedure. When I applied for promotion to sergeant I was told by my university mentor that the biggest problem was that for me to rise to that position I would have to play coyote for years, giving every appearance of being "a company man" to get promoted. He feared it would kill my covert revolutionary spirit. But the administration had already figured me out. I was told that I was "not one of their people." I stayed 12 years. And then I "got well"...and moved on to better things. Thank you for your amazing work here. And thanks to Prof. Forman Jr for shining a light.
i think people seem to forget that literally anyone can be racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, ect, even towards their own community. ive met many racist poc and many homophobic and transphobic queer people. just because someones identity has a label on it doesnt make them immune to their own bigoted ideals.
true most democrats say they hate cops but defend bernie voting mass incarceration
Istaphobe!!!
Thank you for continuing to put out such great work.
The grate pattern seen behind the officer's head and before his mouth says something to me -- ironically, the black cop must constantly incarcerate himself?
It’s been a year since I follow your channel and I have to say that I’m very happy and glad that your channel exists
Been waiting for this one 🔥
I have to say, I'm not normally interested in art. But the way your videos manage to explain what is depicted, and why the artist chose to depict it in the way he did, in a manner that is relatable to me, is quite fascinating. Thank you for your work!
The story is always the part that sells to you.
The quality of this content makes my heart so happy
Been looking forward to a new video! Joy!
Thank you! I'm glad to a Haitian artist has gotten so much love.
Great conversation!
You're my fav art youtuber, and Basq is my fav modern artist, thank you!
“If we can’t sit at the table let’s knock the fucking legs off.” Beautiful.
More like childish and emotionally immature.
@@mdude625 its naive to expect people to have any sort of loyalty to or investment in a system that treats them like dogs
So what’s the solution? What is the alternative? What do you replace it with, other than rage quit and knock it all down like a toddler having a tantrum?@@chriss780
@@mdude625 you replace it with a better table, and people at that table.
What does that look like?@@theseoldhomes
Wonderful discussion!!!
amazing video thank you canvas ♡︎
sick intro. very aesthetic!
Just starting the video but already loving it! I love Basquiat’s art ❤
Keep up the work!
Loved the video ✨💕
The “whiteness” of his bones reflects how we are “all exactly alike on the inside.” The white wash over and around his face depicts his whiteness.
you get it
☝️
This intro is fire bro, I love it
Much gratitude for this, brings to light so many factors that are at play simultaneously. Much as I agree with virtually everything said I have to say that, unlike Mr. Forman, I consider collective 'institutions' (and 'laws') to only have the power people continue to give them, they have no 'power' in themselves -- if enough people were to decide to 'de-fund' them by withdrawing their assent they would cease to exist (Frederick Douglass described this with eloquent simplicity). There is certainly danger and uncertainty in that dynamic and, unfortunately, human beings seem to be evolving out of the capacities that would be necessary to utilize such a possibility.
Your video making style, contents have changed a lot. I like this one, but I loved the previous format.
Please please make a video on Vasili kandinsky, I love your channel and would love to see your take on his art!
great work ! dope vide. love basquiat
Brilliant just Brilliant well done
What a great video.
Great content
Great video / interview I'm just a little curious as to what the 'Thermos' signifies in La Hara
❤ Love y'all. & Love all this video is about.❤
Thanks!
This gave me a LOT to think about
awesome video!
I, too, love your channel
This is actually a really good perspective
Fantastic interview material. Thanks for bringing this to the eyes/ears of white dudes like me that have trouble understanding.
I’m very glad that you’re producing these videos now that include social commentary from a Leftist and Progressive perspective. Art, historically, has oftentimes been pure expressions of frustrated people to critique the society around them, and understanding this, I believe, is fundamentally critical to understanding art like Basquiat’s.
i was just watching the Basquiat movie
I'm having difficulties finding your other KZhead channel. Would you please Supply a link so I can follow up on the information you have provided?
Important video on an important issue
Woooo
Truly inspirational as a photographer living in the UK I would really like to do a project here based on this information. I have read the institution of racism which investigated and documented similar structures of racism in Britain.
