Former CNN anchor and current BET host TJ Holmes appeared on The Ed Show Monday to express his frustration with the conversation about race relations in America.
Holmes, angrily tweeted “Driving while black ain’t no joke,” after he was pulled over Monday about 1.5 miles from his driveway in Atlanta.
Almost immediately, after he stopped his car, Holmes “stuck his arms out the window and crossed his hands, so the officer saw his hands," said Holmes.
Guest host Michael Eric Dyson clarified for viewers why Holmes did this saying, “You do that because you’re a black man and you don’t want them to think you have a gun or anything.”
Holmes, agreed. “I don’t want that officer nervous when he walks up to the door.” Holmes continued explaining how the officer wasn’t rude, and wanted to make sure he had insurance on the car, even going as far as asking for a bill of sale. The BET host complied with the officer’s requests but later filed a complaint with the police department.
Holmes declined to name the specific police department- or the make of the car he was driving. "I purposely didn't say what kind of car it was. I don't think it should matter if I was in a 2012 BMW or an '89 Pinto. It shouldn't matter."
Holmes’ experience leads us to ask: Are we living in a post-racial America? Unfortunately, even with the first black president in office, a 2009 Gallup poll showed a drop in optimism about the change people hoped would occur. Bureau of Justice statistics also showed that black drivers were about three times as likely to be searched during a traffic stop compared to whites, and two times as likely as Hispanics.
Noting that he was mad at the time he was tweeting, Holmes told Dyson all day he wondered if he made a mistake with his comments and whether he heightened people’s emotions by using the phrase “driving while black.” Holmes says he received mixed reactions about his story.
Holmes remains unconvinced that America will ever have an honest conversation about race relations, saying “nothing ever gets done.” However, he wants to take his experience, try to make a change in his local community and “make this conversation real to some people” because “it happens to a lot of people who are not going to have voice.”
Leave a Comment:
I think the problem is that there are more black and hispanic males between the ages of 18 and 25 carrying guns illegally and committing violent crimes, thus there are more black and hispanic males in jail and more suspicion surrounding their activities. Is it right to pull over a black man for driving - No. Is it right to search him just because he's black, probably not. But, is there a reason? Clearly. It can't be racism when it is based on facts, facts are not racist, they are the unemotional, numeric truth. Unfortunately, socioeconomic status typically reflects crime rates and the black and hispanic populations are toward the bottom of that spectrum. I think that instead of just saying something is racist, a community should also look to themselves and take responsibility. The police are not the final say in justice, nor should they be, since I think most Americans would agree that our police force is overly aggressive and tends to make poor judgment calls when it comes to degree of force. However, when the jails aren't made up of 75% blacks and hispanics, then they can call racism on those who suspect them. As a hispanic woman living in Cleveland, I think I can say with certainty that we are causing trouble for ourselves, and we should try to right the wrongs our communities are doing to themselves before we begin calling in the Al Sharpton's of the world or creating additional tension. Improve inner city education, provide a way out, give young kids the desire to learn and hopefully someday we won't need to wonder who is being racist.
At is the exstreme on the far right who started all this Problem ,the hate every one who is not white,I am white an I think there are more good People in the black Comunities then white ,it's time to look up white folks for breaking the Law,an there are many who neat to go to Jail ,the most Crooks are white ,an Law makers ,no wonder this Country has such bad Reputation,at is not the black People who are the Problem,it's the far right ,the rich an the Law makers who are the Law Breakers
"ClevelendRing", So very sad, you don't have a clue what it is to live as a minority in this Country. You probably thought that T. J. Holmes was exaggerating and blowing things out of proportion. When I was a little girl back in the 70'S, my parents use to drill myself and my siblings on how to behave when my oldest brother drove us to the city from the southern county where we lived. You see, my father was a very hard working man that owned our home and our vehicles. We had a beautiful White Cadillac Coupe De Ville. We had to prepare our hearts and minds on what to do when we get pulled by by the law enforcement officers of the towns we drove though before we got to our destination. I felt sorry for my brother. We were treated like scums of the earth. I grieve for this entire nation because this belief system still exists. We all lose. This nation could be greater if the leaders would advocate diversity in all aspect of our lives here. God gave gifts to all mankind regardless of race, creed, or color. When you have a little time, read "John Griffin Howard's Book, "Black Like Me" . It is about how a white man changed the color of his skin and became a black man with the help of a doctor. He was amazed of how he was treated by whites that greeted him with a smile a day before and how the same people frowned at him the next day after he turned black. It is incredible. What makes it so sad, a lot of people that are racist like that go to church and pray to God. Well, I don't believe in their God.
"God", Please Save America.