Ted Rall for July 27, 2015
Transcript:
Driving while black safety tips. 1. Cops stop, hate on, and kill black motorists. (Man: So take the bus!) 2. Disguise your car to give the impression an old white guy is driving. (Man: But really, take the bus.) 3. Remember Rachel Doleful, the white lady who pretended to be black? (Man: I'm her) (Police Officer: You're transracial and transgender?!) 4. If a cop knows you're black, offer to comply with all possible demands. (Man: I take song requests! Want me to wear different pants?) 5. At this point you should make sure you're visible to the dash cam. (Man: At least my death'll be recorded. I shoulda taken the *@ Bus. Big on youtube!) 6. Cross your fingers in the hope that long-awaited systemic police reform occurs right now.
I’m biracial (Caucasian/Native American) and I’ve caught more hate from Native Americans than I have from Caucasians. Racism only works if you accept it. Reject it, ignore it and it has little effect on you. Even though I look Native, cops don’t hassle me because:a) I don’t have open liquor containers or contraband in the car, and am not smoking weed when they pull up.b) I don’t give them attitude to begin with. I am calm and therefore they stay calm. I smile when I talk to them and they smile back.c) I make no sudden moves which can come across as threatening. I keep my hands in sight and the dome light on at night as they walk up. Hey, a lot of cops are being shot at traffic stops. I understand they’re nervous.d) When I am polite, they are polite. I ask why I was pulled over (I don’t speed, etc). I don’t tell them they pulled me over for driving while Red, I don’t give an attitude.
By being civil and using common sense and everyday manners, I have zero problems with the police. I have noticed one of my friends, who is original African Black in color, likewise has no problems with the police as he treats them civilly and smiles at them, and he is about as Black as a man can be. He talks nice to them, smiles and is polite and they return his attitude. He tends to drive a bit fast but is seldom ticketed just because he’s polite. “Oops, sorry, officer/deputy/trooper, I wasn’t watching my speed.” In most cases, he gets a warning and that’s it, No yelling, no angst, no attitude from the cop. He’s never hauled out of the car and put in “the position”.
Use common sense and decency people, and see what happens. Cops have a tough and dangerous job. Cops are shot every month it seems at routine traffic stops. Just walking up to the vehicle can get them killed. So no attitude, okay?