Sounds stunning and brave.
Racism in Britain… you know after America and the UK abolished slavery, your British ancestors spent 175 years policing the oceans for slave ships and returning them back to Africa. The UK and America are the two best places for black people to live and prosper, and that’s backed up by facts (look up family incomes in America and UK compared to other countries) All this basquiat stuff is BS (he’s French so of course he has horrible political ideas) and the whole “black people are victims” narrative needs to stop.
14:57 James Forman says "...deserve at least..." but the sign itself says "rate"? Are they synonyms or something? What does rate mean here?
Very interesting & thought provoking. If you have a broken system, in this case a racist police force, then black cops will not dilute the racism as they want to "fit in" and not be seen as disloyal or not team players. Change can only happen from the outside, needing political will to impose change & to force through reform. Too often the required reform is portrayed as being "soft on crime" that will produce more criminality & criminals.
Would you please enable Persian subtitles?
Basquiat didn't know the meaning of irony, then.
nice intro
“If we can’t sit at the table, let’s knock the fucking legs off.” AMEN, LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK.
❤❤❤❤❤
why do you pronounce the painting's title wrong?
basquiat
The Basquiat film brought me here Drink every time I type Basquiat (That's a lie, the Basquiat film didn't bring me here, 😅 I just want you guys to know that there's a Basquiat film) Jean-Michel Basquiat is from half Haitian, 🇭🇹 I am also Haitian & he is one of the few world famous people to come from Haiti👏🎉
“Hey you, whatever your name is that, I met at the bar last last night, you need to leave ! Because I’ve got shit to do today and canvas just posted a new video”
It's not about black and white and all that was part of that but it's more about keeping the poor people away from the
Isn't this just the same message everyone has been doing for about 50 years?
The work is 42 years old.
The work is not done. AP African American history just got banned from all Florida state curriculum, while other AP classes sit untouched. Black Americans still face 3:1 conviction rates for the same crimes as their white counterparts. Black Americans were only just able to qualify for federal housing loans at the end of the 80s/early 90s. This issue is still ongoing, to pretend it isn't and everything is resolved now is foolish.
Is this why a group of black cops beat a black guy to death recently?
They'll probably stop talking about it once the problem is fixed.
@@gnomschild If you define "white supremacy" as "living a comfortable, safe, and prosperous life in a first world country", then it is a problem can be pretty easily solved by utterly destroying everything that makes life worth living.
Rich people
Idk, he’s spitting CRT academic racist ish and not what basquiat personally referring to at the time. I don’t think you can critique this piece of work out side basquiats whole body of works which is a critique of western institutions and this guy world view is of that world view critiquing a single basquiat piece to make a career. The whole phenomenon of basquiat is that he was not from those institutions but rivaled the ranks speaking true of his time.
"CRT academic racist ish"? Do you even know what CRT is out of a meaningless overused reactionary buzzword to refer to anything that regards race or racial identity? CRT is a specific college course taught to legal students. Not just a buzzword for discussions on race that make you uncomfortable.
@@namesake7885 I do. And i am Haitian American. And college educated. It is very frustrating the groups who complains about cultural Appropriation can not see they themselves appropriating Basquaits work as well many things to today’s discourse. You can’t speak about basquaits works without careful consideration that NYC being bankrupt in the 70s and early 80s as well and the broken home he is from. I too is from from Brooklyn NY and no where this guy speaks about the corruption of the NYPD who were in bed with the Italian mob and how they would funnel money to the black gangs at time to do their bidding. There’s no talk about the crack era which Basquait is a victim of. This is exactly what Basquaits feared would happen to his work when he pass.
I think you're confused. Facts confuse you. You don't even know what CRT is about.
@@BigHenFor you haven’t said anything of substance commie. You should read about that period in NYC
It's ironic he made a video about propaganda then ignored the artist and interviewed some woke guy. Definition of clickbait. Love from another American, I have a Haitian friend but she considers herself french and lives in Montreal now lol.
