Scruples #7: Racial Profiling

[PinkCashmere]

Situation: A hot topic in the news in Atlanta is the issue of racial profiling. There is an upscale area in Atlanta by the name of Buckhead. It has been on the news lately because of the homicides that have been taking place. If you all remember, there were 2 men killed after the Super Bowl in an incident involving professional football player Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. Since then there have been other homicides, the lastest involving a shooting that took the life of yet another young man a couple of weeks ago. There have been 8 homicides in the Buckhead area this year. Four black, 3 hispanic, 1 white. There have also been several people injured and assaulted.

Most of the homicides and injuries have been to black folks - by black folks. Now as the debate goes on in Atlanta as to what to do, many feel that there are racial undertones. Many believe that the ideas presented and some of the actions being taken "are to get the black folks out of Buckhead." The clubs, bars, and restaurants in Buckhead realize that black folks have money and are willing to spend it in their establishments, so they have no problem catering to their black constituents. The residents that live there are tired of the murders and the crime.

Again I make the comment that we talk about how we are sick and tired of the negative stereotypes and publicity, but some of us continue to do negative things. And as much as I hate it and as wrong as it is, when a black person does something crazy the media will hype it up and use that person as a representation of us all.

Question: What are your feelings on racial profiling and the behavior of the few black folks who play into the stereotype of the "thug/hoodlum black folks who are up to no good". Have you ever been a part of an incident involving racial profiling or know of someone who has?

[This message has been edited by PinkCashmere (edited September 06, 2000).]

[Catwoman]

Last October my husband and I went on a weeks vacation to Texas (San Antonio). We were driving from our home in central Florida - we like to drive and stop at different places and see the sites etc. I was driving and my husband was sleeping. I was cruising along (not speeding) I look in my rearview mirror and this car is right on my bumper so I immediately pulled over into the other lane - the car follows...the unmarked car lights up with police lights and pulls me over. I wake my husband up...swear I wasn't speeding. Two officers get out...one in the back of the car and the other comes to my window and asks me to step to the back of the car. I did. He looks at my license...asked where I lived, what I did for a living, where I was going and why. Then my husband sitting in the car rolls down his window...the officer has a fit telling him to roll up the window. The original officer asked if I knew why I was stopped and I said no. He said when I changed lanes I didn't signal...and in Texas you have to signal so many feet ahead of a lane change. He asked for the registration and insurance...I told him it was in the glove compartment...so he goes to the window by my husband...I am still in the back now making small talk with the other officer. When the original officer comes back he gives me my license..said this was just a warning...and to enjoy my visit in Texas. When I told my husband all that they asked me...he said the officer asked him the exact same questions. I guess since our stories matched and we were articulate and calm we were "ok". Are those typical police procedures? Maybe. But I believe I was stopped because I am black my husband is big and black and we were driving a nice car with out of state plates. I just wonder how many cars were stopped that day for "failure to signal a lane change"

[Eclipse]

I live in Atlanta and have heard all of the stories too, PinkCashmere. I think racial profiling is horrible and have (I feel) experienced it on more than one occasion. However, let's not get the two stories mixed up. Racial profiling, which I define as Police harassment simply because a person fits a particular racial 'profile' (i.e. they wuz Black!), is wrong, but so is black on black crime. When folks are partying, creating huge traffic jams (be they black or white) in Buckhead, the only folks really complaining are the ones in the neighborhood. But, when folks start shooting and stabbing like they ain't got the sense they wuz born wit', now that's a whole 'nother thing!! Outside of the random drunk person getting hit by a car (not that that's good..but you understand), there were few, if any, homicides in the Buckhead entertainment district. Then, the clubs start having urban night on Sunday night and what happens? Folks start getting shot! People do need to learn to separate the behavior of a few from the behavior of many, but let's be serious, we as Black folks need to be protesting the Black folks who think it is o.k. to shoot someone simply because they 'dissed' you in front of your girl. The shooting/stabbling is not the result of racial profiling--unless you call a black man looking for another black man to kill is racial profiling.

I would, however, be very interested to see the statistics comparing the arrests/citations of blacks to whites in that area.

Hello Ladies of AKA,

Catwoman- I used to be a dispatcher for my local police department in Texas and your story is not that unusual. While dispatching for the local police, I would also assist the county and state trooper units as well.

Talking to each passenger one on one is how they determine if the truth is being told or something is not right. Florida is a popular state for drug traffic, especially at a certain time of year, so a lot of people (all races from my experience) with out of state plates get pulled over for the smallest traffic violation. Now, I'm not saying this is right or okay, but from working on the other side, I see their methods.
Also rental cars are targeted. Lots of drug runners use them. I can't tell you how many Enterprise rent-a-cars were impounded because drugs were found or large amounts of cash (I'm talking thousands of dollars) with no reasonable explanation.

I hope that experience didn't ruin your trip and that you will give Texas another try!

[Catwoman]

C&C 1913...we had a great time in Texas! We talked about going back just the other day.
My husband did comment about the Florida plates and drugs etc...but I felt as though the stop was not justified.

[PinkCashmere]

Eclipse,
I agree with you that the acts of violence can not be classified as racial profiling. The incidents that have happened, however, is a springboard to discuss how some black folks tend to play into the stereotypes set by society and how those stereotypes have influenced more instances of racial profiling.

[AKA2D '91]

Yeah...and if you drive a RED car...you are suspect, too.

[Eclipse]

PinkCashmere,
Where is your scruples questions for today? I didn't listen to V-103 this morning until the end of the morning show and only caught the tail in end of Frank Ski and Griff's comments