Flying While Black

Haven't heard of it? From the same form of racial profiling that results in people getting pulled over for Driving While Black, basically, if you're black and travelling by plane, the odds of having your luggage (or self) searched are significantly higher than the odds white travellers operate with. In 1999, Mos Def rapped about it on his album Black on Both Sides:

Some folks get on a plane, go where they please, but I go overseas,
And I get over-seized: London, Heathrow, me and my people,
They think that "illegal's" a synonym for "negro."
Far away places, customs agents flagrant, they think that dark faces smuggle weight in their cases.
Bags inspected, now we arrested, attention directed to contents of our intestines -
Urinalysis, followed by x-rays.
Interrogated and detained 'til damn near the next day.
No evidence, no apology and no regard.

And this Monday, Philly's own ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson), drummer for The Roots, blogged about a similar personal experience when he recently attempted to board a flight out of Buffalo, New York.

In his post, ?uestlove explains that he was subject to extra security because he purchased his plane ticket twenty four hours before the plane was due to take off. "Post 911," he explains, such a security procedure is standard. But that's where the practice of logical safety measures ends.

Because he was carrying a large amount of money (made from DJing work he does after shows), the security guard who first searched his belongings decided ?uestlove was a "drug dealer" - and from this point on, things only escalated, as he was questioned by five police officers, and the DEA was called in. For the following hour, he was subjected to additional searches and questioning - of the "You say you have three Grammies [sic]... you travel coach[...]?" and "Sing us one of your songs" variety.

Despite efforts by law personnel to produce evidence against him, ?uestlove was able to board his plane at the last minute. Again, his full account of the event can be found online, and it really should be read for a full understanding of what went down. Forced awareness of the reality of race relations is the only arguably somewhat good thing to come of such occurrences.

Image by Cathy Bauer via Metroactive Music.