Differences matter

In September of 2019, I ran yet another 5K race. I can't say that I like running but I do like the health benefits that I get as a result of it. 

This race was in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. If you've ever been to OKC you know that this is a really tony neighborhood. Houses can run into the several million of dollars. I've chronicled in this blog before the dearth of African Americans at road races but this race was unique. I was the only black person for miles. No spectators. No runners. No volunteers. Nothing. I was struck that I was there by myself. Sure, there were a few hundred other people around but they noticed me as much as I noticed me. I REALLY stood out. I might have been surrounded by people but I was alone.

However, what stood out to me was that before the race and then again after there was this group of kids ranging in ages from 4 to 9 who were playing in a police car. I was simply dumbfounded. They would climb in and out of the windows. They went through the drivers door and found their way into every inch of the car. They were on the hood and up by the lights. What was the policeman doing? Simply standing off to the side talking to a friend while these kids played in the car like it was a bounce-house. No admonishments to be careful or not to fool with the radio or siren. The children were fearless around the police and the police car.

I went back to my car to get my phone so that I could take a video of this. For someone like me, it can't be believed that this could happen. I got back too late and the next race was starting so the car moved up to direct traffic. 

A few days later an email came with links to photos. Click here to see me getting going. Click here and here to see children playing on a police vehicle brought to the event to be played on and enjoyed. Click here to see a child playing in the car that I was mentioning that was in active use by a police officer although by this point, the other children weren't there. 

I talked to a few of my friends of color about what I saw. Some said that they believed it was possible but not a one had ever witnessed such an event. One friend said that even if he were there that he'd never allow his young black son to play in the back of a police car. No need in ever getting too comfortable with the idea of being in a police car. Another friend wondered could this same occurrence happen in a predominantly black neighborhood. She wondered would words like "curious" and "fearless" have been replaced with "wild" and "out of control."One of my white friends seems puzzled that I was puzzled. Why should children fear the police or a police car? The only way to break down barriers is through positive interaction. Like I titled this post, difference do matter. It's been a while since I saw it and I'm still not sure how to process it all.

Got a idea on what I saw? Send me an email about this or anything else on this blog at garyhoover2012 [at] gmail.com.