Have you guys heard of this hashtag? It's basically people telling stories about their experience with the opposite of police brutality and white privilege in police interaction. I thought of you when I saw this tweet, because it's clear they also hate the excuse "boys will be boys."
There's no #CrimingWhileWhite. They're just acts of youthful indiscretion cuz boys will be boys. pic.twitter.com/Fw53hVkQbE
— Very Serious People™ (@TheXclass) December 4, 2014
Re: #CrimingWhileWhite
Id like to think most of it is unconscious, but it's still there.
I was driving 80 in a 60 (highway by not limited-access) as a senior in high school on my way north to visit my eventual college. Eventually I drove this road many, many, times and so knew the speed limit and the county where the state police were, but this was my first drive so I got caught. It was sleeting. I got pulled over, and the cop asked if I knew the speed limit. I said "honestly, no... I don't remember having seen a sign in a while." He asked where I was going, and I said to visit the college. After checking my license for priors, he gave me a verbal warning and said don't be such a dumbass, it's sleeting, but in nicer words. I wasn't a dumbass for the rest of the drive.
While I appreciate the consideration, 20 over is absolutely points on your license, plus I was basically being reckless with the sleet. If I were not a 17-year-old white girl, this may well have gone down very differently. I'd like to think that he was just a nice guy and would have given the same consideration to any young, stupid HS senior, but who the hell knows. What I do know is I got off super easy.
But he was white. We're talking aryan white. Boy could not get any whiter unless he was albino.
We got pulled over one time, and when we rolled down the window, the cop actually took a step back and said, "Oh, you weren't what I was expecting. Um....I thought your car might be illegal. Have a nice day, sir."
We drove away and were like WTF. His car was so obviously illegal it was laughable. And the blatant racism present in the pullover was disgusting.
I have definitely gotten off easy more times than I can count. The one time I got a ticket it was for not having insurance and that was after I got pulled over for speeding. Sadly I forgot to pay the ticket and my license is suspended.
I got pulled over a few weeks ago and was freaking out because my license is suspended. The cop took one look at this little white step mom and really really white little boy in a fricking station wagon, told me to be more careful about my speed and let me go.
My brother on the other hand is super dark, he gets pulled over almost weekly. Luckily most of the time the cops don't have any actual grounds to ticket him, but he gets harassed for being brown, driving a nice car in a nice rich neighborhood. It makes me sad that he and I are actually the same race, but because he actually got more pigment from our grandma's side of the family he has dealt with shit like this his whole life.
In elementary school we moved and he switched schools. He ended up in the remedial English class. He had been in the advanced class the year before. When my parents asked why the teacher said kids like him can't handle the advanced class....so because he's darker he's dumb? My mom threw a fit and got him put into the advanced class where he got an A.
I'm the fuck out.
An example: we decide to drive Route 66 in reverse as a vacation. We flew to CA then rented an SUV (CA plate) to drive back. Somewhere in podunk IL we get pulled over. I'm driving 4 miles over the speed limit (per my GPS) and get pulled over. I'm asked to step out of the car, they ask to check my trunk, etc. The cop asks me if I'm ok, if I'm safe- then tells me that he smells drugs on my boyfriend. I don't get a ticket but we're followed out of town.
Today, I'm married to a fairly dark-skinned Mexican guy. I went to Nordstrom by myself over the weekend and gawked at purses. DH was in another store and I made him return to the section with me an hour later. Alone, I had lots of salespeople offering me help and talking to be me about the bags. An hour later and with DH, there were tons of salespeople milling around yet no one acknowledged us. A stupid move on their part given that they're commissioned and I had a huge gift card in my wallet (thank you, bridal shower!).
In the "old neighborhood"- the inner city Mexican neighborhood DH grew up in, we also get different reactions. No street vendor tries to sell us anything, cops don't bat an eyelash at us, and even chatty servers won't speak when we're together. People step back with us.
At home, it makes a difference. When DH makes Mexican jokes, no one feels comfortable laughing. DH is incredibly handy and can fix anything but my parents feel uncomfortable asking him for help because they're afraid he'll be offended (they never ask BIL because he's useless with house issues). It's funny because DH wants to offer to help with lots of things but is afraid my dad will be offended too!
Long story short, race matters and is seen by everyone.
Right, You're right. I've been able to relate to some discrimination issues because I've faced them at times in a different way (being Jewish) but I've never known what it's like to be discriminated against based on my skin (since I'm white). I wasn't trying to downplay at all that there are race issues, and that certain races in the US have had to face a lot of shit and continue to face a lot of shit (I realize my post gives the impression that I was downplaying the issue. That was my own bad wording, sorry).
I'm honestly not sure what you're talking about. There is no way to report on white cops killing black men without talking about racism. Because that is what's happening. There is no more honest or logical way to put it. Black men get killed by the police because of racism.
Your complaint about that Facebook post seemingly has nothing to do with the rest of your comment. Sure. Some people post dumb crap on Facebook. That doesn't mean there exists an honest colorblind way to report this story.