F**k the police comin straight from the underground
A young n**ga got it bad cause I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
they have the authority to kill a minority
F**k that s**t, cause I ain't the one
for a punk motherf***er with a badge and a gun
to be beatin on, and thrown in jail
We can go toe to toe in the middle of a cell
Ice Cube (F**k tha Police)
I was reading my boy Crecks post about his recent run in with the boys in blue. It's unfortunate that it happened to him. It's even more unfortunate that it happened...at all! His post made me think about all the times that I've been pulled over for NO reason. It's been at LEAST 10 times. I know it happened at LEAST4 times when I was living in Cobb County (NW Atlanta suburb). I remember being pulled over and the officer asking me "why did I have my hat on backwards?" Another time, I had my car (Nissan Sentra) searched and the officer asked me if I had any drugs or guns on me? No officer...I left em at my apartment with the prostitutes and prescription meds. After reading his post, I decided to repost a blog that I wrote in 2008...
Let me start by saying that I don't like cops. I hate to generalize it but I don't like em. I don't feel safe around them, they've never been around when I've needed them, and I haven't met one nice cop. That said...here's my story
I was in New Orleans about 10 years ago on a business trip. My co-worker and I decided to go to Bourbon Street. If you've ever been to N.O. you know that ANYTHING goes on Bourbon Street. We hung out and had a good time and then decided to head back to our hotel. Before we got in the car, my co-worker, who is white, was complaining about his feet that were sore from walking. When we got in the car, he decides to take his shoes off to "rest his dogs." As he was bending over to remove his shoes, I see a police car behind us that throws on the blue lights. We were only a block away from Bourbon Street and we weren't drunk so I dunno why we were being pulled over. The cops get out with their GUNS DRAWN!!! They are yelling at us to get outta the car. They make us stand in front of the running car with our hands on the hood of the car. Apparently, there must be some law about a young black dude and a white dude hangin together...because they thought we had drugs on us. They asked my co-worker why was he bending over...was he trying to hide some drugs? Drugs? You could get ANY drug that you wanted just a block away on Bourbon Street!!!
When my co-worker advised him that he was removing his shoe (as evidence he pointed to his untied shoes), they threatened us. It was a black cop and a white cop. The black cop said "why are you two together?" We explained but the didn't listen. They proceeded to search my car (illegally). We asked could we take our hands off the HOT hood of the car. The black cop said "No. And you better not run. If you move, I'll put a bullet in your back!!" I couldn't believe it. I looked at the white cop and he was cool. He was the one who called off the black cop from going through my trunk and suitcase. My co-worker and I gathered our composure and got back in the car. We were furious and stunned!! We just sat there for about 5 mins before we left. We drove up the street and the SAME cops had pulled over a car full of Mexicans. Wow! I wonder what rule did they break? F@#% the police!
ive always had trouble with the black or spanish cops more than the white cops. ive never had a hard time with white police officers they are always friendly to me but the black officers and the spanish ones it seems as though they feel like they have something to prove so they go against their own people
ReplyDeletedamn man deep shit. It's both sad and expected unfortunately. I too can say I've never met a cop that has been helpful to me. Maybe because I've never been in a position where I've needed "help" frm the police is the reason. But honestly if I did I can't say I'd trust the police to be johnny on the spot to help my black ass.
ReplyDeleteSorry that happened to you but its so typical of what police do.
When will it stop? Only God knows.
I have to agree that Spanish and Black cops tend to be harder on us. With that being said I have met some decent cops of all races. However; at the age of 19 I was pistol whipped by a white cop of the NYCPD in the Bronx. So I really don't trust cops.
ReplyDeleteANd the issue I have with things like this if the fact that we wwill collectively state all cops aint $hit and recount random tales about when it happened to us and that's it. The story should have ended with you asking the officers for their badge numbers and usint the civilan review board to report them. This will continue to happen b/c for the most part people will Bitch and complain about how awful it is and do nothing more.
ReplyDelete@ xxxx
ReplyDeleteI wonder why is it that blacks/hispanics always have problems with black/hispanic cops? That's crazy!
@ Crecks
When will it end? Good question, fam! I'm sure that our grandfathers and fathers said the same thing. You have a son. I have 3 sons. Hopefully, they'll never be profiled but I doubt it.
Thanks for the post, fam
@ and1grad
The police are DEFINITELY a gang. The boys in blue aren't a friend to us.
