Shortly after a grand jury voted not to indict the officer who killed Eric Garner, many Americans — black and white — took to social media to express outrage over yet another perceived miscarriage of justice. As the nation watched, a reality became clear: There's an unfortunate double-standard in how law enforcement treats black people.
In response, the hashtag #CrimingWhileWhite became a platform to illustrate what often happens when white people engage in criminal activity. It was a powerful moment, as white people openly acknowledged that they don't face nearly the same punishment or brutality experienced by their black counterparts. But despite the good intentions of those who participated, many others felt like the hashtag detracted from conversations about the value of black lives.
Even worse, it came during a time when many black people were still in shock and grief over the grand jury's ruling.
CrimingWhileWhite is proving white people know about their privileges. They just aren't doing anything about it.
In response to that first trending hashtag, Jamilah Lemieux, senior digital editor for Ebony magazine, started #AliveWhileBlack. By starting the hashtag, Lemieux was pointedly attempting to refocus the debate on the community actually affected by the racial disparities, and asked black people to share about their own experiences with law enforcement.
I get the point of #CrimingWhileWhite but I think we need some counter narratives...
Hey Black folk, how have police treated you for being #alivewhileblack
The response was immediate, as people across the Internet began to tweet about their own brushes with injustice.
"Black people are routinely stopped, profiled and treated poorly by the people who are supposed to serve and protect them. ... In our experiences as black people, [police officers] treat us like a threat routinely and get away with it," Lemieux told Mic. "It's important to look at the different ways that black and white people are treated by police and law enforcement, but right now our stories should be at the forefront instead of the permissive ways many white people are treated by the police."
Got raped+robbed. Police took forever to interview me, mentioned that women sometimes lie to hide "gambling, overspending" #AliveWhileBlack
Pulled over w my mom. People think shes white, she was driving. Cops asked for my ID and license "for her protection" #AliveWhileBlack
Crossing the grocery store parking lot. Cops stopped to ask me what I was doing there. I was holding grocery bags. #Alivewhileblack
I was mugged after dropping a friend off late at night after work. the cops harassed me & asked why i was "really there" #alivewhileblack
17 y/o - Drove to Kroger to get mom Nyquil. Pulled over unexplained. Asked why I was in my neighborhood. 4 backup cop cars. #AliveWhileBlack
I was stopped 29 times by cops in E. Europe during my 18 months as a Fulbright Scholar. Police racism is a world issue. #alivewhileblack
While stopped for walking at night, was asked what my father's occupation was...and what I was studying at the university. #alivewhileblack
22. White cops pull me over/out of car at 1am while at red light. Accuse me of prostitution. Detained for 30min. #AliveWhileBlack...& a woman.
was robbed at knife point in Charlotte. When the police came, told them what was taken, they asked "Why wld u have a pager" #alivewhileblack
White roomies blasting music in the dorms. Campus police arrive & arrest ME, even though roomies tell them I'm innocent! #alivewhileblack
Brother drove to school. Pulled over and handcuffed. Police claimed the car was too nice to be his and that he stole it. #AliveWhileBlack
Waiting on bus after karate class in my gi. 2 cop cars pulled up, frisked me. I missed 2 busses. I looked suspicious. 12y/o #alivewhileblack
Was begging my white grandma to buy me candy in Kmart when cops asked if she needed them to arrest me @JamilahLemieux #alivewhileblack
AliveWhileBlack our house alarm goes off/cops show up and ask what are we doing here/didn't believe us/had to call my father to assure them
Blindsided while riding bike & knocked unconscious. Woke up to cop questioning me. Blood streaming down face. Cop leaves. #AliveWhileBlack
These tweets demonstrate that black people experience law enforcement in ways their white counterparts may never understand, because racism in the system remains largely unchecked. Lemieux told Mic that while many whites feel the police keep them safe, black people have never harbored that same trust because of the racial disparities.
Ultimately, #CrimingWhileWhite and #AliveWhileBlack work in tandem to expose how race impacts the way police officers treat people, regardless of whether or not someone commits a crime.
Always more interested in stories like #AliveWhileBlack than indulgent tales of benefiting from the system, however well-intentioned.
CrimingWhileWhite & #AliveWhileBlack illustrate two different Americas that exist but shouldn't. Take the time to read some of the tweets
