My Family Has Been Racially Profiled Everywhere from Harvard to Our Own Home

[SummerMadness]

My Family Has Been Racially Profiled Everywhere from Harvard to Our Own Home | Madison T. Shockley II

Finally, my son has had it harder than I had it. He has had so many experiences that he doesn't bother to tell me about them all. But this one was a gem. He and a friend were returning from a club late one night and got into a cab for a ride home. A few blocks away from the club, a police car pulled the cab over. Their first thought was that the cab driver had committed some traffic infraction. But instead of asking the driver for his license, the officers ordered my son and his friend to get out of the back seat and stand on the side walk.

Suddenly, they realized that the police weren't stopping the driver but the two of them. What was their crime? Apparently, "riding a taxi while black" had now been added to the catalogue of "_______while black" crimes. No charges, just a harassing "catch and release" action that is the most common outcome of these encounters.

The presumption of guilt and danger that is at the heart of racial profiling lays heavy upon every black person living in America. It changes our relationship with the world. We are constantly on guard against a charge, a confrontation, a challenge. Racial profiling does long-term damage to the self-image, self-esteem and ego of the African American.

It's a lowdown dirty shame.


I do love his story about the cops running past him, it's just like a movie.

 

[HonestTruth]

Now imagine of the IRS or NSA did that to whites, the Tea Party and NRA would be pointing rifles at the Feds if they did so.

 

[GarfieldJL]

Now imagine of the IRS or NSA did that to whites, the Tea Party and NRA would be pointing rifles at the Feds if they did so.

The IRS already did this to Conservatives, HonestTruth, which is why the IRS was sued and now you have Federal Judges demanding answers...

As far as racial profiling, I have a question, how does the OP's son usually dress?

If he's wearing a hoody and jeans for instance, I can see why the cops are acting the way they are. I would suggest the OP's son start wearing polos (jeans are okay, as long as they don't have holes in them, and don't look like they are about to fall off). Seriously, a lot of people fail to release that cops judge someone by how they dress, not simply their skin color.

1. Be very polite to a police officer (you should be polite in general), a police officer is less apt to act like a jerk, if you don't act like one.
2. Don't dress like someone out of a modern street gang movie. They are less prone to be suspicious of someone wearing business casual, than they are of someone with a hood pulled over their head (barring rain or extreme cold).
3. Don't use illegal substances, I don't care if you think people can't tell, the fact is people can tell, cause your mannerisms do change, and cops are trained to notice things like that (or have experience to notice them).
4. Don't act like someone is out to get you, that does make people suspicious.

 

[stamperben]

The IRS already did this to Conservatives, HonestTruth, which is why the IRS was sued and now you have Federal Judges demanding answers...

As far as racial profiling, I have a question, how does the OP's son usually dress?

If he's wearing a hoody and jeans for instance, I can see why the cops are acting the way they are. I would suggest the OP's son start wearing polos (jeans are okay, as long as they don't have holes in them, and don't look like they are about to fall off). Seriously, a lot of people fail to release that cops judge someone by how they dress, not simply their skin color.

1. Be very polite to a police officer (you should be polite in general), a police officer is less apt to act like a jerk, if you don't act like one.
2. Don't dress like someone out of a modern street gang movie. They are less prone to be suspicious of someone wearing business casual, than they are of someone with a hood pulled over their head (barring rain or extreme cold).
3. Don't use illegal substances, I don't care if you think people can't tell, the fact is people can tell, cause your mannerisms do change, and cops are trained to notice things like that (or have experience to notice them).
4. Don't act like someone is out to get you, that does make people suspicious.

Oh my goodness! Are you also saying it is okay to rape a woman because of the way she dresses? Sure sounds like it.

 

[GarfieldJL]

Oh my goodness! Are you also saying it is okay to rape a woman because of the way she dresses? Sure sounds like it.

Seriously, get your mind out of the gutter...

Police officers are generally called to investigate crimes, they have to make split-second decisions on a routine basis, and their job can be extremely dangerous.

A police officer is more inclined to think someone wearing a hoodie is up to something, that a kid wearing a polo. If the street gangs were more inclined to wear polos instead of hoodies, then cops would be looking at people that wear polos with suspicion.

Despite what some people would like to believe, this isn't the 1960s or earlier. Cops aren't really interested in arresting people simply because they are black.

Quite a few of the arrests happen because people get really defensive and act like complete jerks. If you are polite to an officer (it's best if you're polite with everyone), then being stopped by a Police Officer is going to probably be nothing more than an inconveinence.

 

[stamperben]

Seriously, get your mind out of the gutter...

Police officers are generally called to investigate crimes, they have to make split-second decisions on a routine basis, and their job can be extremely dangerous.

A police officer is more inclined to think someone wearing a hoodie is up to something, that a kid wearing a polo. If the street gangs were more inclined to wear polos instead of hoodies, then cops would be looking at people that wear polos with suspicion.

Despite what some people would like to believe, this isn't the 1960s or earlier. Cops aren't really interested in arresting people simply because they are black.

Quite a few of the arrests happen because people get really defensive and act like complete jerks. If you are polite to an officer (it's best if you're polite with everyone), then being stopped by a Police Officer is going to probably be nothing more than an inconveinence.

Gutter? You are the one telling the world that the police, and by extension anyone else, may make assumptions on a person based solely on their appearance and being black! It would follow that a man should make the same sort of assumption about a woman solely based on how she's dressed. That attitude you seem to show is disgusting and sick. And the fact that you make your statements about dress relating to race also makes it a racist statement, which in my mind is disgusting and sick.

So you go ahead and wear your polo shirts, I'll wear my hoodie. Thing is though, I'm a white guy, so wearing my hoodie doesn't attract the same attention as a black guy wearing one. Can you figure out why that is?

 

[CaDan]

The IRS already did this to Conservatives, HonestTruth, which is why the IRS was sued and now you have Federal Judges demanding answers...

As far as racial profiling, I have a question, how does the OP's son usually dress?

If he's wearing a hoody and jeans for instance, I can see why the cops are acting the way they are. I would suggest the OP's son start wearing polos (jeans are okay, as long as they don't have holes in them, and don't look like they are about to fall off). Seriously, a lot of people fail to release that cops judge someone by how they dress, not simply their skin color.

1. Be very polite to a police officer (you should be polite in general), a police officer is less apt to act like a jerk, if you don't act like one.
2. Don't dress like someone out of a modern street gang movie. They are less prone to be suspicious of someone wearing business casual, than they are of someone with a hood pulled over their head (barring rain or extreme cold).
3. Don't use illegal substances, I don't care if you think people can't tell, the fact is people can tell, cause your mannerisms do change, and cops are trained to notice things like that (or have experience to notice them).
4. Don't act like someone is out to get you, that does make people suspicious.

That doesn't work, either. The Slave Patrols aren't so easily fooled.
I have a great idea!

They could be WHITE! That would solve the problem!

Yeah, Whiteness solves all social problems!

(and people kinda wonder why Black folks don't vote for Republicans)

 

[CaDan]

Seriously, get your mind out of the gutter...

Police officers are generally called to investigate crimes, they have to make split-second decisions on a routine basis, and their job can be extremely dangerous.

A police officer is more inclined to think someone wearing a hoodie is up to something, that a kid wearing a polo. If the street gangs were more inclined to wear polos instead of hoodies, then cops would be looking at people that wear polos with suspicion.

Despite what some people would like to believe, this isn't the 1960s or earlier. Cops aren't really interested in arresting people simply because they are black.

Quite a few of the arrests happen because people get really defensive and act like complete jerks. If you are polite to an officer (it's best if you're polite with everyone), then being stopped by a Police Officer is going to probably be nothing more than an inconveinence.

Pull the other one, it has bells on it.

 

[CaDan]

 

[Vylo]

I used to wear hoodies and jeans all the time, the cops only ever stopped me once, because of vandalism in the area (which ironically turned out to be one of my friends).

 

[stamperben]

Welcome to Cut 'n Shoot Texas! (Among other places... Many other places.)

 

[GarfieldJL]

That doesn't work, either. The Slave Patrols aren't so easily fooled.

