2024-09-09
8 分钟No other police department has more global brand awareness than the NYPD.
From iconic images of 911 to sought after tourist souvenirs, the boys in blue would seem to go hand in hand with New York City itself.
But underneath all the iconic imagery and tales of heroism lies a dark and secret history, one that you've likely never heard before from Peabody award winning host Chenjurai Kumanyika.
Empire City takes you back to the 18 hundreds, to a New York City overrun with deadly riots and brawls.
A time when black New Yorkers are being kidnapped off the city streets and sold into slavery in the south.
But their loved ones can't call the cops for help because it turns out, the kidnappers are the cops.
With the fate of american policing on the ballot this fall, find out how the NYPD transformed into the most powerful police force the world has ever seen.
From wondery in crooked media with pushblack.
This is Empire City.
I'm about to play a clip from Empire City.
Follow Empire City on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.
I'm playing in a Central park sandbox with my four year old daughter when I see a police officer approaching the edge of the playground and my body instinctively stiffens.
Something comes over me and I start wondering.
Aniola, let me ask you a question.
Um, what do you think?
What do you think the police do?
They keep people safe.
I mean, that is what the police say their job is.
But when I hear her say it, I start to panic.
How did that story that the police keep us safe become the story that so many people believe?