This episode of Law and Order SVU began with a the rape of a talented blonde dancer. She was running through the park when a man approached her and attacked her and when he was done he escaped. The dancer reported to the police and the SVU team took the case. Agent Rollins immediately had a suspect in mind when the dancer gave a description of the perpetrator as having a black and white tattoo on his neck. Rollins was involved in a case in Atlanta that involved a serial rapist who matched the description the dancer provided.Not only that, but the DNA at the scene matched perfectly with Gabriel Thomas. The SVU team arrested Gabriel Thomas because his tattoo description matched the perpetrator's. Gabriel pleaded not guilty and he tried to kill himself while being detained because he could not live with being locked up for something like that. The SVU team was urged not to rule him as the perpetrator because his alibi was unusually strong for a serial rapist. The team then discovered that Gabriel Thomas had a twin brother that was separated at birth. The twin, Brain Smith used his brother's identity to frame him as the serial rapist and he was arrest while Gabriel Thomas was set free.
The analysis of this week's episode has little to do with the actual episode itself but a look at representation. Up to this point in season 13 of Law and Order SVU, there have been African Americans present in subordinate roles. This episode was a little different since there were not any African Americans present other than Ice-T's character, who is in every episode. It is important to think about how African American's are being represented in a Hollywood television series, particularly if they are not featured at all. Also, what does the lack of representation of African Americans have to with the U.S. justice system? Of course there are sexual abuse crimes that happen in the African American community, but how likely or often are these to be dramatized for television? What kind of audience watches a TV show with predominately white folks? The white population. When the African American population watches it, it is noticeable that there are no roles available for people with dark skin. Since Law and Order SVU is a portrayal of the justice system, what does the lack of representation imply about the justice system? The justice system regularly engages with African American's but they seem less important if they are not featured in shows like this and when they are they are in subordinating roles, which perpetuate racism by keeping them in positions of oppression and lack of representation.
The analysis of this week's episode has little to do with the actual episode itself but a look at representation. Up to this point in season 13 of Law and Order SVU, there have been African Americans present in subordinate roles. This episode was a little different since there were not any African Americans present other than Ice-T's character, who is in every episode. It is important to think about how African American's are being represented in a Hollywood television series, particularly if they are not featured at all. Also, what does the lack of representation of African Americans have to with the U.S. justice system? Of course there are sexual abuse crimes that happen in the African American community, but how likely or often are these to be dramatized for television? What kind of audience watches a TV show with predominately white folks? The white population. When the African American population watches it, it is noticeable that there are no roles available for people with dark skin. Since Law and Order SVU is a portrayal of the justice system, what does the lack of representation imply about the justice system? The justice system regularly engages with African American's but they seem less important if they are not featured in shows like this and when they are they are in subordinating roles, which perpetuate racism by keeping them in positions of oppression and lack of representation.