The Politics of Safety

“Using the framework of safety, King presents a nuanced exploration of the relationship between African Americans, crime, and the police. In doing so, he makes an invaluable contribution to the history of the Black freedom struggle and the carceral state. . . . The Politics of Safety smartly reveals a history not only of the struggle for police accountability but also of the narratives used to bolster police power.”—American Historical Review

“King’s book brings exhaustive detail, methodological vigor, and sharp analysis to a series of important events. . . . The Politics of Safety is an encyclopedic reference for anyone looking to explore the specific details of policing in New York City during the La Guardia years and a general primer for discussions about policing in other urban contexts as well.”—Journal of Social History

“We desperately need the history King shows in this book: one of Black people asserting rights to equal protection under the law and demanding that they not bear the brunt of overpolicing.”—Brian Purnell, author of Fighting Jim Crow in the County of Kings: The Congress of Racial Equality in Brooklyn

“The Politics of Safety allows us to understand in significantly greater depth the long-standing nature of debates about safety, harm, and race/ism that continue to swirl in American politics down to the minute of this writing.”—Simon Balto, author of Occupied Territory: Policing Chicago from the Red Summer to Black Power