After the death of George Floyd, commentators and at least one TV-industry insider argued that network shows needed to rethink their presentations to acknowledge incidents such as Floyd’s. In the fall of 2022, there were about 20 television shows with a law-enforcement element – more than in the Fall of 2020 – including three each with the Law & Order, FBI, and NCIS brands, along with SWAT, The Rookie, Blue Bloods, and other series. The talk-and-video presentation and ensuing discussion will consider shows’ content in two ways: whether there is awareness of racial conflict and brutality, and diversity in the casting (especially in the leading roles).

This event is part of The University of Akron’s Rethinking Race event series, a two-week forum of events focused on facilitating “courageous conversations designed to promote inclusive excellence” regarding race and race-related issues. Thank you to our Rethinking Race sponsors the County of Summit ADM Board, Mercury Plastics, Goodyear, FirstEnergy Foundation, FedEx Custom Critical, Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation of Akron, Ilene Shapiro’s Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, the Akron Community Foundation, the City of Akron, Philip and Paulette Thompson, and Dr. Sheldon Wrice.