Neighborhood Watch

This piece deals with the American tradition of the Neighborhood Watch. Started in the 70s, these groups formed alliances with local police to protect their neighborhood from violent crimes. This movement coincided with the rise of Black Power and a decrease in violent crimes on the whole.

The particular sign style depicted here is that of the UTC in San Diego where the artist was living during the Fall of 2020. Feeling like she didn’t fit into white suburbia, the artist made this piece in response to the alienation she felt there. Drawing from a wide range of sources from movies, news, and experience, Miller questions the purpose of the Neighborhood Watch in today’s America.