"We Are the Nazis: A Hard Look at State-Sanctioned Violence in America"
Exploring Parallels in Policing
I want to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude for your grace and understanding during my recent break. The devastating news surrounding incidents of police violence, such as the murder of Sonya Massey, stirs deep and painful intergenerational trauma, alongside the current trauma that many of us experience. This weight is not only a personal burden but a reflection of the collective pain shared by many in our community.
While I intended to focus this month on disability awareness, these events have prompted a necessary deviation. It is crucial to acknowledge the interconnectedness of our struggles and how systemic oppression impacts us all, whether through the lens of race, disability, or other marginalized identities. Thank you for your support and for standing in solidarity during these challenging times. Together, we can find strength in our shared journey toward healing and justice.
In our collective memory, the atrocities committed by the Nazis stand as a universal symbol of evil. The horrors of the Holocaust, the persecution of Jews, and the Gestapo's role in enforcing Nazi policies are widely recognized and condemned. But why is it so clear to us that the Nazis were wrong, while we struggle to see similar patterns of state-sanctioned violence and oppression in our own backyard?
The tragic murder of Sonya Massey, along with countless others, highlights a painful reality: the American police force has often functioned in a manner akin to the Gestapo's role in Nazi Germany, particularly in its treatment of Black people. Understanding this comparison requires a deep dive into the origins and roles of these institutions and their impact on collective trauma.
"We Are the Nazis: Confronting State-Sanctioned Violence in America"
The tragic murder of Sonya Massey, along with countless others, highlights a painful reality: the American police force has often functioned in a manner akin to the Gestapo's role in Nazi Germany, particularly in its treatment of Black people. Understanding this comparison requires a deep dive into the origins and roles of these institutions and their impact on collective trauma.
Historical Context and Origins
The American police force has roots deeply embedded in maintaining social order for those in power. Early iterations, such as the slave patrols, were designed to control and suppress Black populations, ensuring the continuation of the slave economy. Similarly, the Gestapo, established in Nazi Germany in 1933, was created to enforce state control, targeting Jews, political dissidents, and other marginalized groups to maintain the Nazi regime's ideology and power.
Comparative Functions and Tactics
Both the American police force and the Gestapo utilized systemic violence and terror to enforce their respective societal structures. The Gestapo operated with almost total impunity, utilizing surveillance, brutality, and terror to eliminate perceived threats to the state. In the U.S., the police force has historically employed similar tactics—particularly against Black communities—to maintain racial and social hierarchies. This is evident in the disproportionate use of force, surveillance, and incarceration faced by Black people in America.
For instance, during the Jim Crow era, laws such as anti-miscegenation statutes were enforced to prevent racial mixing and maintain white supremacy. The police played a crucial role in enforcing these laws, which criminalized Black individuals and often led to forced labor under the guise of vagrancy charges.
Creation and Function: American Police Force
Origins and Purpose: The modern American police force evolved from several origins, including night watches, which were community-based efforts to keep order. However, a significant and more formalized root lies in the slave patrols established in the 1700s and 1800s in the Southern United States. These patrols were explicitly designed to control enslaved Black populations and prevent rebellions, ensuring the continuation of the slave economy and, by extension, the wealth and social order it provided to white landowners.
Function: The function of these patrols was to enforce laws that supported the institution of slavery, such as apprehending runaway slaves and intimidating Black people, whether enslaved or free, to prevent resistance. After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, these functions shifted into what became the formalized police forces, which continued to enforce segregation and Jim Crow laws. These laws were aimed at maintaining white supremacy and racial segregation, reinforcing the social hierarchy that placed white citizens above Black citizens.
Example: One example is the enforcement of vagrancy laws during the Jim Crow era, which were used to criminalize Black people who could not prove they were employed. This often led to arrest and forced labor, essentially perpetuating a system similar to slavery. The police were instrumental in enforcing these laws, thus maintaining the racial hierarchy.
Creation and Function: Gestapo
Origins and Purpose: The Gestapo, or Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police), was established in 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany. Its primary purpose was to serve as the Nazi regime's secret police force, tasked with identifying, monitoring, and eliminating threats to the Nazi state. This included political dissidents, Jews, Communists, LGBTQ individuals, and others deemed undesirable by the regime.
Function: The Gestapo operated with virtually unchecked power, engaging in surveillance, arbitrary arrests, and brutal interrogation methods. Its role was to enforce laws that stripped targeted groups of their rights and freedom, thereby maintaining the Nazi racial hierarchy, which placed Aryans at the top and systematically oppressed and exterminated Jews and other marginalized groups.
