I can’t necessarily say this is racism, but I think it falls under the same category because people make assumptions and stereotype me before they even know me. I’m tired of people always assuming that because I have dreads I sell weed. Everywhere I go people come to me asking me if I got that good ****. Not only is this persistent in the "hood" or in new places that I go, but on about two or three occasions I had been bothered by the police about possessing drugs. One time my mom, her boyfriend and I were driving and we were stopped for "running the red light" (so they said). So me and my mother's boyfriend were asked to step out the car and we get searched and then the cop tells me, "you don’t have any weed on you do you? I won’t say anything, I’m cool about stuff like that", and I’m like...no. Come on, are you kidding me? Another time in the train station I got stopped for one of those "random searches of backpacks and other large containers" followed by a question about having marijuana. I swear people are ridiculous these days. Another time it was real late when I was walking my two female friends home from pan practice (steel pan) before I myself went home. While we're walking a police officer in his car sees us walking and decides to question me. Of course I had nothing and everything was alright but DAMN it is so annoying. Being stereotyped against is not a good feeling and I hate it when stuff like that happens to me.
These experiences make me even more aware of racism and the fact that it still exists because it happens directly to me. And trust me folks, it does not feel good. I bet if I wasn’t a young African American male with long dread locks I would not have had so many experiences like that.
Murder during Freedom Summer
These three men, (from right), Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner were abducted and murdered in Mississippi in the summer of 1964 because of their involvment in activism related to Freedom Summer. National attention was directed to this spectacle, as an alarming indicator that the sacrifices of the movement weren't exclusively black. White segregationists in Mississippi sought to make an example of Goodman and Schwerner to frighten other whites involved in the struggle. It didn't work.
4 comments:
I was laughing the whole time because I understand your perspective and I find it soooo funny. I am usually stereotyped to have kids because I am latina. It does get annoying but then again it does feel good to be known as one that is not fitting the stereotype.
This happened too my friend were he lives because he dresses a certain way so they are constantly thinking ghe is a "pusher" even when i am around they use there stereotypes not knowing what they want is hurting themselves and others at the same time.
WoW! This is the first time I heard having dreads categorize you as selling weed. How absurd! Most of my friends have dreads and they don’t even know weed! I know it must be annoying that people make an incorrect judgment about you. It’s annoying I know! People think I am stupid just because I look good. (Lolz! I sound conceited. But trust me I’m not!)
I laughed throughout this. I think this shows that people will always try to find jokes out of racism--maybe it makes matters easier to deal with.
Anyway, I see the idea of false information based on appearances. People in society will always try to draw assumptions based on how another person looks. Due to the fact that that is the first thing you see about a person. I believe it’s a way to evaluate situations that we may encounter. Although it is not always right this is the way the world seems to works.
Placing negative connotations next to a person and who they -- now that I do not believe. I'm sorry you had to live with being told you look like a drug dealer. When I look at people with dreads I actually think of one with great insight on different things. Due to the fact that most of the people I know who has dreads did not for deeper meanings. Showing the strength in their beliefs. This however although positive is a judgment because not all people with dreads get t for spiritual reasons. So are positive assumptions based on these kinds things good? Is it safe to make assumptions?
(BTW: I love your dreads!!)
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