By most people’s description I am an accomplished college-educated professional and entrepreneur, an actor and author, a community activist and active member in my church. None of these roles make me immune to the systemic effects of racism. As a black man in America my education, socioeconomic background, or character will not protect me from being killed by an ill-advised citizen or zealous police officer. The following is my first of several encounters of being racial profiled by a cop. I was in high school.
Racial profiling specifically demeans people of color by causing them to be subject to unnecessary or disproportionate harassment by police officers, often without just cause.
My afternoon in the park finished like many other fall Saturdays for me. I had just finished several rounds of pick-up basketball at the local court. and as it was turning to dusk, I put on my skull cap to walk home. In Florida, that was enough to keep me warm since I was wearing a cut-off tee and gym shorts.
On my routine walk home, I would mentally replay my best highlights from the games. With each step, my thoughts would transition to anticipation of one of my mom’s home-cooked dinners waiting for me at the house. As darkness settled in, my walk was abruptly interrupted by a bright light from an approaching vehicle….
“Walking while Black”
The car’s approach slowed and I realized I was being stopped by a Palm Beach County Sheriff for “walking while black”. I was 15 years old. The officer flashed the light from his squad car in my face and the conversation went like this:
Officer: “Hey boy, where are you headed? Do you live around here?”
Me: “Yes sir. I live right up the road here, just walking home from a basketball game. Appreciate you stopping and checking, have a great day.”
Officer: “Well hold on a second, are you aware of any illegal activity in the area? Have you been selling any drugs today? Do you have anything illegal on your person?”
Me: Nervous laughter. “No sir, not at all! As I mentioned, I live right up here on the road- don’t know anything about any illegal activity”
Officer: “So are you SURE that you actually live around here? Do you mind if I search you?”
During this interaction, the officer did not know that I was taking AP courses ranked in the top 5% of my class, a varsity football player and track team member, a member of the drama club, the only black member of the chorus etc. All he saw was a black boy walking in a white neighborhood “who didn’t belong”.
Now let’s stop here. Had this been a “neighborhood watchman”, like in the murder case of Trayvon Martin, I would have already ran away or have prepared to defend myself. Even if he had he been a plainclothes police officer who never identified himself, as in the murder case of my high school friend Corey Jones, I would have reacted the same way. The ONLY reason I cooperated at 15 was because he was an officer in a marked squad car. My father has worked at various police departments in Palm Beach County since I was a little boy. Half of my family is in law enforcement or military so we’ve had “ The Talk” before (you will get an explanation of what “The Talk” sounds like shortly).
Offended but anxious to get home, I responded, “Yes sir , I know it’s illegal for you to search me without consent, but I’m giving you my permission so that I can go along my way ”
Officer: “Fair enough. Don’t make any sudden movements.”
He got out of the car, he took off my cap, patted me down, checked my identification. After confirming I had no drugs or weapons he DID NOT let me go on my way.
Officer: “Listen, since you live around here why don’t you just let me take you home? And don’t worry I’m not gonna put you in the backseat you can ride up front with me”. (As if that was supposed to make me feel more comfortable?)
Let’s pause once again. At 15 years old in 2000 there were no smartphones. There was no record of this interaction. It would’ve been my word versus his. The only reason I got in the squad car that night is because I knew if I was sitting next to him in the front seat and he tried to do something stupid, I could try to overtake the wheel and drive us into the lake or crash the car. Now ask yourself a the real question: What 15-year-old should have to think about protecting themselves while dealing with law-enforcement? A young person of color. That’s who.
Within a mile, we pull up to my house. Instead of dropping me off as agreed, he insisted on ringing the doorbell. My father comes to the door and the officer begins to “joke” about how he is “just taking me out of handcuffs because he saw me doing something that looked like illegal activity.” I was mortified, confused, and angry when he said this. Why would he lie about that? My father’s face was stoic-he was not amused. The officer quickly backpedaled and said “no I was just kidding, I just wanted to make sure he got home.” My father informed him of the police department he worked for and told the officer he could expect a prompt follow-up. The officer scurried sheepishly away.
“The Talk”
After the officer left, my dad and I had a very long talk. I asked him why I had been picked up that night. He mentioned because I was a black man in “urban clothing” (again, a cut-off t-shirt and gym shorts) who they thought “may have fit the description” of someone who is not a resident in the predominantly white suburbs we lived in. I asked my father if what the cop did was illegal and if we could report him. He told me that while it is his job to search if he sees probable cause, he didn’t necessarily have to do it in the manner that he did.
And then I asked my father the most important question I’ve ever asked him regarding law enforcement: “what am I supposed to do to not be treated like this in the future?”. His response, “Son, there’s nothing you can do. The only thing you can do is be the absolute best at anything you put your mind to and if you ever have to deal with a law enforcement officer, you do whatever you have to do to make it home ALIVE. If you give them a reason to kill you, some of them will. If you are arrested, I can help you and will take care of the rest. I can’t help you if you’re dead Devin, just make it home.”
What I just described is “The Talk”. In black homes “The Talk” is not about “where do babies come from” as it is and most white homes across the country. “The Talk” is explaining to a young person of color why they need to be mindful of racism, particularly with cops, but in general. I dread having to have this talk with my sons, but I know I will have to because if I don’t tell them about racism then one day they will be blindsided and I refuse to have them unprepared.
There is a reform that must come regarding law-enforcement. But it’s not just about that, it is about the socioeconomic, educational, healthcare, all of the other factors that need to be balanced to reverse the affects of systemic racism. My wife and I are dedicating our lives to address these issues in the stratified approach that it deserves.
But for right now, in this moment in time, as we are all at a heightened level of awareness of what’s going on in the black community- be sure to focus your energy on the political, economic, and systemic change that will create justice. Specifically, call your local police departments to ask about their “use of force policies” and engage them proactively in your community. Call your House Rep and Senator and ask them to support laws that automatically investigate at the federal level when racial bias is suspected.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, before you rush to a conclusion based on what the news outlets reports ask yourself “could this person have just been like Devin Dobson?” I’m making it personal because most of you know me and think highly of me. When you read about them, think of me and look for the facts before passing judgement.
Happy Juneteenth to those who celebrate the full realization of the emancipation of my ancestors today. Let’s be clear though- the goal is EQUALITY, not just FREEDOM. #StayWoke