This isn't the early 1800's, slavery has been illegal in the United States for over a century.

I have a great idea!

They could be WHITE! That would solve the problem!

So you're saying because I'm of mixed race, that I'm part of the problem... Aren't you being a little racist, CaDan?

Yeah, Whiteness solves all social problems!

Skin pigmentation is irrelevant, stop trying to divide people based on their what color someone's skin is CaDun.

(and people kinda wonder why Black folks don't vote for Republicans)

Oh that's easy it's because Democrats control the inner city schools and fed the children a pack of lies, teaching them that Republicans hate them.

If one would look at which party has a history of racism it would be the Democrat Party, not the party of Lincoln. The real reason that much of the South votes Republican now is because most of the Dixiecrats have died out, and the inept Presidency of Jimmy Carter.

I used to wear hoodies and jeans all the time, the cops only ever stopped me once, because of vandalism in the area (which ironically turned out to be one of my friends).

1. Do you live in a high crime area?

2. I'm guessing your friend was wearing a hoodie and jeans when he committed the acts of vandalism.

 

[wing2000]

Seriously, a lot of people fail to release that cops judge someone by how they dress, not simply their skin color.

Such a judgement would be wrong on both counts (dress and skin color).

 

[He is Risen 72]

When 80% of the prison population prior to incarceration looked and dressed similarly, well, if it looks and quacks then it just might be…

 

[CaDan]

This isn't the early 1800's, slavery has been illegal in the United States for over a century.

In name only.

So you're saying because I'm of mixed race, that I'm part of the problem... Aren't you being a little racist, CaDan?

Dictionary sophism such as this is what I am trying to avoid. And if you are not a race traitor, you probably are a part of the problem.

Skin pigmentation is irrelevant, stop trying to divide people based on their what color someone's skin is CaDun.

Pigmentation or melanin content is not the whole story. Historically it was used as a marker for who was and who was not allowed to be a party to the racial contract. Of course, given such things as the one-drop rule, it wasn't controlling. One did not necessarily have to appear Black to be ontologically Black.

Oh that's easy it's because Democrats control the inner city schools and fed the children a pack of lies, teaching them that Republicans hate them.

Look at the statements in this very forum over the past three weeks by Elephant logos. I haven't seen much that would encourage a Black person to vote for them.

Try this. Find some Black person and recite a bunch of your posts to them. See what kind of reaction you get.

If one would look at which party has a history of racism it would be the Democrat Party, not the party of Lincoln. The real reason that much of the South votes Republican now is because most of the Dixiecrats have died out, and the inept Presidency of Jimmy Carter.

No. The evidence is crystal clear that the Southern Democrats started abandoning the party in 1948 because they wanted to continue running their Apartheid system. They got a big shove out the door in 1964. The Republicans, especially that bigoted old liar Richard Nixon, made a home for them.

 

[CaDan]

When 80% of the prison population prior to incarceration looked and dressed similarly, well, if it looks and quacks then it just might be…

And why does the prison population look like that? You have two choices:

1. Negroes are naturally criminals and must be controlled.
2. White Supremacy is real and works through the justice system to oppress.

There are no other choices.

One or two. Tell me which you believe and we can have a fruitful discussion. Otherwise you're just wasting my time.

 

[He is Risen 72]

And why does the prison population look like that? You have two choices:

1. Negroes are naturally criminals and must be controlled.
2. White Supremacy is real and works through the justice system to oppress.

There are no other choices.

One or two. Tell me which you believe and we can have a fruitful discussion. Otherwise you're just wasting my time.

Are you sure there is no #3? Nothing is black and white, so to say.

 

[He is Risen 72]

Counselor?

No more questions?

Do you rest?

 

[USincognito]

Are you sure there is no #3? Nothing is black and white, so to say.

I think you forewent a third option when you asserted that the vast majority of the prison population "looked similarly".

When 80% of the prison population prior to incarceration looked and dressed similarly, well, if it looks and quacks then it just might be…

 

[He is Risen 72]

I think you forewent a third option when you asserted that the vast majority of the prison population "looked similarly".

No, there is a third.