Helpless as my son, 13, was profiled, cuffed

[cali]

By Ava Greenwell, Special to CNN
updated 6:05 PM EDT, Fri September 21, 2012

Editor's note: Ava Thompson Greenwell is a journalism professor at Medill, Northwestern University and a doctoral student in African-American studies. She has been teaching broadcast writing and video storytelling since 1993 and is a former news reporter at WFLA-TV in Florida, WCCO-TV in Minnesota and WEHT-TV in Indiana.

(CNN) -- It's every African-American parent's nightmare: seeing your son being led away in handcuffs when you know he's done nothing wrong. The surreal scene happened to me one recent morning.

While sitting in my backyard I heard adult male voices around the side of the house. I opened the gate and saw a white police officer handcuffing my 13-year-old son. The plainclothes Evanston, Illinois, officer and his partner did not identify themselves as police. They did not ask our son's age or where he lived. They told him first to put his hands up and then handcuffed him. They assumed he was guilty, of what we didn't know. His crime appeared to be that he was a black male.


Later, we would listen to the 911 tape of what preceded the incident. It was apparent police had targeted my son while he was riding his bike home from a friend's house. Why? According to officers, he fit the description of a burglary suspect who had allegedly entered a nearby home. The description they offered: a black male wearing cargo shorts.

Our son was wearing cargo shorts, but that identification could have applied to hundreds of black males in Evanston on that particular day. Why didn't the 911 dispatcher ask for a more detailed description of his skin color? His build? Whether he had facial hair? (He doesn't.) Whether he had a tattoo or piercings? (He doesn't.) Or whether he was wearing a hat? (He was.)


<snip>

The whole disgusting story:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/opinion/greenwell-son-profiling/index.html

[Victor_c3]

1. yup, and people claim that there isn't any racism in America anymore

I've never had to live or deal with anything like this, but it is totally disgusting to me. I hate it when people say "hey, I've got black friends", but I'm going to say that anyway. If you ever get to really know some black people you'll hear stories like this and other examples of racism from them. It is completely disgusting. It's not the 1960s anymore. I would have hoped we could move beyond this.

[Zalatix]

7. The comments on that article are atrocious.

Let some black cops come haul a white kid out and humiliate him publicly and see if they're not writing a CNN column about unfair treatment...

[Cali_Democrat]

27. Par for the course over there

Any time there are articles about African Americans being profiled or stories about Obama, the racists come out of the woodwork.

CNN might want to think about disabling comments for articles that discuss African American issues or Obama.

[Zero Division]

32. Agreed.

I get the feeling that many of those comments come from people who are proud of their willful ignorance.

[heaven05]

9. hey

been alive since 48, been a reasoning being since 58, seems we're sliding BACK to the "good old days". the only thing better is that a lot more people ARE offended by this example of America and will speak up and out at such hateful and ignorant behavior. Race. What really can be said about it?

[bluemarkers]

11. that's what they want

the good old days...

Did you see the post that showed a white person holding the sign "I'm dreaming of a white president, just like the ones we used to have?" These people are disgusting.

[notadmblnd]

19. The cops are the worst, I think.

I'm not black, but my son is part African American . And yep, when he was about 13, he and his best friend who is also black, were into long bike rides. One day they went out for a ride and had decided to cross the street. Well they didn't go to the corner light and instead crossed in the middle of the road just as an officer was driving past. When they got to the other side they stopped to decide which way to go that day. Somehow, the boys decided to go in different directions. Well the police saw them do this and decided it was suspicious. My son was chased down through the woods, handcuffed, searched and brought home in a cruiser. His crime? He was carrying a bike wrench and the police thought it was a crack pipe.

[Odin2005]

25. What the hell is with this assumption that any black teen must be upt to no good?

It's like we as a society assume "black teen boy" = "Gang-Banger".

[siligut]

33. It is so much more sinister that just stereotyping/profiling

Brain development at that age is crucial to sense of self and personal power. Extreme humiliation and overt authoritarian suppression can make actual structural and physiologic changes. Same thing goes for sexual abuse.

There is what you say, an assumption that black teen boys are up to no good, but that assumption has been instilled as a means to an end.

[musette_sf]

40. ^THIS^

[foghat rules]

46. Evanston has a gang problem. When I have gone up there

I see young Black males hangin' on the street. It's a difficult balance between trying to deal with thug issues and not getting the wrong person. Remember that some mothers will allow their sons up to no good to stay in their house. So while they probably should have been more discreet, I have to say that they are trying to deal with the problems that plague their community.

