Deciding whether to drive somewhere alone or with friends is typically a matter of convenience or personal preference. But for young Black men in Philadelphia, that decision may carry an additional consideration: the likelihood of being pulled over by police.
My recent co-authored research suggests that young Black men traveling together attract significantly more police scrutiny than those driving alone.
kAmx? 724E[ E96 2AA2C6?E 67764E @7 EC2G6=:?8 H:E9 2?@E96C J@F?8 q=24< >2? H2D =2C86C E92? E96 C24:2= 5:DA2C:EJ 56E64E65 H96? 4@>A2C:?8 J@F?8 q=24< 2?5 H9:E6 >2=6 5C:G6CD]k^Am
kAm%96D6 7:?5:?8D 492==6?86 2 4@>>@? 2DDF>AE:@? 23@FE C24:2= AC@7:=:?8i E92E :ED 567:?:?8 762EFC6 :D D:>A=J H96E96C 2 5C:G6C :D q=24< @C H9:E6]k^Am
k9am(92E c`[ebb EC277:4 DE@AD C6G62=k^9am
kAmpD 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Cl+7KHI|8ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?U2>Aj@:l2@Qm4C:>:?@=@8:DEk^2m[ x 92G6 AF3=:D965 ?F>6C@FD A66C\C6G:6H65 2CE:4=6D @? A@=:46 DE@AD] x C646?E=J AF3=:D965 2 DEF5J @? E9:D E@A:4 :? E96 ;@FC?2= #246 2?5 $@4:2= !C@3=6>D H:E9 |@==J q:55=6[ H9@ 2E E96 E:>6 @7 HC:E:?8 H2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6D62C4982E6]?6E^AC@7:=6^|@==J\q:55=6\bQm52E2 2?2=JDEk^2m 7@C E96 !@=:46 p44@F?E23:=:EJ &?:E 2E E96 s676?56C pDD@4:2E:@? @7 !9:=256=A9:2] x? E92E DEF5J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^D`adda\_ae\_hdb_\KQmH6 2?2=JK65 !9:=256=A9:2 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E EC277:4 DE@A C64@C5Dk^2m 7C@> a_a` E9C@F89 a_ac]k^Am
kAm(6 7@4FD65 @? >6? 286D `g\ah DE@AA65 7@C >@E@C G69:4=6 4@56 G:@=2E:@?D E92E 5:5 ?@E :?G@=G6 2? 2CC6DE] p>@?8 J@F?8 q=24< >2=6D[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J ` :? c H6C6 :?G6DE:82E65 2=@?8D:56 2?@E96C J@F?8 q=24< >2? :? E96 42C] p>@?8 J@F?8 H9:E6 >2=6D[ =6DD E92? ` :? a_ H6C6 :?G6DE:82E65 H:E9 2?@E96C J@F?8 H9:E6 >2?]k^Am
kAm%9:D 7:G67@=5 5:DA2C:EJ :D DEC:<:?8[ 3FE :E 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 6DE23=:D9 5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ A@=:4:?8] s:776C6?E 8C@FAD >:89E 92G6 5:776C6?E 5C:G:?8 923:ED @C AC676C6?46D 7@C EC2G6=:?8 E@86E96C]k^Am
kAm%@ :?G6DE:82E6 H96E96C A@=:46 564:D:@?D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D 5:DA2C:EJ[ H6 6>A=@J65 2 DE2E:DE:42= E649?:BF6 <?@H? 2D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^afdh_fegQm“G6:=\@7\52C<?6DD” E6DEk^2m]k^Am
k9am(92E 492?86D H96? E96 $F? 8@6D 5@H?nk^9am
kAm%96 G6:=\@7\52C<?6DD E6DE E2<6D 25G2?E286 @7 E96 724E E92E DF?D6E @44FCD 2E 5:776C6?E E:>6D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 2? @77:46C >2J 36 23=6 E@ 4=62C=J D66 2 G69:4=6’D @44FA2?ED 7C@> 2 5:DE2?46 2E f A]>] 5FC:?8 DF>>6C 3FE 92G6 2 >F49 >@C6 @3D4FC65 G:6H 2E E96 D2>6 9@FC 5FC:?8 H:?E6C] x>A@CE2?E=J[ E96 :562 :D E92E 52J=:89E G:D:3:=:EJ 42? 96=A 2? @77:46C 5:DE:?8F:D9 H9@ :D :? E96 G69:4=6 367@C6 E96 564:D:@? :D >256 E@ AF== E96 42C @G6C]k^Am
