This came up at book club last night, and I thought it was worthy of discussion.
Have you ever noticed the number of black drivers you see stopped by Brookfield police out paces the number of white? One of the gals coined it DWB – driving while black.
I know I have. I may have even mentioned it on that other site. Four years ago when I ran for mayor the subject came up at a meet and greet. One of the couples there had a football-playing son. The kids would get together before game day for a carbo loading feed. The number of black students stopped while driving through Brookfield to get to the feasts became a joke. Then they realized they had to do something about it.
The parents would drive a separate car to escort the black football players out of Brookfield in the evening.
Imagine that. Right here in our own little paradise, such a culture is allowed to exist. We let it exist if we don’t say anything.
I’m saying something.
No, Mr. Police Officer, you are not protecting me or my property by stopping black drivers in excess of the population ratio. I’m all for ethnic profiling when it’s warranted for air flight safety, but profiling for terrorist attacks is different than racial profiling, and there’s no doubt that’s what’s happening here.
Now just you wait. There will be some newspaper article or official statement about how I’m so wrong (never directly acknowledging me, of course). This housewife won’t buy it.
Brookfield, I think we have a problem. Last night I learned I’m not alone in my thinking.
13 responses so far ↓
1 The Lorax // Jan 27, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I’ve been saying that for years.
2 mike // Jan 28, 2010 at 8:11 am
How many black drivers have been pulled over in relation to how many black drivers drive through town? How many white drivers have been pulled over in relation to how many white drivers drive through town?
I’d pretty much need to know those figures before I could agree or disagree with you.
3 Cindy // Jan 28, 2010 at 8:37 am
Can’t quantify. (Right, like the BPD keeps those statistics!) That doesn’t mean it’s not a problem.
Luckily, I don’t need your approval to maintain my opinion.
4 mike // Jan 28, 2010 at 9:58 am
I didn’t write that you needed my approval. You posted an opinion and I wondered if there were any facts to confirm or refute what you wrote. It might be worthwhile for you to reference some facts so readers can determine the value of your opinions.
5 Cindy // Jan 28, 2010 at 10:08 am
I posted an OPINION – indeed. You may dismiss my opinion without hurting my feelings. Really.
opinion – a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
6 mike // Jan 28, 2010 at 11:48 am
Oh, I assumed you would have at least a few facts before making such a potentially inflammatory post that essentially accuses and entire police department of racism. My mistake. Please continue with your fact-free opinions.
Your “about me” page reads, “I… beg for details so that I can better understand.” Judging by your rude reply to my very reasonable post, you are easily offended when others attempt to do the same.
7 Cindy // Jan 28, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Mike, I’m betting you aren’t from around these parts, are you?
My opinion is based upon my own observation in Brookfield. One person agreed with my opinion. You did not. I will live.
Your opinion of me does not change my opinion of the DWB problem. May God bless you and keep you, and help you get over it.
8 The Lorax // Jan 28, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Mike, have you ever driven down Capitol Drive in Brookfield? Obviously not.
9 mike // Jan 28, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I can see how a request for information would come across to you as hostile. My apologies for asking for supporting facts before blindly agreeing with you.
10 Cindy // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:14 pm
No one said you had to agree with my opinion.
You really don’t get this blogging thing, do you?
11 mike // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I get it, but it doesn’t appear that you do. You posted an opinion, to which I replied with a simple request for information. Your response was both defensive and rude: “Luckily, I don’t need your approval to maintain my opinion.” Blogging is generally seen as a way to post an opinion in a forum designed to foment responses. If the only responses you will tolerate are those indicating blind agreement with whatever you say, perhaps you could post that on the top of each page.
Good day.
12 Cindy // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Hello in there? I posted an OPINION. It doesn’t need any facts. You can agree or disagree. You can even ask for facts. But for goodness sakes, when I explain I’ve none to give you and remind you I posted my OPINION, don’t yank your knickers in a knot!
You are welcome to agree or disagree. In fact, you don’t even have to read. I never said your opinion was wrong, Mike and your comments have all remained. I really don’t understand why you are so offended.
13 Aria // Feb 7, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Unfortunately, I do have to agree with you, Cindy. And I’ve noticed that Elm Grove is even worse. Many of my friends have told me they’ve seen Elm Grove police cars following black pedestrians as they walk down a sidewalk. It’s insulting and only fuels the typical outsider’s perspective of the village: very white, very cautious, very racist.
And the unwarranted suspicion stretches even outside of the black community! I was riding with several other teenagers, and we were followed by an Elm Grove police car until we pulled into a driveway. This was, mind you, in the early afternoon–not the ideal time for drunkenness, parties, or screwing around.
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