I have been stunned and shocked as I watch the news in relation to the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. The recent police shooting of a man in St. Louis and other incidents which highlight the ingrained prejudgement of police toward Americans of color. As a 50 something, liberal, white woman living in a suburban area outside of Wichita, Kansas, I have always been aware of the bias, but am appalled as to how this guns drawn hands up, no surrender situations are the norm for African Americans and not the exception.
I was recently driving in Andover, Kansas which is a suburb of Wichita late one evening. It was about 12:30 a.m. when a girlfriend and I were returning home from a late movie. I dropped her off at her home and started towards my home about 3.5 miles away. A local Andover police car quickly fell in behind me. No one else was on the road. He followed me at 30 miles per hour, two feet from my bumper for the entire 3.5 miles, no lights, no siren. I kept thinking to myself....do I pull over? Is there something wrong with my truck? If I pull over will he shoot me? Will he attack me? I was so frightened I called my husband on my cell phone and kept him on the line until I pulled into my driveway and the police officer sped away. It was to say the least a very, scary incident for me.
They next day, being the good liberal I am, I write a letter to the Police Chief of Andover, Kansas. I explain the incident as I saw it. Not understanding how following all the speed limit laws, all other traffic laws that I know of, I could be subjected to such a frightening incident. A few days later, to my surprise, the Andover Police Chief called me. (I think he graduated from the same academy as the Ferguson Police Chief!) The Chief explains to me he had a conversation with the officer involved. He found absolutely no problems with what the officer did! As the conversation continued, it became apparent to me, my offense against the community of Andover was driving a big, black truck. I own a very, large, black Toyota Tundra with tinted windows. It was apparently very menacing to the police officer. It was at that very moment , I knew i had been profiled! Not because of the color of my skin, but the color of my truck!
In no way in relating this story do I compare my situation to what African-American people must endure everyday and in every way. There is no comparison! But it was certainly an eye-opener for me to realize how scary it must be for African-Americans to deal with the police on any level. I was without the cloak of my white privilege for 20 minutes one night and did not like it, not one little bit! The good thing for me, is I can get out of my truck..........
