Sad, Angry and Numb: Black College Students' Experiences Following Incidents of Police Violence

Background. Videos showing police assaulting Black people periodically spread on social media and TV news. Social media sites not only share the videos but host running commentary about them, some of it hateful. Following such incidents, many Black people may feel vulnerable to police violence, but what effect do the incidents have on comparatively advantaged Black college students? This study addressed the following questions: What is the experience of Black college students following exposure to incidents of police violence targeting Black people? In particular, how do Black students at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) in the U.S. South experience encounters with police violence targeting Black people?

Methods. The study used qualitative methods following a phenomenological approach. Participants were recruited via flyers with a QR code, which were posted on the campus of a PWI in the South. Black undergraduate and graduate students who took courses on campus were eligible. Fifteen students, ages 19-27 were interviewed. The one-time interviews were conducted in person or via Zoom. They lasted between 30 to 45 minutes. An open-ended interview guide addressed how participants learned about violent police encounters with Black people, how they were affected by the incidents, and how they coped with repeated exposure to instances of police violence. The interviews were taped and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Data were coded and categorized to form themes.

Results. Participants learned about violent police encounters from social media, other news outlets, and family members. Some participants shared stories of first-hand encounters with the police. Following exposure to multiple incidents of police violence, participants described feeling angry, sad, and numb. Although the participants were law-abiding college students, some described their fear of the police, including fear of being assaulted or killed. Participants coped by taking breaks from social media or spending time with friends. Some participants conveyed a wish that the university would establish safe spaces for Black students to gather following incidents of police violence. Many participants expressed regret that the violent incidents were not discussed in classrooms, including social work classrooms. Although participants expressed weariness with ongoing police violence, and although most expected violent encounters to continue, most did not want to lose hope in the system or become desensitized to the plight of the victims.

Discussion. Black college students at a PWI not only expressed anger and sadness about incidents of police violence, but personal fear of becoming another victim. The participants’ suggestion of safe spaces on campus for Black students to meet and talk is paradoxically among resources recently banned by a new law in the host university’s state. The participants in this study experienced the effects of racism and police violence with little acknowledgement from university faculty or staff. The results suggest that universities generally, and PWIs with legacies of racism in the U.S. South in particular, should identify ways to help Black students cope with the trauma of racism and violence, and take additional steps to help Black students feel supported and safe.