Below is a Facebook post by a student of mine at a NYC High School in the 1980's. He was the outstanding student in the class, which was a course in Criminal Law. Somewhat ironically, in light of the post, he often took the "law and order" position in class discussions.
There can't be too many of these stories published.
At approximately 6:45pm tonight, literally one block from my home, I was pulled over by an unmarked car presumably associated with the _ Precinct. It was a white or beige SUV. The officers jumped out their car, and ran up on my car (black Chevy Impala, like their usual squad car).
I turned on my dome lights and and opened my front windows. I also placed my hands at the top of my steering wheel.
They asked for my license and registration and one asked me where I worked. I gave him my workplace address and he remarked sarcastically, "Is that the name of your company?"
I responded respectfully, "You asked me where I worked, officer, so I gave you the location. The organization's name is ...."
They had their hands on their weapons and I mentioned that I live on the next block. They immediately said "Have a good night," and drove off.
Look at how I am dressed. If a 44-year-old black man, wearing a shirt and tie, gets pulled over a block from his home, what is happening to other black men who are not so "corporate-looking?"
This has happened way too often to me.
Do my white, middle-aged counterparts have these issues?
I seriously doubt it.
Shout out to the good folks at 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care for teaching me how to handle such encounters.
Be careful, folks.
(My first comment to the post was "Amazing. . . How can my former student be 44 years old?")