The Black Shields [Paperback]

Roger Abel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1420844601 | ISBN-13: 978-1420844603

All but ignored, the Black police officer went unseen in a history that has been lost, stolen, and disguised by generations of segregation and discriminatory practices within the New York City Police Department, and city Government.For more than a century, Black police officers walked a lonely beat, and very little was written about their struggled for equality and recognition since the first Black officer entered the Police Department in 1891.The Book the Black Shields, written by an African American Police Detective, is a powerful pictorial history and narrative of the Black police experience that documents the successes and accomplishments shaped by an interconnected series of sociological, political and legal events that continue to take place today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Abel is a retired second grade New York City Police Detective.A native New Yorker, he has a long and distinguished career in law enforcement as President of the Black Police Officers Organization of the New York City Police Department called "Guardian Association, and President of the National Black Police Association. He has a bachelor''s degree in biology and psychology, a master''s degree in Public Administration, and many police department and community service awards.His research and documentation of African American history in the NYPD has been a career of passion and dedication, but it is his involvement in developing opportunities and partnerships between the police and the Black community that he considers his greatest accomplishment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 732 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (January 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420844601
• ISBN-13: 978-1420844603
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I plan to purchase a copy, August 12, 2009

By 

D. Damiano "Book Lover" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Shields (Paperback)

I was thrilled to find that my grandfather is mentioned in this book (I found this out by accident by googling his name and "NYC motorcycle policeman"). I plan to buy a copy. I can tell just by browsing the book online (btw, great feature, Amazon!) that this would make a great documentary.

I must add that I don't feel fair rating this item without having read it completely but I can't post without rating, so I will err on the side of brilliance! ;-)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars can't stop reading, August 9, 2009

By 

gulpep "gulpep" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Shields (Paperback)

Excellent Work Of Art - A Masterpice
I purchased this book on 8/5/09,I was spellbound and riveted to every word.The Author's writting style is clear, forceful and Infectious. After Reading 706 pages I wanted more.
This book will one day take its place with the classical works of american history.
The Author ROGER L Abel, will stand shoulder to shoulder with great historians,like WEB DuBois, J.A. Rogers, John Hope Franklin, and John Henrick Clarke and others.

Roger Abel is a retired 2nd Grade Detetive of the NYC Police Department. For over 30 years he has researched and compliled Information for this landmark book, it covers a time in american history that few people today know about.

This history is told throught the prism of Black Men and Women
who served as police officer in the NYC Police Departmet between 1891 and 2004. Only 26 years after the end of 250 years of slavery
they Sought employment as police officers.

The Author takes the readed on a fascinating journey back 100 years in history to a New York City people today would reconize.

This is a truly American story that no learned or Informed, person regardless of race, can feel complete and not know this part of American history. He tells the story of son of slaves joining the department and every imaginable obstacle being placed in their path. Racial discrimination, violence obtracized by their whites colleagues. Being denied the use of patrol cars, when the radio system was put in police car blacks were not allowed to use them.
They encounted hostility from the Police Department, and some members of the black community.They had to possess super mental and physical strength just to survive each tour of duty.

Mr. Abel takes us on this journey by Interviewing the surviving officers, their spouses, their children, and grandchildren and telling of their stories. He also offer over 100 rear photographs, and never seen of Black officers at work.
He brillantly brings the reader, the humananity and dedication of these legenday pioneers and their story.

He tells the story of the famous, Four Horsemen, the 1930's partol unit, four of biggest men, two black, one Full blooded Cherokee Indian, and a white sergeant, how partrolled the Harlem

The King Cole Trio, 1940"s Harlem loved by citizens, and feared by criminals. You get a front row seat as he analyezes the racial disorder of 1920 -1960's.

The never published Information about Malcom X, the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army and the relationship the NYC Police.

You will be hard pressed to put this book down! It is packed cover to cover with Information that you always wanted to know about but did not who know to ask.

A true Masterpiece.

Thank You Roger L. Able !
Black Shields

5.0 out of 5 stars black shields purchase, July 3, 2011

By 

H. Effiom - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Shields (Hardcover)

This book is a treasure trove of information, and a testament of the great courage of our people in the history of New York City.