African American
Related: About this forumThis video of Texas cops stopping a black professor is a racial ‘Rorschach test’
On Oct. 24, University of North Texas professor Dorothy Bland was walking around her affluent Dallas suburb when she was stopped by police. Bland, who is African American, had been exercising in the street. The cops, who are both white, asked her to walk in the opposite direction so she could see traffic or, even better, to use the sidewalk. Roughly three minutes later, she was on her way.
The short and seemingly simple interaction has proved anything but, however.
Several days later, Bland, who is the dean of UNTs journalism school, penned an op-ed in the Dallas Morning News claiming that she had been racially profiled.
Walking while black is a crime in many jurisdictions, she wrote. May God have mercy on our nation.
Corinth Police responded by releasing the officers dashcam video of the interaction and claiming Bland had turned a cordial stop into a racial issue.
If we didnt have the video, these officers would have serious allegations against them, police chief Debra Walthall told Fox News. Every white officer that stops an African American does not constitute racial profiling.
Now it is Bland, not the cops, who is facing pressure as nearly 2,500 people have signed a petition urging UNT to fire her.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/04/racism-by-whom-this-video-of-tex-cops-stopping-a-black-professor-is-a-racial-rorschach-test/?postshare=8421446660462567
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)If all you knew was that police asked her to walk so she could see oncoming traffic, or use the sidewalks, then yeah, I can see how you'd say 'They stopped someone running on the street to ask them to do so more safely.'
But once you hear they started asking for ID, a birthdate, even 'radio'ed in', the story takes on, pardon the pun, a whole new complexion. There's nothing about being safe in how you use public property for exercise (without a vehicle) that should require you to tell police who you are.
randys1
(16,286 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,907 posts)Trying to get her fired for this?
That's what I'd like to know.
Who ARE these people?
I hope her employer stands their ground and tells these folks they TOO could have had her job if they had worked hard enough. It's jealousy and racism driving this petition.
Digital Puppy
(496 posts)That's what I'd like to know.
Who ARE these people?
Probably some of the same folks who catch the vapors and alert stalk on DU. "Oh my lawd, I can't believe that AA woman said those things! I find it offensive and abusive!!"
JI7
(89,275 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)JI7
(89,275 posts)The school girl should keep his job
gwheezie
(3,580 posts)I got this on my Facebook as some kind of proof blacks folks are lying about the police and therefore this is why cops get killed, ya know because black folks are just sinister.
It makes me sick. I don't buy the story they stopped her for her own safety. Any excuse to put black folks in their place.
JI7
(89,275 posts)You don't do that if you are just giving a safety warning
pinqy
(596 posts)So, yes you do ask for that stuff when there's already a possible crime. Note that they didn't give her a ticket.
JustAnotherGen
(31,907 posts)Jay walking or something?
pinqy
(596 posts)Now that doesn't preclude the stop from being pretextual but it does make it a legitimate reason for asking for identification
JustAnotherGen
(31,907 posts)Like - does she live in a McMansion Subdivision on was she walking on Main?
ETA - Never mind. A real quick accurint dive shows that as the article and video shows - this is an affluent mcmansion type place and there was no visible traffic.
These guys were just trying to make a buck for the town.
Response to JustAnotherGen (Reply #13)
Hassin Bin Sober This message was self-deleted by its author.
JustAnotherGen
(31,907 posts)Looking at those homes?
Neither one of those LEO's can even afford to live there. That takes some nerve! :
I'm telling you - you can't make this shit up.
Black people? WE KNOW!
randys1
(16,286 posts)But some folks need to NOT see racism, because they are more comfortable when they can lie to themselves about it.