Policing the Beats - by Lambros Fatsis (Paperback)

About the Book

Policing the beats exposes the long history of policing Black music from the era of colonial slavery to the present day.

Book Synopsis

A bold analysis that exposes the racist policing of Black music.

The emergence of UK drill music in the 2010s made headline news, as the media rushed to blame this new rap subgenre for the rise of violent crime in Britain's major cities. But is there really a link between Black music and criminality?

In Policing the beats, Lambros Fatsis sets out to uncover the truth, providing the first in-depth historical account of how Black music has been policed in Britain. He dismantles stereotypes manufactured by the government and the media, revealing how characterising Black music as 'criminal' distracts us from racist legal penal processes that make crimes out of rhymes.

Exposing the long history of policing Black music, from the era of colonial slavery to the present day, Policing the beats offers powerful insights into the relationship between politics, culture and criminal (in)justice.

From the Back Cover

The emergence of UK drill music in the 2010s made headline news, as the media rushed to blame this new rap subgenre for the rise of violent crime in Britain's major cities. But is there really a link between Black music and criminality?

In Policing the beats, Lambros Fatsis sets out to uncover the truth, providing the first in-depth historical account of how Black music has been policed in Britain. He dismantles stereotypes manufactured by the government and the media, revealing how characterising Black music as 'criminal' distracts us from racist legal penal processes that make crimes out of rhymes.

Exposing the long history of policing Black music, from the era of colonial slavery to the present day, Policing the beats offers powerful insights into the relationship between politics, culture and criminal (in)justice.

About the Author

Lambros Fatsis is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at City, University of London specialising in the history of police racism and the criminalisation of Black/Afro-diasporic music(s) from the era of colonial slavery to the present day