Check Your Privilege

So, ten years ago, Your Crusading Blogger went away on what turned out to be my last awaycation.  I took a bus up to Niagara Falls, ON for my usual third week in July soirèe.  I found out the day before my return that my ride home from the bus station had been cancelled, necessitating the making of other plans.

I was beyond lucky that when I called a friend who I hadn't seen in a while, he was willing at the drop of a hat to change his plans and bring me home, for which trouble I promised to reward him mightily.  The next day, I found out how much trouble...

At the appointed time, Steve and his sister-in-law came to pick me up at the deserted bus station.  I was kind of down at the end of a beautiful vacation, and even more so, realizing that I would not have another opportunity to vacay in Niagara for 51 weeks.  (If I had had any idea that I would be staycationing for the next 10 years and counting, my spirits really would've nosedived, but I digress)...

About a half a mile from the bus stop, blue and red lights began to flash behind us.  Steve pulled over.  "What the hell?"  I burst out.  "You weren't speeding, so why..."

"My tags are expired," Steve explained.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry!  I would never have called you if I had known..."

"Not your fault, Claudia."

Presently a courteous police officer came to tell Steve about his expired tags, then began to run a "make" on Steve's license, etc.  I reached a hand in the inside pocket of my jacket for my cell phone so I could call home to tell them I'd be a little late.

"What the hell are you doing?!  Keep still and keep your hands in sight!"  Steve's shout startled me.

"What?  What are you talking about?"

It should go without saying that in my world, when you are stopped by the police, you should be polite, even obsequious, when you speak to the officer.  You should answer the officer's questions briefly, follow directions, apologize, say thank you, i.e., suck up.  Maybe if you suck up well enough, you won't get a ticket.

In Steve's world, you should do all of the above, plus keep very, very still, keep your hands in sight at all times.   Do not move, unless directed by the officer, and even then, indicate what you are doing, "Offcer, I am reaching in to my glove box, I'm getting my registration...", etc.  Breathe very, very carefully.

And maybe you won't be brutalized.  Maybe you get to go home alive.  It was my first real experience with my white privilege.  I was 45 years old.

How about you?  Well, just in case you are unsure, here is a Check Your Privilege Quiz, I invite you to take it.  I DARE you to take it:


The Check Your Privilege Quiz

– Put a finger down if you have been called a racial slur.

– Put a finger down if you've been followed in a store unnecessarily.

– Put a finger down if someone has crossed the street in order to avoid passing you.

– Put a finger down if you've had someone clench their purse in an elevator with you.

– Put a finger down if you've had someone step off of an elevator to keep from riding with you.

– Put a finger down if you've been accused of not being able to afford something expensive.

– Put a finger down if you've had mortal fear in your heart when being stopped by the police.

– Put a finger down if you've never been given a pass on a citation you deserved.

– Put a finger down if you have been stopped or detained by police for no valid reason.

– Put a finger down if you have been bullied solely because of your race.

– Put a finger down if you've been denied service solely because of the color of your skin.

– Put a finger down if you've ever had to teach your children how not to get killed by the police.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/check-your-privilege-tiktok