Driving While Black: Highways, Shopping Malls, Taxi Cabs, Sidewalks: How to Fight Back if You Are a Victim of Racial Profiling

by Kenneth Meeks

A practical handbook for people who want to be safe and do something.

Racial profiling does happen. And while cases where victims find themselves looking down the barrel of a policeman's gun make the six o'clock news, dozens of less extreme, yet troubling, examples occur every day. Cabs that whiz by only to be seen stopping for "safer"-looking people just up the block; being asked for multiple pieces of identification when making purchases with credit cards; being followed around a department store by salespeople and security while never being asked if they need any assistance; being detained for hours and extensively searched in an airport or train station-- Driving While Black clearly defines the system officially known as CARD (class, age, race, dress) and offers advice about how to handle potentially life-threatening situations with the police, as well as recourse for readers who suspect their civil rights have been denied due to racial profiling.

A book written to save lives, Driving While Black is not just for people of color, but for anyone who likes to wear a baseball cap, baggy jeans, sneakers, and a tee shirt and finds they are often treated like a "suspect."

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

To stop racial profiling, law enforcement agencies can implement policies, training, and accountability measures. Communities can also help by speaking out against racial profiling and supporting organizations that promote equality. my opinion

[Caley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible sequencing of chapters with random interlays of statistics that come out of nowhere and no cogent conclusions about anything. Makes me feel like a college freshman edited it for all the colloquialisms that pop out in almost every sentence. 2 stars.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not astounding, but a somewhat fascinating list of vignettes with practical advice for victims of racial profiling.

[Fareeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repetitive. Didn't really learn anything new.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

While still an important topic I found the book poorly organized in sections.

[Travis Goat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had horrible sequencing. There were good points though.