"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

[houston]

Yes, this is what you get when you raise your children believing that everything that doesn't go in your favor, every time you're questioned, every time a police officer pulls you over is because you're black.

I have a friend who was pulled over by the police twice recently, both at night. He thinks it happened because he is black. I asked him the reason they gave for pulling him over. He said that both times they pulled him over because the light is out over the license plate to his vehicle.

I know the stretch he was driving on one of the nights. It's dark. His windows are tinted. His car doesn't scream "thug life." I told him to get the light replaced. It's there so that his license plate can be visible to LEOs.

[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 BrotherEastman

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.

"Certainly, black skin creates hurdles in the United States, as well. Here, racism systemically – but usually covertly – obstructs African-Americans from fully enjoying all the freedoms afforded to white people."

I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Outside of interactions with police officers, I just don't know what to make of this statement. I'm sorry he feels this way.

His statement is more reflective of my Dad's generation's experiences, but not really my own personal experience.

[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.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by houston

Yes, this is what you get when you raise your children believing that everything that doesn't go in your favor, every time you're questioned, every time a police officer pulls you over is because you're black.

I have a friend who was pulled over by the police twice recently, both at night. He thinks it happened because he is black. I asked him the reason they gave for pulling him over. He said that both times they pulled him over because the light is out over the license plate to his vehicle.

I know the stretch he was driving on one of the nights. It's dark. His windows are tinted. His car doesn't scream "thug life." I told him to get the light replaced. It's there so that his license plate can be visible to LEOs.

While I don't believe every time something happens it's because of their race, I believe that unfair racial profiling does happen more often than most would be comfortable in realizing.