“We’re not anti-police…We’re anti-police brutality”: An Exploration of Black College Freshmen’s Perception of Police Brutality on Social Media

Abstract

Guided by the critical race theory and the social identity theory, the present study aimed to explore the impact that exposure to police brutality on social media has on Black college freshmen’s perception of law enforcement and mental wellness. To explore this phenomenon, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 Black college freshmen (age range: 18–20). Participant narratives were coded using a thematic analysis. Findings revealed that participants depicted police brutality on social media as racially driven, which yielded behavioral changes and negative psychological responses, such as sleep disturbances, anger, and fear. Further, the oversaturation of police violence in the media significantly altered the participants’ views of the police and their practices. Our findings are consistent with previous literature concerned with the vicarious experiences of police brutality among youth and have implications for educators, counselors, and scholars.