[sabrina 1]

49. Do you ever see young White Males 'hangin on the street'? Any reason why

a cop might not see THEM as 'thugs'?

And your choice of words is a bit unfortunate imho.

Never mind, I see you have been shown the door thankfully.

[Odin2005]

51. Enjoy your short stay.

[Warren DeMontague]

59. The library will be open for several more hours

So "short" is relative.

[hello larry]

82. Hey there!

Where do you do all your posting from, dude? A Mac by Asian slaves in a coffee house with shadegrown java?

[Warren DeMontague]

83. Since you keep coming back to this thread after climbing out of the crypt, let me offer some advice

...find a new hobby. Or try Therapy. Meds.

How many years have you been trolling this site and playing this game, now?

[Ecumenist]

52. Wow, a tad racist, aren't we? Welcome to DU and enjoy your stay, however short it may be.

"Their" community? I'm sorry but I could have sworn the Evanston was a location in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! You know, I live in a majority white community and I have MOST of the crimes committed by males under the age of 25 are white. Strangely enough, most if not ALL of these paragons lived in their parent's home....AND in at least 2 accounts, the parents were not only aware of their spawn's issues but had blocked attempts by others. (teachers, other relatives, counselors, law enforcement), to intervene.
Funny how they didn't seem to be black, yet they fit your RACIST description PERFECTLY. Imagine that...

[hello larry]

81. You called me racist, eh? Well, lookie here:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/15331298-418/one-of-the-good-ones-evanston-teen-14-killed.html

In Evanston, home of Northwestern University! 40 shots rang out in a suburban community. Black-on-Black violence strikes again. Most murder victims in this country are Black and most murderers are Black. And remember that BP make up only 12% of the population so the contrast between Whites and Blacks is even more stark.

If you live in a mostly White community, then perhaps the neighboring towns are ALSO mostly White, ergo it would make sense that the criminals would be that hue. However, overall the stats are quite different. Doesn't it just make common sense that violence and robberies would be done statistically more often by those who have a lower socio-economic background?

[Ecumenist]

84. As I said..."Larry" , psst- Your bigotry is showing as evidenced by you asinine comment regarding

the fact that the surrounding communities are mostly caucasian....The neighboring communities are QUITE mixed and can, depending on where you look, turn rather brown, black or yellow. I live in the capital of California and in a VERY nice neighborhood/high value homes. Larry? Guess what? Human beings are human beings. Unfortunately, they murder, they steal, they rob, they lie and they Hate, (wonder if you know anyone this last definition would fit, hmmm?) and it just shows your actual ignorance when you assume that the ONLY reason that the kids in my area get in trouble, (and happen to be white), is because the surrounding communities have been somehow contaminated by the insidious seepage of crime ridden and violence prone black folks. Hate to tell you this but our skin color isn't the only thing that generally doesn't rub off. Like I said, your stay here might be a wee bit uncomfortable but hey, Enjoy it anyway!

[Tigress DEM]

66. Police really should be trained in seeing beyond color to the attitudes that present themselves.

I live in Minneapolis and we are VERY cosmopolitan. I see groups of kids of various colors and stripes - as a Mom and a Grandma, I can see the trouble makers even in groups of well behaved kids.

Some times it's a lighter version, like the kid who is really hyper and just looking to allieviate boredom that is going to find trouble instead. Some times it's the kid who likes to see other people do stupid stuff to be accepted and will push others to shop lift and such.

Where I do have some problems is with the banter that can be very ugly sounding but not mean much of anything. Then I will watch for a bit and see if it's for show or if it's meaning something ugly.

But I have to say that an honor student of any stripe would have a heck of a time passing for a thug out here. Ironically, they still get profiled and even shot by the police.

[sendero]

2. Yeah..

.. I know a lot of burglars who flee on BICYCLE.

[Orrex]

4. It's the preferred way to transport stolen flatscreen TVs, as a matter of fact.

[regnaD kciN]

55. ???

I can't see how you'd fit anything but the smallest of flatscreens on a bike.

[Orrex]

60. ...

Is this thing on?

[Tigress DEM]

67. Seems the sarcasm button was required.

I got it, but then I have a really sarcastic streak myself.

[Edweird]

18. You know a lot of burglers?

[Mosby]

29. in the area I work

Cops have a name for them, BOBs. Burglars on bikes. They ride around parking lots looking for open cars and behind shopping centers looking for open back room doors.

I doubt that this is a good approach for home burglary like you said.

[cyglet]

39. That and

why would they even blink an eye unless he had stolen property with him?