@ Juan
Wow! Pistol whipped by a cop! That's unreal! That should NEVA happen. I doesn't matter if you "mouthed off" to the cop. That's excessive force.
@ Kingsmomma
I understand your point...however...I disagree. I don't thing filing a complaint about profiling would have done a damn thang! Especially not in New Orleans pre-Hurricane Katrina.
When I was profiled in Cobb County, I was pulled over b/c I was riding around with South Carolina tags. I was supposed to change tags once I had been in Georgia for 30 days but I didn't. Does that give them the right to pull me over 4 times?
At the end of the day, you'll never know that empty feeling that comes over you when those blue lights come on. As a black man in this country, there is no worse feeling. When those lights come on, my degre...my suit...my family name...my money...my friends...can't save me. One day you'll have to tell your son the same thing that I'll tell my sons...don't talk back to cops. Don't ride 6 deep in a car with your friends. Be courteous and respectful. (Blah, blah, blah)
Filing a complaint didn't help Sean Bell's family. It wouldn't help me and my white friend. They see US as a color in this country. Nothing more. Most of us will be profiled at some point in time. If you don't believe me, ask our president.
Wow...that's all I can say about that. I'm sorry you had that experience, Kyle.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say I have ever been racially profiled; however, I have the experience that female police are way more aggressive in their tone and body language with me than male police officers. I'm not sure if they have something to prove or what, but it's totally unecessary.
I remember the first time I was pulled over by a cop in Vegas. I was scared shitless, Kyle, literally shaking in my boots. The officer asked me what was wrong with me, why I was so afraid. I replied "I'm from LA, and the cops in LA ain't no joke, officer." He shook his head, laughed, and sent me on my way.
ReplyDeleteYeah I defintely understand you on that. I am trying to find a happy medium as to what I will say to my son regarding issues such as these. I know racial profiling and racism period still exists, i did a blog on it but I do find that our generation is one of inaction.
ReplyDeletere: the out of state tags: it's one thing to be pulled over and KNOW there is no reason for it and while racism probably was a major part of why you were pulled over multiple times they were (and would be able to) able to legitmize each stop. Why give them a reason to do so?
That sucks. I always think of the life my kids are going to have when they become adult men. I have a few cop friends who are not like the ones we read about in the news and I can appreciate the few good. Reminds me of something I today. "The only thing for evil to triumph is for a good man to do nothing." So we hope there are a few good ones out there.
ReplyDeleteTiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com
I have to admit, i'm scared too! The first time the cops pulled me and my ex over was on a drive to and from Miami. We got pulled over twice for nothing, stating "we were driving too close", then asking if they could bring the drug dogs over and they did. I was livid, but my ex told me to calm down. I'm always afraid, always. When they knock at my door bc i live in a predominatly white neighborhood and come looking for my black son, i warn him of whats to come. I hate hate that i feel this way, but i have been witnessed to too many incidents of our brothers being beaten and jailed just because they are black, and a sister is not too far from receiving the same. Wish things would change, but sadly i don't think they will.
ReplyDeleteYou know what... everybody talks about Cobb County, but I never really had any problems with them. Savannah, totally different story. I still don't like them though. And in Dekalb or Atlanta proper, I'm not gonna do anything that'll make them want to shoot me. They don't do leg shots, they go for the head.
ReplyDeleteOut of my whole life, I've only met one good cop. Overall, I don't like cops. I just can't...there are too many wrongs to make them right. I'm sorry that had to happen to you :(
ReplyDelete@ swtstiletto
ReplyDeleteI've never encountered a female cop but I've always heard that they are hard on females. Not sure why
@ L
LMAO!!!! That's funny. And you're right! Cops in LA ain't no joke
@ Kingsmomma
There was a reason I had SC tags. It was free. If I had switched tags, I would've paid like $800. At the time that I lived in Cobb County, there weren't many black people. The way I see it, I would've gotten pulled over any way. I would tell the cops that I was in school.
I'd like to tell you that there is a medium. I don't know that there is. Is our generation as active as those that proceeded us? No. We don't have the same issues that they have. And that is the gift and the curse.
@ Redbonegirl 97
I like that quote. I think we all can learn from that.
@ Miz
Now that is downright crazy! I can't speak for the north but you and I both can speak for how bad racial profiling is in the south.
@ Rashan
I lived in Cobb County back in '97. Back then, I'd be happy just to SEE anutha black face.
I've heard Savannah was rough.
@ Beautifully.Conjured.Up
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing about it is when cops are wrong...their wrongs can be covered up!