Lisa Doris Alexander is an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at Wayne State University. She is the author of Expanding the Black Film Canon: Race and Genre across Six Decades and When Baseball Isn't White, Straight and Male: The Media and Difference in the National Pastime.
Altogether, Alexander provides a robust critical discussion on how Homicide: Life on the Street displays racial dynamics in the criminal justice system, especially among police officers. She highlights several positive aspects of how the show portrays racial experiences during the 1990s and discusses them in relation to current debates about racial inequality and disparate treatment of Blacks. Alexander's book makes a compelling case for how TV shows can successfully engage in debates to further the public's understanding of critical issues such as race and encourage the public to engage with racial experiences portrayed on TV. --Michelle N. Eliasson Journal of American Culture (3/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Alexander's dexterous historical-critical analysis thrusts Homicide smack into our moment, masterfully weaving series history with scorching contemporary relevance. Recalling the glory of this 'racially progressive police procedural' as breakthrough allegory, Alexander deftly applies social theories without eclipsing the joy and pathos of this 1990s television milestone. This book excited me-as scholar and fan.--Thomas A. Mascaro media historian and documentary author (5/4/2021 12:00:00 AM)