Overview

• In 2016, Harvard Economics Professor Roland Fryer published a study showing no racial bias in police shootings, contradicting widespread expectations.
• The study's publication resulted in severe backlash, with Fryer receiving threats and requiring police protection for himself and his family.
• Fryer's research examined thousands of officer-involved shootings and found that minorities were less likely to be shot at by police compared to whites.
• Despite the backlash, Fryer stood by his findings, which were confirmed by additional research conducted with eight new assistants.
• The controversy surrounding the study highlights the intense debate over racial bias in policing and the challenges faced by researchers presenting unexpected results.