Police told us when someone was burglarizing garages in the neighborhood that they couldn't arrest unless he was in possession of stolen property (even though the guy was caught IN THE GARAGE).

Maybe police in Illinois aren't as fair...

[Mosby]

54. cops follow the law when they feel like it.

And the scotus have given them a lot of leeway with detention and interrogation.

Fact is that the criminal justice system in the US is highly dysfunctional, working together cops, prosecutors and judges have made sure that "crime" remains a growth industry, despite the fact that major crime is down nationwide.

[Tigress DEM]

68. People can ditch items in shrubs at another house, change clothes too.

Actually saw a guy next door ducked behind some shrubs and stripping off a black hoodie to reveal a white t shirt then putting on a different pair of pants over and it WAS a burgler in the area. Called it in and they did catch the right guy. I'm a former Neighborhood Watch/Blockleader. Still watch, but haven't been block leader in a while.

[Zalatix]

3. Our law enforcement system is rotten to its core. Yet all the reforms we push for are superficial.

In many neighborhoods they've literally outlived their usefulness and are more of a public safety threat than the "criminals". Case in point.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

5. Journalism prof's son? Looks as though the cops picked on the wrong kid

This has to be the ultimate experience of powerlsessness and second-class citizenship, based solely on complexion--to see the cops take away your son for no valid reason.

[tavalon]

6. Breathing while black

Geez, is this never going to stop?!

[ProfessorGAC]

24. He Wasn't Just Breathing

He was moving too. That is obviously the reason. Completely understandable. You know how dangerous a moving black child can be the public at large.

Yes, i'm being sarcastic.

[tavalon]

61. I know

I'm so fucking sick of this.

[heaven05]

8. well

god bless this great land of ours

[heaven05]

10. I

Last edited Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:03 AM - Edit history (1)

am soooo glad she is a journalism professor. I read the whole article and it actually is a glaring expose of the 'real' america we live with today. how many times a day?I bet they were romneyites. I feel like going off on the 'real' america and the political season, but all I heard in my itty bitty brain was,spare me. They all know. thank god for DU'ers, helps me keep balance and perspective and I bet you didn't even know that.

[SmileyRose]

12. kick and recommend - sadly

[truedelphi]

79. Same here. n/t

[AnneD]

13. It could have been worse....

You son could have been shot while he was parking your family car into your drive way because they police thought it was stolen and involved in a crime.

When you tried to intervene, your son tried to protect you and the police shot him in front of you.

In this same area, my dark skinned Indian hubby was sitting at the bus stop at the end of our street minding his own business. They drive up and proceed to give him the third degree:
what are you doing (duh, catching the bus), well where do you live (down the street), where are you going (to work), do you have a drivers license, (didn't know catching a bus required one), do you have any form of identity. It was only when he pulled out his alternate form of identity that they started back pedaling. I guess he didn't look like he was a police officer at the local university medical center. Yes, he gets a lot of DWB, BWB etc. And even when I am with him it doesn't help (I am white (but American Indian). I never realized how bad bigotry was until I married him.

[musette_sf]

41. IIRC, I believe the incident you described

in the beginning of your post occurred in Bellaire (suburb of Houston) TX on a New Year's Eve some years ago.

[AnneD]

77. Yes....

We moved from Bellaire several years ago, in part because of the cost and in part because of incidences like one that I described. Hubby's incident predates the young man shot and nearly killed in front of his parents. The whole incident was a fubar.

Edited to add...Belliare is a separate city within the city of Houston, not exactly a suburb.

[Victor_c3]

17. you're completely right

As a white person, I really didn't have any clue how much racism is around until I made some very strong friendships with some black people and immigrants. Even in parts of our country where I didn't think there was any racism (i.e. the military) and the northeast it is still there and it makes me sick. You just have to look a little beneath the surface and it's there - just like in the example cited in the OP.

I'm not going to even pretend that I get it on the same level as a person who has actually lived it.

Unfortunately, we as a society accept a little bit of background racism like you mentioned. Even me (someone who considers themselves to be open minded) I still find myself looking at a black teenager and thinking "hoodlum" or whatever at first glance. I have black neighbors and regardless of how much I try to treat them the same as my white neighbors, they are treated differently and there is something there that I just react to in my gut that I can't shake. It's a shame and I don't like it. All I can do is become as aware of the differences as I can and try to over come it. This is not the world I want my kids to grow up in.

[MadrasT]

21. I wish I could rec your reply.

All I can do it say thank you for writing it, and agree.

[redqueen]

26. It is a consistent dynamic.

Support dominant groups, assist in the oppression of others.

Some kind of drive to be on the side that's winning, perhaps.