kAmqJ 4@>A2C:?8 DE@AD @44FCC:?8 2E D:>:=2C E:>6D F?56C 5:776C6?E =:89E:?8 4@?5:E:@?D[ C6D62C496CD 42? :?G6DE:82E6 H96E96C E96 23:=:EJ E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 G69:4=6 @44FA2?ED 7C@> 272C :?7=F6?46D EC277:4 6?7@C46>6?E]k^Am
kAm~FC C6DF=ED C6G62=65 EH@ :>A@CE2?E A2EE6C?D]k^Am
kAmu:CDE[ E96 5:DA2C:EJ 36EH66? J@F?8 q=24< >6? DE@AA65 2?5 J@F?8 H9:E6 >6? DE@AA65 564C62D65 H96? :E H2D 92C56C E@ D66 H9@ :D :? E96 42C] %9:D :D 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@A6?A@=:4:?8]DE2?7@C5]65F^EFE@C:2=D^QmH92E @E96C C6D62C496CD 92G6 7@F?5k^2m FD:?8 62C=:6C 52E2 7@C !9:=256=A9:2]k^Am
kAm$64@?5[ 2?5 E9:D :D H92E >2<6D @FC 2?2=JD:D ?@G6=[ H6 7@F?5 E92E @3D4FC65 G:D:3:=:EJ 925 2? 6G6? 8C62E6C :>A24E @? C65F4:?8 E96 82A 36EH66? J@F?8 q=24< >2=6D DE@AA65 :? 8C@FAD G6CDFD 5C:G:?8 2=@?6]k^Am
kAmq@E9 A2EE6C?D H6C6 DE2E:DE:42==J D:8?:7:42?E[ 6G6? 27E6C 244@F?E:?8 7@C E:>6 @7 52J[ ?6:893@C9@@5[ A@=:46 2DD:8?>6?E[ D62D@? 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD]k^Am
kAm%96D6 7:?5:?8D DF886DE E92E E96 G:D:3:=:EJ @7 2 J@F?8 q=24< >2=6 A2DD6?86C :? 2 G69:4=6 >2J :?7=F6?46 A@=:46 564:D:@?D 2D >F49 @C 6G6? >@C6 E92? E96 G:D:3:=:EJ @7 2 5C:G6C’D C246 2=@?6]k^Am
kAm$@4:2= ADJ49@=@8:42= C6D62C49 @776CD 2 A@DD:3=6 6IA=2?2E:@? 7@C @FC C6DF=ED] !6@A=6 D@>6E:>6D A6C46:G6 8C@FAD 2D >@C6 E9C62E6?:?8 E92? :?5:G:5F2=D[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^`hcgdd_e`hgfeebgQmC24:2= DE6C6@EJA6D 42? :?E6?D:7J E9@D6 A6C46AE:@?Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm%H@ J@F?8 q=24< >6? E@86E96C >2J E96C67@C6 36 A6C46:G65 2D >F49 >@C6 DFDA:4:@FD E92? 6:E96C H@F=5 36 :?5:G:5F2==J]k^Am
kAmx?5665[ :? @FC D2>A=6[ J@F?8 q=24< >2=6 5C:G6CD :?G6DE:82E65 H:E9 J@F?8 q=24< >2=6 A2DD6?86CD H6C6 72C >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 AF==65 @FE @7 E96 G69:4=6 2?5 7CF:E=6DD=J 7C:D<65 7@C 4@?EC232?5 E92? E@ C646:G6 2 4:E2E:@? 7@C E96 EC277:4 @776?D6 FD65 E@ ;FDE:7J E96 6?4@F?E6C :? E96 7:CDE A=246] ~?=J fT H6C6 E:4<6E65[ H9:49 DF886DED E92E >2?J DE@AD H6C6 AC6E6IEF2=]k^Am
k9am#24:2= AC@7:=:?8 :D?’E ;FDE 23@FE E96 5C:G6C’D C246k^9am
kAm~FC C646?E 7:?5:?8D 3F:=5 @? @FC 62C=:6C DEF5J E92E 6I2>:?65 >@C6 E92? fe[___ EC277:4 DE@AD :?G@=G:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^D`a`_b\_ad\_hgfh\gQmq=24< 5C:G6CD :? AC65@>:?2?E=J q=24< !9:=256=A9:2 ?6:893@C9@@5Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm%92E C6D62C49 7@F?5 E92E E96 AC@A@CE:@?2= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 J@F?86C q=24< >6? 2>@?8 DE@AA65 5C:G6CD :?4C62D65 H:E9 52J=:89E G:D:3:=:EJ[ H9:=6 E96 AC@A@CE:@?2= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 @=56C q=24< H@>6? 564C62D65]k^Am
kAm%96 6DE:>2E65 >28?:EF56 @7 E9:D H:E9:?\C246 5:DA2C:EJ H2D 4@>A2C23=6 E@ 6DE:>2E6D 4@>>@?=J C6A@CE65 :? DEF5:6D 4@>A2C:?8 DE@AD @7 q=24< G6CDFD H9:E6 >@E@C:DED]k^Am
