[minikites]

How does that directly contradict my statement? Also, you left out the very important context, which is that while they are 3.6x as likely to be arrested, black people use drugs at the same rate as white people, so what justifies the 3.6x increase?

And, how does income affect stop-and-frisk or drug possession arrests? Do cops have some sort of x-ray vision where they can see a suspect's W-2?

[jazzyb]

> how does income affect stop-and-frisk or drug possession arrests?

It's typically poor communities that these tactics are done in. I think the tactics are reprehensible, and race probably does have something to do with it, but I've also seen cops roll up into rural trailer parks to start shit, too. What gets lost in a lot of the media narrative is how poor folk in general get taken advantage of by the authorities.

[jmcmichael]

Yes, our social institutions treat the poor reprehensibly, and it does present a huge problem that doesn't get addressed as often as it should.

The fact still remains, though, that our social institutions treat poor black folks much worse than poor white folks.

[viraptor]

You wrote that they just don't do it. In reality they do. Just less often.

[lumberingjack]

I know a white guy whom just got a felony for two pills in his car, a majorly stupid thing you can't do these days. It was all over Fox national news like he was some sort of gang/drug lord. In reality he was just working a full time 9/5 at amazon box and hustling a little on the side to pay the bills. Now he lost his job and is sitting around on welfare because no one will hire a felon.

[Vendan]

I've encountered plenty of "stop everyone and check their license/registration/insurance" points where they just wave me past. Presumably because I'm a late-20's white male wearing business casual in a decent/good car.

[nickff]

Many of those checkpoints are also a way to collect revenue from out-of-state drivers who are unlikely to appeal the ticket or appear to contest it.

[ceejayoz]

> And, how does income affect stop-and-frisk or drug possession arrests? Do cops have some sort of x-ray vision where they can see a suspect's W-2?

Target low-income areas? Target people with falling-apart cars, shabby clothes, etc.? It's hardly difficult.

[jshevek]

The quality and condition of various aspects of a person's body (particularly teeth) can sometimes be indicators as well.

[minikites]

So you believe judging people based on their appearance is a reliable way to determine things about them? Hmm.

[ceejayoz]

I'm about 90% certain you're trolling.

It's not perfect - occasionally you'll stop someone who looks like a homeless guy and it'll turn out to be Robert Downey Jr. doing some method actor research for a new movie.

Most of the time, though, if you want to target someone who's low-income, there'll be a part of town and a set of characteristics you can pretty reliably look for.

[minikites]

You don't have to look poor to be targeted by police: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Louis_Gates_arrest_con...

[ceejayoz]

Yes, being black in a mostly white neighborhood can lead to targeting as well. I'm not clear on what point, if any, you're trying to make now.

[minikites]

The point I've been making this entire time, how black people are much more likely to be harassed by police than white and poor people. The "poor white people have it just as bad" angle is wrong.

[mattnewton]

Most people wear a good approximation of their W-2 in their hair and clothing. I don't disagree though, that same heuristic is very often racist.