Tamir Rice (2002-2014)

Frames and Perspectives

The shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice sent renewed shockwaves through the nation, following on the heels of the shooting of another African American teen, Michael Brown, by an officer in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014. Both killings led scholars and activists to question whether black youth are viewed as inherently less innocent and more dangerous than white youth. 

Rather than a question of race, law enforcement sees this through the lens of appropriate use of force relative to a perceived imminent threat and taking actions that will ensure they are able to return to their families at the end of their shift. Many point out that officers are trained to use deadly force to protect themselves and the public from harm, and that the decisions they make about when to use that force happen quickly. Illustrating this perspective, in response to the settlement, On April 25, 2016 the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association released the following statement:

We have maintained from the onset this has been an absolute tragedy for the Rice family as well as our involved Officers and their families.  Our hearts continue to be with them.

We can only hope the Rice family and their attorneys will use a portion of this settlement to help educate the youth of Cleveland in the dangers associated with the mishandling of both real and facsimile firearms. Something positive must come from this tragic loss. That would be educating youth of the dangers of possessing a real or replica firearm.

We look forward to the possibility of working with the Rice family to achieve this common goal.

Communities of color tend to see such incidents through the lens of the long history of police too easily turning to lethal force when engaging people of color. This case was particularly traumatic for communities of color because of Rice’s age, highlighting for black parents that their children are often denied the privileged space of childhood and the presumption of innocence. Since children of color are often perceived as adult threats, even normal childhood behaviors and actions can lead to tragedy.

By no means extensive, here are a few examples of how this tragedy was framed by law enforcement, public officials, and the larger community. In your homes, communities, workplaces, and houses of worship, we invite you to consider how and why fear is so often at the center of interactions between law enforcement and communities of color. What additional perspectives would add clarity to our understanding of this case? What additional frames are useful for thinking about change that will prevent these kinds of incidents in the future?

Digging Deeper

Family & Community Voices

According to the Research

Black Boys Viewed as Older, Less Innocent Than Whites, Research Finds - Summary of research findings on how African American male youth are viewed.

Questions to Consider:

  • Where do you potentially see fear being evidenced on both sides? At what junctures do you see fear structuring or impacting the encounter?

  • What could have been done differently to minimize this tragic encounter?  What protocol could be put in place to prevent such a tragic encounter in the future?

  • Reread the statement of the Cleveland Patrolmen's Association (CPA) reproduced above. What is your reaction to the CPA’s framing of the incident? Do you think the suggested use of settlement funds would have the outcome suggested in the statement? Do you think this is a solution that would prevent future incidents like the one involving Tamir Rice? How might communities of color respond to those same questions? 

  • Have a look at the According to the Research link above. How might the research of Yale psychologist Phillip Goff help us to think through the shooting of Tamir Rice? How might Goff respond to the Cleveland Patrolmen's Association’s statement? How does thinking about black childhood change the conversation?