As a black NYC resident I'm actually surprised by this. Stop and frisk is a major violation of the rights of those stopped without cause but I have generally viewed it as more of a class issue than a race issue. I have never been stopped by the police in this manner. I was once stopped by the police on the iffy charge that I was in the park after dark while walking home late and I told the officer I was cutting through the park because I had work in the morning and I heard about muggings in the neighborhood and the park seemed the fastest and safest way home. The cop seemed to be caught off guard and quickly ended the confrontation. Furthermore, none of my (very middle to upper middle class) black friends have complained about being victims of stop and frisk.
My studiomate who is a filmmaker actually spoke with some local teens who were frequently harassed by the stop & frisk policy and I felt guilty that a few meager class signifiers seem to get me off the hook so easily [0].
That said the author's other accounts of having to be cautious of unintentionally provoking police do ring true my experience and stories from my family and friends.
My studiomate who is a filmmaker actually spoke with some local teens who were frequently harassed by the stop & frisk policy and I felt guilty that a few meager class signifiers seem to get me off the hook so easily [0].
That said the author's other accounts of having to be cautious of unintentionally provoking police do ring true my experience and stories from my family and friends.
0. https://vimeo.com/87532909