Racial Profiling

Scenario #1:

The other day as I was coming home from the grocery store I noticed a police car had pulled over another car across the street from me. Naturally I glanced over to see who was in the vehicle that got pulled over and saw that it was a white girl probably in her early to mid 20’s or so. Almost instantly my first thought to myself was: “oh it’s just a white girl so she’s either gonna get off with a warning or just a slap on the wrist at worst”. Am I somehow guilty of profiling?


Scenario #2

Today as I was leaving the pharmacy after making a normal routine purchase, I walked out the store through their security anti-theft device and I heard a loud beeping sound go off all of a sudden. Little did I realize that a big rent-a-center truck was backing up leaving out in the parking lot and that’s where the beeping was coming from. I still get kinda nervous when I walk past those security devices even when I know for a fact that I didn’t steal anything. I always think it’s gonna go off no matter what and I’ve always been like this. Am I the only black man who feels like this? And am I somehow guilty of profiling?

 

You honestly think that because your a white chick in her 20s you get off w a slap on the wrist? I can tell you first hand that is not so. Not that Im in my 20s now, but I was, and I was pulled over a gazzillion times when I was ( and just got pulled over a few weeks ago) I never got away w a slap on my wrist (I never pulled the tears.. does that work??)


On the second part - I feel the same way every time, don't know why - but I do.

 

Did you have a black guy in the passenger seat lol.
But I'll be honest in 11 years of driving when I've been pulled over I usually get a decent cop. Maybe that has to do with living in a small suburb? But I also never do more than 10 miles over the speed limit

 

I don't see scenario 2 as much about profiling as having a sense that you, as a black man, are under more scrutiny than others. These feeling of scrutiny can make you feel more nervous. Why, because it's the shared experience of black people in this country, the stories told by friends, stories told by parents and your own experiences.

I often seen television scenes of white Americans being issued traffic citations, and becoming quite irate with policemen, often swearing. I can honestly say that I don't think a black person would be accorded that same opportunity of free expression. As a homeowner I was fortunate to own homes in some of the nicest areas in communities I lived. I considered on occasion what I would do if I had a home break-in and called the police, fearing I might be accosted or shot by the people I called for assistance.

Is it maddening to have these thoughts, probably? But, that what life in American and my experiences have shown me are not only possible but likely.

 

Whenever I get stopped by a Cop....walking or driving. I cant help but get nervous. Just the way it is.

 

Scenario 1. yes, you are profiling but I sort of feel the same way despite the fact that the cops let me off more often than not. So I don't know why I feel that way.

scenario 2. I am more concerned about being embarrassed that I accidentally put something in that I didn't remember. I don't feel like that when I am going through the security stuff because I know I didn't do anything wrong(and just like a Floridian, way back in my head I am thinking how can I sue(for slander in this case).):smt101

 

Yes, you are. Just because I'm white, it doesn't exclude me from getting tickets. That's such a ridiculous thing to think.

Instead of asking the question "Am I the only black man who feels like this?" the better question should have been "Am I the only person who feels like this?"

The answer is no. I feel that way every time I go through one of those security devices when I'm walking out. Especially when I'm in a store like Best Buy. Even though I have never stolen a thing in my life, I still get edgy when going through there, because it's just human nature, I think. You don't want the unnecessary attention. You don't want someone stopping you and checking your bag and watching other people walk past you thinking: uh oh, they got caught. It's just an embarrassment.