This chapter narrates the courageous actions of abolitionist David Ruggles as he rescues enslaved individuals in Brooklyn, leading to the formation of the New York Committee of Vigilance. It highlights the tense dynamics between the police and the Black community, and the risks faced by activists like William Dixon amid a backdrop of kidnapping and resistance. The narrative culminates in a chaotic courthouse confrontation that underscores the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom against systemic oppression.
The police tell us they are here to protect us. But what if their original purpose was something else altogether? Peabody Award-winning host Chenjerai Kumanyika takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday people who resisted every step of the way. As our society debates where policing is going, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD explores where the police came from.
From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack.