DRIVING WHILE BLACK (BLACK MAN)

Racial profiling while driving has been researched and talked about all across the United States.

I read a story of how Flo Joyner's husband was pulled over years ago and when the cop realized whom he was the cop decided to let him go as he pulled him over simply because he was driving a luxury car. This same thing happened to one of the members of Boyz II Men while driving out in LA (from an article years ago in Ebony).

A couple of months ago myself and my cousins left the hospital visiting a friends husband. We were riding in a Dark Blue Nissan Maxima with tinted windows. We were pulled over by a state trooper. He told us that he pulled us over for speeding doing 55 in a 45 construction zone and because a head light was out. I was driving the car and didn't have my license as I keep it in my own vehicle. The officer was nice enough to give me a warning and let us go.

That same night a male friend of mine was pulled over on the same expressway for the same thing, he of course was given a ticket although he had his license and everything was in order. A few weeks later this same gentleman was sitting in his car eating some food he'd purchased around 2/3 in the morning. Some cops approached him asked him to get out of the vehicle, searched his car, asked for his license. He asked was it a problem he was sitting in his car outside the restaurant eating? Of course no ticket was issued but what was the point.

Ladies, there is a difference in the treatment of our black men and ourselves. Think of the tickets you should've gotten but didn't simply because you were a woman.

I remember years ago, the police pulled my mom over after we left my sisters apartment in Bolingbrook. They told her she was driving on a suspended license. She told the officer she didn't know her license was suspended. They gave her a warning and we continued on our drive home. I am almost 100% sure had that been my dad the story would have been told differently.

While we all are aware or should be aware that racial profiling exist. This month I pray that black women have more compassion and understanding for the black man. Not pity or disdain but understanding that yes there are some things that they go through that are above and beyond their control. The system still exist and the "man" is still trying to hold them down.

Yes there are things that they can do to avoid the system like staying away from crime/criminals PERIOD. However being pulled over for being black or not getting a job because they are a black man is above and beyond their control.

http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-our-nations-highways

With that said the message from Bill Winston this morning is right on time, stop looking to the world for money, promotion, and increase that only comes from God.

So to the black woman to help the black man pray for him, uplift, encourage him and if you have a son RAISE him properly with respect, values, and morals. To the black man, pray for yourself, know God for yourself, develop a relationship with Him and love the black woman and take care of your family/children. If we could unite and do that as a people our communities would change!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials