"Arrested Because You're Black"

[Jermyn Davidson]

This article details the experience of one black American with two police officers in Ukraine.

As you read this article, what are you thinking about?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/postev...ppreciated-it/

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

This article details the experience of one black American with two police officers in Ukraine.

As you read this article, what are you thinking about?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/postev...ppreciated-it/

To a certain extent I believe this article to be a fair claim about Ukrainians. However, although there is still racism in America, I seriously doubt it is as bad as some claim it to be including the authors point of view. If this were the case, we would not have an African-American as President right now.

[Praxeas]

How do you know when it's racism in America if it's not overt?

I was driving once with a friend in the passenger seat and a cop pulled me over. Before he walked up to the window I asked out loud "I wonder why he pulled me over". Without skipping a beat my friend said "Because Im black"

As it turned out my tags were expired. I forgot to put my new ones on

Another time I was at a restaurant with a friend and it closes early. They locked the doors and soon a black man tried to get in. He knocked on the door and the girl opened it and told him they were closed. He looked around at the last few customers that were still there and asked why there were people there eating if they are closed and then asked if it was because he was black...

Perception

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Perception

That's it in a nutshell. People see racism because they expect it, whether it's real or not. In doing so, they ultimately make us immune to cries of true racism. Much like the boy who cried wolf.

That's the dangers of those like Sharpton, who cry racism on every issue involving blacks.

[Jermyn Davidson]

"In New York City, where I now live, the NYPD immediately rejects any suggestion that racism can motivate officers’ behavior, even subconsciously. They categorically dismiss research that shows black people are habitually treated more severely than whites when suspected of the same crime. They swear that policing policies like “stop and frisk” and “broken windows” aren’t racially motivated, even though studies have repeatedly shown that they disproportionately target minorities. These knee-jerk denials breed distrust and allow tensions to fester."

I'd like to see this research-- not that I doubt it, but I'd like to see it in writing so I can show others.

[Jermyn Davidson]

I was a bit disappointed with his experiences in Ukraine even though he says the majority of his trip didn't have incidents like the bad ones he described.

His housing experiences really shocked me. However, the Sony hacked emails indicated that the world was much more racist outside of the U.S. when it came to their movie watching habits. I guess this goes along with that.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

How do you know when it's racism in America if it's not overt?

I was driving once with a friend in the passenger seat and a cop pulled me over. Before he walked up to the window I asked out loud "I wonder why he pulled me over". Without skipping a beat my friend said "Because Im black"

As it turned out my tags were expired. I forgot to put my new ones on

Another time I was at a restaurant with a friend and it closes early. They locked the doors and soon a black man tried to get in. He knocked on the door and the girl opened it and told him they were closed. He looked around at the last few customers that were still there and asked why there were people there eating if they are closed and then asked if it was because he was black...

Perception

When it comes to cops, I still have paranoia like that.

It's a shame but I fully understand where your friend was coming from, even if ultimately you were wrong.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

When it comes to cops, I still have paranoia like that.

It's a shame but I fully understand where your friend was coming from, even if ultimately you were wrong.

What do you mean "You were wrong"?

Paranoia is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.

Soooo...how do so many black people get this irrational fear? Where does it come from?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

What do you mean "You were wrong"?

Paranoia is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.

Soooo...how do so many black people get this irrational fear? Where does it come from?

"You were wrong" as in the police had a valid reason to pull you over.

For me it is not irrational. I've been profiled or targetted before, despite the fact that most of my interaction with the cops has been reasonable.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

How do you know when it's racism in America if it's not overt?

I was driving once with a friend in the passenger seat and a cop pulled me over. Before he walked up to the window I asked out loud "I wonder why he pulled me over". Without skipping a beat my friend said "Because Im black"

As it turned out my tags were expired. I forgot to put my new ones on

Another time I was at a restaurant with a friend and it closes early. They locked the doors and soon a black man tried to get in. He knocked on the door and the girl opened it and told him they were closed. He looked around at the last few customers that were still there and asked why there were people there eating if they are closed and then asked if it was because he was black...

Perception

Perception is a strong word here. If you look at the state of blacks in other countries all around the world, it is very clear that they have it best here in the US. While it may not be perfect, it is certainly much better than most of their fellow black people around the world. I would think they would be thankful for the opportunities they have been given here in this country, instead of choosing to plea the "because I'm black" card every time something doesn't go the way they think it should.