Thanks for your post.

[Odin2005]

35. Holy Non Sequitur Batman!

[JoeyT]

38. Well, as one of them,

I was working until just now. Although I'm not white, I'm not one of the non-white races that are typically profiled, so I'll answer.

Yes, racial profiling is a huge fucking problem. Free speech doesn't mean much when a significant portion of your population has to live in fear of merely going outside because people can kidnap or kill them with, not only impunity, but full support of a large segment of the citizenry.

The reason I oppose restricting speech is because such restrictions are almost always used against the oppressed instead of in their favor. Given how many racist nutjobs are roaming around the country right now, which do you think more likely:

1) Congress will make a law forbidding hate speech against minorities.
2) Congress will make a law forbidding hate speech against police by minorities. (AKA speaking up when you're profiled or protesting a murder by police)

Before you answer, keep in mind Republicans think a gathering of five or more African Americans is a Black Panther rally. (Yes, I know the BPs barely exist. Republicans are racist and crazy.)

[JoeyT]

48. And how many of those

countries have a major political party that controls almost half of the government, and sometimes more than half, whose entire argument is "Don't let them darkies/commiez/wimmen/furrners get what you have!"

Germany had no problems passing hate speech laws because by the time they did it the Nazis weren't a viable party backed by the richest people and most of the corporations.

[JoeyT]

71. Ah, I thought you were interested in a debate.

"What I can't figure out is, how can supposedly "progressive" people manage to support the hate speech of right wing crazies?"

Yes, I'm sure you can't.

What I can't figure out is how people that are supposedly progressive can't think far enough into the future to figure out how these laws might be used against them. Echo chambers: They're not just for Fox viewers anymore apparently.

So it turns out you don't actually want a debate or discussion, you want to rehearse your prejudices and have people agree with you and if we don't we're hate speech sympathizers. I don't know how I didn't see that one coming.

Edited to add: And I'm done with this derail. I probably shouldn't have responded to your non sequitur in the first place.

[Mosby]

56. do you support the ACLU and their mission?

They defend the free speech rights of nazis, KKK members and nuts like the westboro church people.

[Tigress DEM]

72. It's one thing to let stupid people talk. It's another thing to let Police abuse their power.

I can't believe anyone would "defend" Terry Jones here on DU, but maybe that is why you have the sarcasm icon. He can talk, but it doesn't mean people have to listen. Drunk a** folk puke on the sidewalk and make more sense than that man.

Still, racial profiling is not just saying something stupid, it's making it part of the law and that stuff has to stop. I live in Minnesota and before that California and Washington State. I have been poor most of my life and lived in mixed neighborhoods. I've seen a lot of awful stuff, but I think I've been blessed to know the good, the bad and the ugly is about what is INSIDE a person, not their skin color BECAUSE I've seen all kinds of people in down and out situations.

It probably doesn't help, but I think many of the cops that are out of control are flipping on whites too a lot of the time. To the point of beating the living shit out of people "just because". Here in the Camden neighborhood we've had heartbreak with not only profiling but shootings that were so wrong. Good kids gone from this world because of the color of their skin and proximity to a crime.

I grieve. I mourn the loss even IF the kid was in a gang. It doesn't make him/her less human and so many are pulled to what seems the only "occupation" they can succeed in. With all the profiling and such, getting pulled over and shot dead even if you are an honor student.... some kids just don't want to put all that effort in if it isn't going to get them the respect they deserve.

But if we can keep them alive, keep them feeling good about themselves and educating others.... nothing like seeing someone mistreat a good friend to make it all personal. So simply being that good friend to a white person is an act of faith. Even if white people don't "get it" entirely, all the nuanced ways that hate can present itself, it isn't fully necessary. Listening when it's pointed out... yeah, that's the important part.

My definition of success may be different than a lot of other people's. If I can get up one more time than I am knocked down, then I win. Arguments to the contrary are not accepted. Seems to me that women's rights and civil rights movements have a lot of that spirit to them.

So here is to the people who believe in tolerance and common sense, rule of law that is about real equality and justice, not just lip service.

And for the racist creeps out there who live to feel powerful over others - STOP IT BOZOS!!

[avebury]

15. K&R nt

[Orrex]

16. Oh come on. This happens all the time, with white kids getting summarily arrested for no reason

Wait a minute... No, it doesn't.


Hmm.


Don't worry. I'm sure that race has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. Nope.

[former-republican]

20. that's nothing

At least he wasn't shot and killed.

No knock warrants

google that and it will shock you.

