Dear Black Writer On Race…

I raged as I read your account, and am still angry, because it brings my own terrors to mind.

Four decades ago all 140 lbs. of me was pulled over in rural south Georgia, supposedly for having a Dodge that could exceed the speed of sound (if not light) in a quarter mile. Within minutes there were two more cars. Only by remaining calm did I manage to leave without incident. (And a warning not to “speed” again.)

I was very nearly shot to death on the porch of my own home one late night because the police, answering a silent alarm, came to the wrong house (and apparently were already aware of it. I wasn’t even asked for ID.) The officer with the rifle was so rattled, apparently by how close he came to a life-changing event he was unable to speak afterward.

Three carload of police came to our house looking for a Black man of our acquaintance. Being so terribly disappointed to find a white man on the lawnmower, they became very abusive toward myself (62, disabled) and my 90-year old father. They gave up trying to make either of us “break”, and left humiliated.

I’m not so privileged as to not know that in all three instances, the ONLY thing that prevented disaster was the color of my skin. Had I been Black, despite my deference (in the first two instances) I’d have more than likely died. (By the third instance I no longer gave a shit about suffering assholes, and I doubted either of us (both with zero record) would be murdered in our own yard in front of witnesses.)

Thank you for relating your account of abuse and racism. Though NONE of what you underwent was necessary (or reasonable), the world needs to be made aware of every instance of such racist and abusive behavior.