Dr. Mark Anthony Neal’s piece offers a clear-eyed look at copaganda, or, in his words, “the reproduction and circulation in mainstream media of propaganda that is favorable to law enforcement — has long been a tool to disrupt legitimate claims of anti-Black violence.” Dr. Neal argues that “copaganda actively counters attempts to hold police malfeasance accountable by reinforcing the ideas that the police are generally fair and hard-working and that Black criminals deserve the brutal treatment they receive.”

Pop Culture Helped Turn Police Officers Into Rock Stars — And Black Folks Into Criminals