Discuss how the characters (heroes, villains, and victims) have been strategically portrayed in the repeated, well-publicized shootings of African-American men by police over the past several years to strengthen the opposing narratives of (1) race-based police brutality and (2) police as embattled defenders of order.

What will be an ideal response?

The two narratives use the same characters but portray them differently to make distinct
arguments. The police-brutality narratives points to “aggressive” policing practices (rooted in
racism) as the villain, with community at large—and the African-American community in
particular—as the victim. A secondary victim is all of the citizenry, which is policed with racist
and unjust tactics. The heroes are those that stand up against the system to force change. The
“police as law-and-order” narrative portrays the police heroes and the only thing standing
between the innocent citizenry and anarchy. They are also misunderstood victims of public abuse
working in an increasingly violent society. The villains are those who would threaten law and
order and those who would question the “necessary” tactics that police use to keep the public
safe. In some cases, the police are also the victims in the narrative as they take the abuse of
others who “don’t understand” and question their tactics. The public is also a would-be victim if
the strictly pro-police narrative is not heeded.