What happened to #GeorgeFloyd almost happened to #ChristianCooper & has happened and continues to happen to too many black men in America brings back memories of what happened to me in August 2008 in Falcon Heights MN just 4 days after I arrived the US from Nigeria for my MPH /1
It was a Tuesday morning about 5am and I was still jet lagged & was washing my cereal bowl at the kitchen sink wearing only my boxers. I had rented the apartment with two other roommates who were also students at the university of MN but hadn’t moved on yet till the next week /2
I had only met a couple of neighbors and had once waved to one from across the street. While in the kitchen that morning I saw a flashlight from outside the window pointed at me. I thought it was one of the neighbors. I raised my hand to wave & realized it was a police officer /3
He had his torchlight and gun pointed at me. I was in my late 20s and had never seen a real gun much less have one pointed at me. In utter confusion, I was like “hello sir”. He asked me to raise my hands and come to the door. I held on to the bowl (it was white) /4
I held on to it because in my fear and confusion, I didn’t want to make any sudden movements or loud sounds. I loved very slowly and opened the door. Outside, with all their guns drawn pointed at the door (at me) were 4 other police officers. One or two grabbed me /5
and pinned me face down on the wet grass and put handcuffs on me even before I was asked any questions or told anything. All I remember saying was “I just moved here, I’m a student, I have my immigration papers”. 2 stormed into the house while I was put in the back of the car /6
No one had told me anything at this point and while it was probably about 5-10mins, it felt like an eternity. They asked me my name and SSN. I didn’t have a SSN yet because I jad only been here a few days. They searched for me in the system with my name and birth date /7
They then asked me to prove I lived there. I told them which room was mine and what was in each compartment of the closet - clothes, underwear etc. after what felt like forever, I was told that one of the neighbors called the cops saying there was a burglar in the house /8
There was no apology. They took off the cuffs and said I was free to go. I picked up my cereal bowl and walked back in the house. Shaking, fearful and frankly, still not fully recovered till this day. /9
This was an affluent neighborhood and it turns out there weren’t many black people that lived in this community and hence I stood out. In any case, why would a burglar be eating cereal in his boxers at 5am? Also, let’s assume the neighbor really thought I was a burglar /10
Why would the cops look at this situation & rather have a conversation with me first, just cuff me while holding me facedown on the grass before even asking any questions? I had many nightmares & couldn’t stay there more than a couple more weeks before I broke my lease & left /11
Fast forward 12 years, and things remain the same. Everyday there’s a new name, a new hashtag, another black man at risk for being killed just because they’re black. /12
Last week I was playing with my wife (who’s white) & our 9month old in the park when a cop car stopped next to us. I was visibly startled & held our son a little tighter before I quickly relaxed. Later that night my wife asked me why & all I could do was cry. #BlackLivesMatter
So when next you ask “what did he do?” Or say “he should’ve followed orders” or wonder if it’s because he lives in a “bad neighborhood”, remember it happens and can happen to any black man in America irrespective of his social class or financial status. #RIPGeorgeFloyd