🤔
when I first heard of/saw this piece in high school from another student's presentation, I didn't get it. frankly, I still don't. I think it's an interesting topic, the way people can dutifully serve a system which in turn doesn't serve their best interests. however, that topic is presented plainly in the title; isn't it ironic when a black man works as a police officer? that's what the title says, but I never understood what the /piece/ was saying. it was a messy, chaotic depiction of a black man in a police uniform. the title says that's ironic, but how does this depiction represent that irony? the form is distorted, disjointed, like the situation is unnatural, but does that make it ironic? he appears to be standing motionless in a void. he isn't depicted as actively engaging in some form of oppression, actively doing anything against his own interests. he is simply existing as a police officer, and as a black man. what /about/ a black police officer is ironic, in of itself? what does this piece do, beyond rehash (and literally restate) its title? in what way is it deeper than its own premise? I also judged the piece more negatively (fairly or not) for being made during a drug trip, if I remember that presentation correctly. I felt that, while such a piece can still be very expressive, an altered state of mind doesn't produce the symbolism or layered metaphors I always find fascinating in art (though i've never been any good at discerning those myself.) so at the time, I had no trouble believing the piece itself lacked depth. nowadays, i'd prefer to think that's wrong, but still don't see how it is. in much the same way, this video dives into the topic of black people as conduits of systemic oppression, but barely references the work of art itself beyond using it as a jumping-off point, before discussing a book with plenty to say. even at the end, James admits that, while there are many respects in which a black police officer can be considered ironic (and some in which it isn't), he didn't claim to know what manner of irony Basquiat was actually trying to convey. in this case, the art literally didn't participate in the conversation. it all fits a bit too neatly into my stated preconceptions, and yet it doesn't sound like the takeaway this video intended.
I disagree on the last part. It appears to me that the irony resides in the factors explained by James Foreman Jr. If you don't understand the racist structure of the police force, you cannot see the irony in the figure of a black policeman. What makes the black policeman ironic is a communion of multifaceted elements and perspectives. Another commenter posted a wonderful example that wasn't touched in the video further up: (grossly simplified paraphrase) the desire to prove yourself as different and better than your peers, having internalized the beliefs of a racist society, thereby justifying those beliefs in an attempt to distinguish yourself. Foreman points out many reasons why some fought to allow black people to have a place in law enforcement, and how there ultimately may be some irony in that. Furthermore, I think the video does well to dwell on the final point that Foreman raises. Is there really any irony in a black person wanting to become a police officer? It's a matter of perspective on a topic that, no matter which side you look at it from, ultimately presents the same truth: police is racist. If you are a black police officer, you might find the desire to change the system from within. Or you might want to distinguish yourself from the other, 'bad' black people. If you are black, you might want a job. If you are a middleclass black person, you might want a buffer from systemic oppression. If you are a poor black person, you might hope in a less violent oppressor. If you are Basquiat, you find irony in that.
The police intend to subjugate all at the behest of the state.
Are there any good things you say about police officers in the interview? I've known two people who become police, part of the training is going to a Holocaust museum, and I genuinely think they want to make the world a safer place, as they experienced terrible situations where they wish a cop had been present. Just as racism has no color, crime doesn't either. It's as ironic as a self policing group who share a culture, as ironic as the shooter who was stopped by a man of his own race. Nicols is a tragedy, and the irony is that many others said the scorpion unit was useful in other situations. But no institution is perfect. It is unnecessarily violent and you're correct some people can't do it. One of my friends father is a detective and he was mentally destroyed seeing some of the cases that keep you up at night. I wanted to be a detective until I saw how stressful it was, and how I'd have to go up the ranks. This felt more like propaganda for a book than a dive into the art, and I don't know much more about the art but I know more about a book I'm not interested in. I hope this isn't a trend.
Qualified immunity is the Nuremberg defense for cops. The Holocaust comment was pretty ironic.
