From Slave Patrol to Policing w/ Lettie Shumate

In this episode Weeze and Lettie talk about the evolution of the police system, how it’s rooted in the slave patrol from the 1700s, and the importance of restructuring and reimagining public safety.

ABOUT WEEZE

Louiza Doran, known and referred to as Weeze, is a cis-het Amazigh* female identifying human who uses she/her/they/them pronouns. She’s known as a coach, podcast host, advocate, agent of change, strategist and educator (to name a few) but is ultimately a compassionate provocateur that is out to help folks uncover their path of possibility.

ABOUT LETTIE SHUMATE

Lettie Shumate is a Black woman, historian, antiracism educator, and facilitator in Southeastern North Carolina. She received her MA in History in 2015 and her MA in Conflict Management & Resolution in 2020. She is the host of her podcast, “Sincerely, Lettie”, where she educates about history and bridges the past to the present, she discusses racial and social issues, and she doesn’t hold back the truth with hard topics and tough conversations. Lettie is involved with projects and serves on boards in her local community as well.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT

• The history of slave patrols in southern colonies and the development of policing.
• The three primary functions of the slave patrol and the type of people who were running them.
• How the language describing criminals became associated with Black people.
• Conversations people neglect to engage in when discussing slavery and policing.

CALLS TO ACTION

• Watch 13th on Netflix.
• Find out who in your area is doing work on reimagining public safety.
• Follow “Bring the Heat” with Pastor Ben McBride @benjmcbride.
• Make sure you’re educated on who’s running for this election, from the school board to the president, and looking at your ballot measures. If you can’t understand what the law is saying, find someone in the area who’s breaking it down.

FOLLOW WEEZE TO STAY ENGAGED

Website: https://www.accordingtoweeze.com

IG: @accordingtoweeze

The Academy (it’s like Patreon): https://www.accordingtoweeze.com/the-academy

FOLLOW LETTIE TO STAY ENGAGED

Website: www.patreon.com/lettieshumate https://www.sincerelylettie.com

IG: @sincerely.lettie

Podcast: Sincerely, Lettie