That time I was pulled over in South Carolina. #DrivingWhileBlack A thread:

I was leaving for work once day when I noticed that my car tag expired. I don’t know why I don’t notice it earlier. I’m usually on top of these things. If I knew I needed to get it handled and quickly. I decided to do it the next day. A Friday. 1)

2) That Friday, I got an alert that my debit card was compromised. I had no access to my money & I couldn’t pay for tag renewal. I had just cut up my credit cards so I couldn’t charge it, either. Now I’m in a panic. I’m driving on an expired tag in the south. #DrivingWhileBlack

Now for context: the big story in SC at the time was a trooper who shot an unarmed black man he’d pulled over after TELLING HIM TO GET HIS LICENSE. Here is the video. #DrivingWhileBlack

With that in the back of my mind, I decided to act quickly and get this resolved. Again, my tag was expired and I had no access to my money. And police are well within their rights to pull you over for an expired tag. #DrivingWhileBlack

I called my good friend @TVSandra , a producer for the station where I was working. Told her I needed cash and why. She told me to meet her at her bank within an hour. #DrivingWhileBlack

I raced over to the tax department, renewed my tag and got my updated sticker. I didn’t even wait until I got home to put it on. I did it in the parking lot right then and there. #DrivingWhileBlack

The following week, I was assigned to cover unrest in Charlotte where police fatally shot a black man. On the way, I decided to stop by @TVSandra to return the cash she loaned me. Sandra lives in Greer, SC. #DrivingWhileBlack

As I’m leaving her house, I’m pulled over by an officer. Said I was going 25 in a 20. Seriously. I quickly toss my wallet on the dashboard, roll down my window and put my hands on the wheel as he approaches my car with his hand on his gun. #DrivingWhileBlack

Officer: “I need your license, proof of insurance and registration.”
Me: “Proof of insurance and registration is in my visor.”
Officer: “Where is your license?”
Me, nodding toward the dashboard: “It’s over there.”
Officer: “Can you get it?”
Me: “Can I?”
#DrivingWhileBlack

Officer nods his approval. I slooooooowly reach over to get my wallet while keeping my eyes on him and his gun. I slowly hand over the license and he walks back to his car. Minutes later he returns with a ticket. I wait until he leaves and then I leave. #DrivingWhileBlack

I call Sandra on my way to work and tell her what happens. She’s not surprised. I wonder what would have happened if my tag was expired. Would that have escalated into a horrible confrontation?These are the worst case scenarios black people envision. #DrivingWhileBlack

The next week, I told that story to some of my colleagues about my panic over the expired tag. A young White female colleague, told me she drove on an expired tag for almost a year and was pulled over twice with just a warning. #DrivingWhileBlack

When I told them about my encounter with police the previous weekend, she was shocked. She said she never thought her life could be at risk over a traffic stop. I told her I run through worst case scenarios everyday and that’s a way of life for Black people. #DrivingWhileBlack

Another colleague, a white anchorwoman, cried, said she was so sorry and that no one should have to live like that. I told her I agreed. #DrivingWhileBlack

So when we see situations like this, we know it’s not an aberration and that this is the standard for folks who look like me in this country. Just think about the depths where there are no bodycams and where acts like this go unreported. #DrivingWhileBlack https://twitter.com/JulianCastro/status/1380730817459187715

This is getting old. It’s exhausting and dehumanizing. And it needs to stop. #DrivingWhileBlack

End of thread