Example: The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 provide a clear example of the Gestapo's role. These laws were racially discriminatory laws that, among other things, prohibited marriages and extramarital intercourse between Jews and Germans. The Gestapo enforced these laws through widespread surveillance and brutal punishment, ensuring that these social hierarchies were maintained.
Collective Trauma and Consciousness
The repeated violence and oppression experienced by Black communities at the hands of the police have created a deep well of collective trauma. This trauma isn't just individual; it reverberates through communities, shaping a shared consciousness marked by fear, grief, and resilience. This collective trauma is akin to the experiences of Jewish communities under the Gestapo's terror, where entire communities lived under constant threat, deeply affecting their sense of safety and identity.
In acknowledging these painful parallels, it is crucial to recognize that while the contexts and specificities differ, the underlying mechanisms of control, dehumanization, and systemic violence bear unsettling similarities. This understanding calls for a concerted effort to dismantle oppressive systems and heal the wounds inflicted by generations of trauma. We must commit to a future where justice, equity, and humanity are not merely aspirations but lived realities.
Impact on Collective Consciousness and Trauma
The enforcement of these hierarchies through violence and legal structures has left deep scars on the collective consciousness of targeted communities. In the U.S., the legacy of slavery, segregation, and ongoing police violence has contributed to a collective trauma among Black Americans. This trauma is manifested in a pervasive sense of fear, distrust of law enforcement, and the need for movements like Black Lives Matter, which call for an end to systemic racism and police violence.
The Gestapo's legacy is similarly one of fear and trauma, particularly among Jewish communities, where the memories of the Holocaust and state-sponsored terror continue to impact collective memory and identity.
By examining these parallels and acknowledging the distinct histories and contexts, we can better understand how systems of power use law enforcement to maintain societal hierarchies and the deep, lasting impact of such actions on collective consciousness and community well-being.
The Nuremberg Laws and American Racial Codes
The Nuremberg Laws in Nazi Germany and racial codes in the United States are chilling examples of how legal frameworks have been used to enforce and maintain racial hierarchies. These laws not only discriminated against targeted groups but also normalized and institutionalized racism and bigotry. Furthermore, the historical connections between Nazi Germany and the United States, including the latter's support and influence, highlight a dark chapter in global history.
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 laid the legal foundation for the systemic persecution of Jews, prohibiting marriages and extramarital intercourse between Jews and non-Jewish Germans, and stripping Jews of their German citizenship. These laws aimed to segregate and ultimately exterminate Jewish people and others deemed racially or politically undesirable.
In the U.S., similar laws existed, particularly during the Jim Crow era. Anti-miscegenation laws and Black Codes enforced racial segregation in all aspects of life, including education, housing, employment, and public accommodations. These laws institutionalized the inferior status of Black people in American society and prevented them from accessing the same rights and opportunities as white citizens.
Nuremberg Laws (1935): The Nuremberg Laws were a set of racist laws enacted in Nazi Germany that laid the legal foundation for the systemic persecution of Jews. The two main laws were:
The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor: This prohibited marriages and extramarital intercourse between Jews and non-Jewish Germans, aimed at preserving the purity of the "Aryan" race.
The Reich Citizenship Law: This law stripped Jews of their German citizenship, relegating them to subjects of the state without the full rights of citizens.
These laws were a key part of the Nazi regime's broader racial policy, which sought to segregate and ultimately exterminate Jewish people and others deemed racially or politically undesirable.
Racial Codes in the United States: In the U.S., similar laws and codes existed, particularly during the Jim Crow era (late 19th century to mid-20th century). These laws included:
Anti-Miscegenation Laws: These prohibited marriages between white people and Black people, as well as between white people and other racial minorities. The purpose was to maintain racial purity and prevent the mixing of races.
Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws: These laws enforced racial segregation in all aspects of life, including education, housing, employment, and public accommodations. They aimed to institutionalize the inferior status of Black people in American society and prevent them from accessing the same rights and opportunities as white citizens.
Enforcement of Social and Racial Hierarchy
Both the American police force and the Gestapo were and are, in essence, tools for enforcing laws that uphold specific social and racial hierarchies. In the U.S., this has often meant maintaining white supremacy through both legal means (like segregation laws) and extralegal violence (like police brutality and lynching). The Gestapo did the same in Nazi Germany but with a focus on racial purity and political conformity.
Historical Connections and American Influence
There are documented instances where American racial policies influenced Nazi Germany. Hitler and other Nazi leaders admired the United States' system of racial segregation and its strict immigration laws, which restricted the entry of non-white people. The U.S.'s eugenics movement, which promoted the idea of racial purity and the sterilization of those deemed unfit, also influenced Nazi racial policies.