kAm%@86E96C[ @FC EH@ DEF5:6D C6G62= E92E F?72:C 5:776C6?46D :? A@=:46 D4CFE:?J H:E9:? E96 q=24< A@AF=2E:@? 42? 36 2D =2C86 2D[ @C =2C86C E92?[ 5:DA2C:E:6D 56E64E65 E9C@F89 4@?G6?E:@?2= q=24<\H9:E6 4@>A2C:D@?D]k^Am
kAmq6J@?5 :?G6DE:82E:?8 E96 6IE6?E E@ H9:49 E96 A@=:46 AF== @G6C 2 8C62E6C BF2?E:EJ @7 q=24< 5C:G6CD E92? H9:E6 5C:G6CD[ @FC C6D62C49 A@:?ED E@ E96 ?665 7@C A@=:46 244@F?E23:=:EJ 25G@42E6D E@ 2D< 255:E:@?2= BF6DE:@?D 23@FE A2DD6?86CD 2?5 :?EC2C24:2= 5:DA2C:E:6D]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ H96? A@=:4:?8 :? G:CEF2==J 2==\q=24< 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 2C6 D@>6 @77:46CD >@C6 3=:?5 E@ 2 5C:G6C’D 286 2?5 86?56C E92? @E96CDn {:<6H:D6[ 2C6 46CE2:? @77:46CD >@C6 =:<6=J E@ AF== @G6C J@F?8 q=24< >6? H96? E96J 2C6 D66? EC2G6=:?8 :? 8C@FADnk^Am
kAm$F49 BF6DE:@?D 42== 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 :562 E92E 72:C?6DD H:E9:? 4@>>F?:E:6D :D ;FDE 2D :>A@CE2?E 2D 72:C?6DD 36EH66? E96>]k^Am
kAmk6>m#625 >@C6 @7 @FC DE@C:6D 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD^A9:=256=A9:2\A6??DJ=G2?:2\?6HDQm!9:=256=A9:2 2?5 !6??DJ=G2?:2k^2m[ @C D:8? FA 7@C @FC !9:=256=A9:2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E4A9:==J]DF3DE24<]4@>^Qm?6HD=6EE6C @? $F3DE24<k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^=2?46\92??@?\`ac`ebhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQm{2?46 w2??@?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^G:==2?@G2\F?:G6CD:EJ\`edfnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQm':==2?@G2 &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2?\2:\>@56=D\72=D6\E:A\E@\A9:=256=A9:2\A@=:46\C6G62=D\9@H\5:8:E2=\286?ED\42?\5@\2D\E96JC6\E@=5\2?5\DE:==\42FD6\EC@F3=6\ahcaagnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQmp? px >@56=’D 72=D6 E:A E@ !9:=256=A9:2 A@=:46 C6G62=D 9@H 5:8:E2= 286?ED 42? 5@ 2D E96J’C6 E@=5 2?5 DE:== 42FD6 EC@F3=6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\E96\5@;\:D\:?G6DE:82E:?8\A9:=256=A9:2\27E6C\A@=:46\DEC:AA65\8F?\A6C>:ED\7C@>\3=24<\A2?E96CD\:?DA:C65\8C@FA\agdefcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQm(9J E96 s~y :D :?G6DE:82E:?8 !9:=256=A9:2 27E6C A@=:46 DEC:AA65 8F? A6C>:ED 7C@> q=24< !2?E96CD‑:?DA:C65 8C@FAk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^=6DD@?D\7C@>\DE@A\2?5\7C:D<\42?\96=A\A9:==J\A@=:46\FD6\5C@?6D\E@\:>AC@G6\D276EJ\H:E9@FE\4@>AC@>:D:?8\4:G:=\=:36CE:6D\acbeg`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahdfbdQm{6DD@?D 7C@> ‘DE@A 2?5 7C:D<’ 42? 96=A !9:==J A@=:46 FD6 5C@?6D E@ :>AC@G6 D276EJ H:E9@FE 4@>AC@>:D:?8 4:G:= =:36CE:6Dk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m{2?46 w2??@? 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahdfbd^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.