[mdadm]

Why does "white"/"male" matter? I understand that this is potentially a very contentious question, but I genuinely don't understand why those are listed in the title, or why "white" was the first in a list of insulting words used at the end of the article.

[wfo]

I think the tacit claim made by the article was that the entire interaction was almost entirely race-driven, suggesting that:

1) The person he tried to help would not have been accosted by police if he were white

2) The author would not have been beaten and abused if he were white.

3) Perhaps neither would have happened if the officers were not white.

As the story fits in with the over-arching narrative of so many police departments across the country being explicitly or implicitly racist and heaping brutal unspeakable abuse and murder on nonwhite populations.

I think all 3 explanations above are plausible, but there's certainly enough police brutality floating around out there that white people can get their fair share as well. And nonwhite officers can certainly dish it out.

[whatshisface]

"Each of 4 white, ignorant, racist asshole police officers."

While he was probably trying to use it in an aggressive sense, I'd avoid getting too offended. You can't expect people to talk nicely right after being wronged like that. If I were telling people about something like that I would try to speak as calmly as possible, but I'd be pretty upset if someone found a slip-up as an excuse to ignore me.

[davesque]

I feel like it's important to point out that, while it's certainly understandable that a person might latch onto characteristics like that in reaction to that kind of a situation, it is, nonetheless, racism. In order for racism to stop, it eventually has to stop with no exceptions.

[powertower]

What really gets to me is the fact that white societies are the number #1 immigration destinations for non-whites, and are entirely responsible for this person's opportunities and high standards of living.

Yet all he sees is white racism.

edit: since I can't reply anymore; to that one person...

You've missed the point entirely.

1. You don't know that race had anything to do with what happened. All you have is one side of a story that keeps dragging race into it. Which is very racist in itself.

2. If white societies where racist, they would not be the #1 immigration destination or have the highest standards of living for non-whites (or even let non-whites in).

[oconnore]

But he's probably right (and he's certainly the most qualified to comment on this incident). I'm pretty sure if I had walked up and said, "Is everything all right? I'm a medical doctor in case you need a hand with anything." the situation would have gone much differently.

Furthermore, even if he isn't right, there is plenty of evidence of a growing white nationalism/racism in this country that the article wouldn't be any less relevant if you could somehow prove that these four particular officers are not racist.

[anexprogrammer]

But he didn't identify himself as a doctor. I can't help feel the encounter may have gone differently if he had.

Not that the behaviour is any more acceptable if he was just a random passer by.

[mikeash]

He should ignore a racially motivated beating by police because other people of the same race are responsible for his high standard of living?

There is so much wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. How about that his high standard of living is primarily due to his hard work and intelligence, not the graciousness of his white overlords.