The Black Cop follows a former police officer’s experience of being both the victim and perpetrator of racism within the police. It’s a riveting confessional about compromise, fortitude and self-discovery - to find a way through systemic racism and homophobia, by pioneering and championing rights within the force and wider society.
This is quite an interesting painted piece-to-camera that introduces us to a black British man who was fostered/farmed out at a very young age, then reclaimed by an indifferent father and taken to London where he swiftly learned the protective values of self deprecation. He sets his sights on the police as a career, and again his well honed natural ability to conform and fit in initially serves him well as he becomes a sort of poster-boy for London's Metropolitan Police force. It's this aspect of his career that leads to the posing of his biggest career and life challenge and also, ultimately, offers him a chance to face his other demon - he is also gay - and to not only be who is his, but to also inspire others from any minority, colour, creed or sexuality to be who they are too. Occasionally, there is some socially provocative archive that illustrates the more obvious aspects of an intolerant society through to the more subtle methods latterly used by both the public and the police force and that works with varying degrees of success. It's been produced by the "Guardian" newspaper, so it does have a political leaning to it whilst making no attempt to balance - or verify - the statements of the uncredited officer about his life. That said, though, he does come across as an entirely credible character and the experiences he relates do provoke thought on the constitution of a service that is, itself, a microcosm of our broader society - warts and all. What's not clear is whether he is an actor or a real police officer, but he's a natural and engaging communicator and this is worth a watch as a prelude to a wider discussion.