During the 1930s, segments of American society, including industrialists and political figures, expressed support for Nazi Germany. This support was often driven by shared ideologies, such as anti-communism and, in some cases, racial superiority.
Timelines and Impact:
1930s-1940s: The U.S. eugenics movement reached its peak in the early 20th century, influencing Nazi ideologies. During this time, America’s anti-miscegenation and segregation laws provided a model for Nazi racial policies.
1935: The Nuremberg Laws were enacted, codifying racial discrimination in Nazi Germany.
1941-1945: During World War II, some American businesses continued to engage in commerce with Nazi Germany, despite the war. This included companies like IBM and Ford, which had operations or business interests in Germany.
Post-War Period: After WWII, the Nuremberg Trials highlighted the atrocities committed under Nazi laws, but racial segregation and discrimination persisted in the U.S. until the Civil Rights Movement began to dismantle these systems in the 1950s and 1960s.
Similarities and Consequences
The Nuremberg Laws and American racial codes both sought to legally enforce racial purity and segregation. They created environments where racial discrimination was not just tolerated but mandated by law, stripping targeted groups of their rights and humanity. Both systems used the law to justify violence and oppression, leading to profound and long-lasting trauma for those affected.
The intersection of these histories underscores the importance of recognizing how legal systems can perpetuate injustice. It also highlights the need for vigilance in ensuring that laws are used to protect the rights of all people, rather than to entrench existing inequalities. This historical awareness is crucial in understanding and combating systemic racism and prejudice in contemporary society.
Solidarity Through Recognition of Parallels
Recognizing the parallels between the American police force and the Gestapo, and between the Nuremberg Laws and American racial codes, fosters a deeper understanding of systemic oppression. This recognition can create solidarity among marginalized communities by highlighting their shared experiences of state-sanctioned violence and discrimination. By seeing the interconnectedness of these struggles, we can strengthen alliances and work collectively toward dismantling these oppressive systems.
Reflective Questions
How do historical narratives shape our empathy and understanding of oppression?
In what ways does the concept of "law and order" serve to perpetuate racial hierarchies?
What is the role of collective trauma in shaping the consciousness of marginalized communities, and how is this trauma recognized or ignored in broader societal discourses?
How can we begin to dismantle the biases that influence our perceptions of whose suffering deserves recognition and redress?
References:
"The Long Shadow: Legacies of the Great War in the Twentieth Century" by David Reynolds
Discusses the broader historical context of the 20th century, including the rise of totalitarian regimes and the shaping of modern geopolitical landscapes."The Origins of the Gestapo," United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
"Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples" by Linda Tuhiwai Smith
Explores the impacts of colonialism on research and knowledge, relevant to understanding historical and contemporary narratives.
"The End of Policing" by Alex S. Vitale
Critiques the role of modern policing and suggests alternatives, with parallels to international practices.
"The Gestapo: Power and Terror in the Third Reich" by Carsten Dams and Michael Stolle
A detailed account of the Gestapo's operations and its impact on German society.
"War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust" by Doris L. Bergen
Provides an overview of the Holocaust, including the role of the Gestapo in Nazi Germany.
Conclusion
The aim here is not to draw a simple equation between Nazi Germany and the United States but to provoke critical thinking about the mechanisms of oppression and the selective empathy that shapes our societal narratives. By decentering the dominant perspective and centering the voices and experiences of those most affected by state-sanctioned violence, we can begin to understand and address the underlying systems that perpetuate these injustices.
Recognizing the parallels between these historical and contemporary systems of oppression challenges us to reflect on our society's values and practices. It forces us to ask difficult questions about how we view justice, whose experiences we prioritize, and how we can move toward a more equitable and empathetic world.
This article seeks to challenge you the reader to think critically about the systems of power and the biases that influence our perceptions of justice and injustice. The hope is that by reflecting on these questions and the uncomfortable truths they reveal, we can move towards a more just and empathetic society.
Next we will discuss how the US military represents global policing by the United States
In solidarity and empowerment,
Thank you for this compelling and thought provoking article. The murder of Sonya Massey by an emotionally unstable police officer is another atrocity that should never have happened. I was intrigued by your comparison of American policing to the German Gestapo practices, and perhaps, what they learned from America. Surely the legacy of slave patrols continues to inform policing (consciously or unconsciously) just like intergenerational trauma affects subsequent generations. I applaud your call for police reform and share the fears and concerns of black Americans continuing to live in communities where the police behave in this way. Have you ever heard of a white person being shot by police in a similar situation? Please continue your work. You have a distinctive voice and I am glad that you were able to write about this topic despite the traumatic nature of the material.