People need to stop looking at individuals and start looking at systems. Back when I was in 5th grade, my class was doing on assignment on Westerns and tall tales. My teacher said no six pointed stars. I scratched my head wondering why and then looked it up later. Badges used to say "Runaway Slave Patrol". Now when you see one on TV, in the movies or real life it's either blank or just says Sheriff. It's been 70+ years of reforms. They all failed at the same time. You can't reform a system that refuses to reform. You can't change the system, the system changes you. Abolish the system.
@@StopCopCity1312 Literally everything you said is false, myths, and nonsense. Abolish the system? Black people already kill other black people and victimize each other at a high rate. What do you think will happen if the system is abolished? Blacks will be the ones hurt the most.
@@mrJohnDesiderio No, god you’re ignorant. First off, you actually need to qualify for qualified immunity. You don’t just a automatically get it. Hence the name. If you actually cross the line and deprive people of their rights in bad faith, you won’t get it. You don’t seem to know what qualified immunity actually is. If a police officer hears about a suspect breaking into cars, and he sees someone who matches the description, he can detain him under reasonable suspicion. If qualified immunity did not exist, that person could bring civil suites against the officer for detaining him, even though the officer was acting in good faith. Police are already afraid of doing their job because of ignorant people like you. You’d actively be making it near impossible for them to do their job if qualified immunity was removed.
@@StopCopCity1312 and replace it with what? The video can be summed up as cops are always bad, but even democrats dropped the ACAB because the gangs are more monsterous. You want to live in Detroit, with their weak police force? I'll buy you a ticket.
See Kamala Harris…
Yeah... OK.
Gee we are scratching the bottom of the barrel throwing this up as Art. No wonder the average person no longer is interested in visual Art anymore. Canvas is becoming unwatchable
It seems somewhat unfair to focus on the police without considering black men crime rate the only argument of racism is a bit light in my mind , many oppressed minorities established prosperous and peaceful neighborhood the argument of repression has some value , it fit with a perception of an inherent threat to law and civil order
I suggest you actually research the issue.
You're the one who needs to make a little more research with all respect, remember who's posting those charts
@@moth9659 I think you don't think.
@@BigHenFor im replying to op u wheatless bread
@@moth9659 It doesn't matter who's posting those charts, it's the truth. People in poverty are most likely to do crime. It's a culture dominated thing, not specifically race.
Yeah, I just love treating entire groups of people as a monolith with no unique experiences between them. Lol
2:57 3:03 3:31 Any proofs for those wild claims?
wild claims? good one
lol wild claims? you have internet access, google is free, if you really cared to learn instead of feigning doubt and being pedantic. the history and origin of the modern day form of policing we have in america started out with slavecatching. even before police enforced racist jim crow laws, "police" before they became a systemic norm were mostly southern bounty hunters and small town sherriffs who took on bounties put out by plantation owners to catch runaway slaves even after they escaped to "free" northern states and bring them back into slavery. hell, small town sherriffs especially in texas were the main ones to gather a crowd and oversee lynchings and mob violence against black civilians. there's a reason that even to this day black and brown americans have a 3:1 conviction rate for the same crimes as their white counterparts. for every meth bust, a black and brown person gets jailed at 3x the likelihood than a white american who has done the same crime. black americans couldn't even get approved for federal housing loans until the late 80s/90s and you really think our modern day legal system, a system that still to this day profits off of legalized slavery via prison labor is completely fair and balanced? that's wild.
Yeah, he says it like it’s common knowledge and not up for debate. He’s clearly anti police.
@@darklyripley6138 it's as clear as you are clearly you are anti-breathing.
@@jvballatore Saying that an entire system and all of its individuals (police officers) are serving white elites and at the same time they are all oppressing a part of society because of racism - sounds like a huge oversimplification or rather a conspiracy theory.
woke art...
Man you can do better many wild claims without any proof to back
You say that women are a marginalized group but how is that possible given the amount of power they currently hold today and when they make up 50% of population? How can you make the argument that ethnic minorities share the same type of oppression? It’s a numbers game and it’s about power.
They are also going to & graduating from college/university more than men. Now, whether they’re getting degrees in anything worthwhile is debatable.
I swear to god if I don't hear a nwa reference in this video....