The Only Black Police Precinct in U.S. History: How Miami Was Policed During Segregation

Yahoo

17-02-2025

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HistoryMiami Museum
When you think of the Deep South, Miami isn't always the first place that comes to mind. Known today for its beaches, nightlife, and vibrant Latin American influences, Miami's reputation often overshadows its history as a Southern city that was deeply entrenched in segregation. But Miami was very much part of the Jim Crow South in the 20th century, with all the hallmarks of racial injustice — segregated schools, neighborhoods, and businesses, voter suppression, and rampant discrimination in employment and policing.
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Although Miami shared the rest of the South's racial inequity, it had a thriving Black community, complete with its own Black-led community police force. The Black Police Precinct, which opened in 1944 and operated until its closure in 1963, was the only one of its kind in the United States, existing as both a response to exclusion and a testament to the resilience of Miami's Black community. Today, it functions as a museum, preserving the complex history of Black law enforcement, and highlighting an era when Black officers served their community amid segregation.
During the early 20th century, Black Miamians primarily lived in Colored Town, later known as Overtown, one of the only areas where Black residents were allowed to live. Redlining and restrictive housing covenants kept Black families from moving into white neighborhoods, while discriminatory laws limited economic opportunities. Despite these challenges, Overtown thrived as a cultural and economic hub, home to Black-owned businesses, churches, and entertainment venues that hosted legends like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
But being an economic center didn't shield Overtown from the harsh realities of segregation. Black Miamians were frequently subjected to police violence, and law enforcement often reinforced racial boundaries rather than protect all citizens equally. Additionally, Black citizens were also left unprotected from crime in their own neighborhoods. In response to growing demands for safety and self-governance, Miami officials established the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse in 1944, hiring the city's first Black officers.
Miami's Black police officers had to follow a different set of rules. They were restricted to policing only Black neighborhoods and were not allowed to arrest white citizens. Black officers were also not permitted to refer to themselves as policemen, but rather as patrolmen.
The courthouse within the precinct also played a pivotal role in Black Miami's justice system. In its first year alone, it processed hundreds of cases, offering Black citizens a legal space where they could seek justice without the immediate racial bias present in white-dominated courtrooms. It was here that Miami's first Black judge, Lawson E. Thomas, made history. Appointed in 1950, Judge Thomas presided over cases that were previously handled by white judges who often disregarded the rights of Black defendants. His courtroom provided a rare opportunity for Black citizens to receive fair legal proceedings, marking a significant step forward in racial justice.
Though the precinct was primarily established to police Black neighborhoods, it also became a crucial touchpoint for other marginalized groups in Miami. Five Jewish judges served at the Black Precinct and Courthouse, working alongside Black officers and judges in a legal system that often excluded both groups from mainstream institutions. At a time when Miami's beaches, clubs, and businesses enforced exclusionary policies against both Black and Jewish residents, these judges played a vital role in ensuring that justice was at least more attainable for those facing systemic bias. This intersection of discrimination highlights how Miami's history of segregation impacted multiple communities, making the precinct's role even more significant.
Despite working in a deeply flawed system, these early officers engaged directly with the community, building trust and relationships that became a model for modern-day policing reforms. And the success of Miami's Black Police Precinct did not go unnoticed — reports of its effectiveness in crime reduction and community trust spread nationwide, leading cities across the country to consider establishing their own Black police forces.
Miami's model of community-focused policing and legal representation became a reference point for cities dealing with similar issues of segregation and racial discrimination in law enforcement. None followed through with fully independent Black precincts, but the conversations it sparked helped push forward discussions about reform and representation in police departments across the country.
While the precinct was a symbol of progress for many, it was also a stark reminder of the inequalities that led to its creation. The Black officers, despite their dedication to their jobs, were paid less than their white counterparts and could not join police unions. Their training facilities and resources were subpar, and Black officers had fewer opportunities for advancement. Even their leadership remained under the control of white supervisors, illustrating the deeply ingrained structures of racial hierarchy.
After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the slow push toward integration, the precinct was shut down, and only a few of its officers merged into the larger Miami Police Department. But with that closure came the loss of a space that had provided a sense of safety and representation for Miami's Black community and a greater fight for equality within the department. The building, once a symbol of both segregation and empowerment, sat largely forgotten for decades.
Today, the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse has been transformed into a museum, which examines modern issues of race, policing, and justice.
Visitors not only learn about the officers who served in a segregated system, but also discover the tactics and practices these officers developed, which laid the foundation for what we now know as 'community policing.'
Exhibitions like 'Grief Not Guilty: Reclaiming My Time' shed light on the experiences of the incarcerated and their families, using art to tell deeply personal stories of resilience and injustice. Featuring the works of artist Gary Tyler, who was wrongfully convicted as a teenager and spent over 40 years in prison, the exhibition shows how incarceration disproportionately affects Black communities and challenges narratives around guilt and punishment.
Overtown, once known as the Harlem of the South, remains a crucial part of Miami's Black history. The neighborhood has undergone significant changes due to what's known as climate gentrification, or the trend of historically Black, lower-income neighborhoods drawing new residents and development because they're less prone to flooding. While urban renewal projects that displaced many of Overtown's original residents, its legacy as a center of Black culture, activism, and resilience endures. The Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum stands as one of the few remaining structures preserving this history, ensuring that the stories of those who fought for justice are not forgotten. It is not just a relic of the past — it is a living testament to the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality in America.
This article was produced with Made By Us, a coalition of more than 400 history museums working to connect with today's youth.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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