[truedelphi]

30. One reporter found that 400 had died from

SWAT teams entering the WRONG ADDRESS over a ten year period. What is especially worthy of note is that it is hard to even count the bodies - the local media tends to side with police on this.

Just last spring, a SWAT team plowed into an Indiana home (wrong address!) to the bewilderment of the teenager who had played hooky from HS or college. The local media covered the SWAT team's successful drug bust at the RIGHT address when it happened some time later. But no mention of the original "bust" until the community put videos of the "mistake" up on YouTube and FB.

Whenever the SWAT team arrives at a residence, they break down the door, and throw in a concussion blast canister, which often causes the house to burst into flames. They kill the dogs and pin the elderly, toddlers and children to the floor, as if they were all mini-Bin Ladens.


Since this often happens in the middle of the night, wary home owners greet the team with a rifle or gun in their hands. They have no idea of who this is, breaking down the door. Elderly granmas have been shot and killed, for the act of trying to defend themselves. Other elderly people have had heart attacks.

Why no effort is made to make sure that the SWAT team does have the right address before inflicting this type of pain on people, I don't know.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

65. And adding to the outrage,

they threaten the victims to not go to the press or sue them over their actions.

[truedelphi]

78. It's my understanding that since the wrongful IN police entry -

Late last spring, the laws have been updated in that state.

Citizens can shoot to kill any one entering their home -even if it is the police. This is a law that won't mean anything if it is the National Guard or some other Federal group of military/police.

But although some folks on DU can offer up scorn for laws like this being "over-reaction," I do think as citizens we have, per the Constitution, the inherent right to defend ourselves against thuggy-looking commandos that refuse to acknowledge who they are, and have a lousy track record in terms of "breaking and entering" at the right address.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

80. We as citizens may have the right to defend ourselves,

but the police have the fire power and the numbers, plus the ears of the press.

[Odin2005]

23. Besides the racism, people often have more trouble distinguishing between people...

...of a different race unless they grow up in a community where they interact with people of other races as social equals a lot.

[Monk06]

28. Throwing black men in jail is a highly profitable business. It used to be the county farm. Now it's

private for profit prisons which earn upwards of $30,000 per inmate while feeding prisoners on $0.84 a day. It's the slave system again but much, much more profitable than a plantation.

I bet you would be hard pressed to find any black man who hasn't been cuffed and arrested some time in his life for no reason.

[upi402]

34. I want my country back

seems there's no party to vote for than has an interest in returning it to us

[dkf]

36. i wonder how they populate police lineups too.

That's a minimum of 5 innocent people dragged into the station. Maybe the whole process of id'ing possible violators is a problem.

[former9thward]

37. That is not how they populate line-ups.

Depending on the suspect they use other police officers or civilian personnel. Sometimes they use people already in lock-up. Where I lived in Chicago police would occasionally come into a local bar near the station and offer patrons who were similar to the suspect a small amount of money to participate in the line-up.

[vaberella]

42. I can see why Zimmerman wanted to be a cop. He was practicing for early enrollment.

It seems they don't wait their racist pricks to be too obvious in their racism.

He was arrested for what many people are arrested for. A BB = Being Black. I don't know if I have any more outrage when this happens to my people.

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. Thanks for posting this.

[Solly Mack]

44. K&R

[foghat rules]

47. What time of night was it?

If I were a Black mother, I would not have my boy out past 7 or so because sometimes there are shootings that are mistaken identity.

And the shooter looks like the innocent victim...

[surrealAmerican]

58. This was in broad daylight, and ...

... it's not that dangerous a neighborhood. There is nothing about this story that would indicate anything other than good parenting.

[Egalitarian Thug]

50. K&R. I'm sorry she had to experience the Untied Police State of America in person.

Is it Fascism yet?

[hedgehog]

53. Words fail.

[ZombieHorde]

62. Holy shit. I imagine this happens often.

So terrible.

In my opinion, police who make wrongful arrests should have to pay one month's salary to the person wrongfully arrested.

[Warpy]

63. Or specific skin color and clothing color, hair length or style.

Those would have been nice and would have prevented a lot of kids being picked up that day for nefariously riding their bikes.

"Black male in cargo shorts" is such a bad description it should never have been acted upon unless that black male in cargo shorts had been lugging a stolen TV or a suitcase full of cameras, monitors, and jewelry.

This is insane. I hope she sues.

[Bassettman]

69. 0. Helpless as my son, 13, was profiled, cuffed

Agree!!!!

[markpkessinger]

70. When are people going to wake up ...

... to the epidemic of wanton police violence and abuse of power that is sweeping this country? We also had this from today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014241310