Biased assumptions leave Black people exasperated [View all]

[marmar]

Column: Biased assumptions leave Black people exasperated
ROGER CHESLEY


Please, white America: Just stop it.

Stop trying to put Black people in their “place.” Stop calling the police when African Americans have the temerity to refuse to show their ID – as if you are a law enforcement official. Black Virginians already have to deal with being stopped by actual police more than white people, recent data shows, and are more likely to be searched during such traffic stops. Black folks deal with health disparities, disproportionate access to housing and other serious issues, so stop tattling on Black folks for minor reasons; they’re simply going about their daily routines.

Their lives might be at risk when police arrive. Black people, even children, have been killed when assumptions were wrong or a suspected crime was trivial.

The latest bit of nonsense occurred in Newnan, Ga., near Atlanta. Anthony Gibson was approached by a woman questioning why he was using a residents-only pond in his own neighborhood. The avid fisherman, who’s Black, had fielded so many annoying queries that he began posting the encounters on social media. Police were called on him at least once. .............(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2023/08/11/column-biased-assumptions-leave-black-people-exasperated/