Police brutality against Black people has a long and painful history in the United States. Dating back to the era of slavery, law enforcement has often been used as a tool to enforce racial segregation and control Black communities. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, police brutality was a common tactic used to suppress peaceful protests and intimidate Black activists.

One of the most infamous incidents of police brutality in Black history is the case of Rodney King, a Black motorist who was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers in 1991. The incident was captured on video and sparked widespread outrage and protests against police violence.

More recently, the Black Lives Matter movement has drawn attention to the systemic issue of police brutality and its disproportionate impact on Black communities. High-profile cases such as the killings of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have brought renewed focus on the need for police reform and accountability.

Police brutality continues to be a pressing issue in Black history and remains a key focus of ongoing efforts to address racial injustice and inequality in the United States.