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A bit off topic, but an important opportunity to see how we can all stand up to racial profiling when we see it happening to someone. 

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A bit off topic, but an important opportunity to see how we can all stand up to racial profiling when we see it happening to someone. 

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http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/when-racial-targeting-happened-to-me

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As the adage goes, actions speak louder than words. I was reminded of this after being racially targeted during a business trip to Los Angeles this week.* The incident happened after returning my rental car and boarding the company's shuttle service to the terminal. I was second in the line of more than 30 other customers who had been waiting for nearly a half hour for the shuttle to arrive. As is customary, the driver began to ask us of our terminal destinations, but when he got to me he demanded a 'pass' or receipt to prove that I was actually a Thrifty Car Rental customer. I had neither as I was instructed to 'leave the keys in the car' and proceed to the shuttle. The driver proceeded to order me off the van. I refused pointing out that it would be fairly illogical for someone to wait for the inconvenience of a late shuttle to get a free ride to the airport.

Yet he persisted. This exchange included threats that I would be 'taken care of' by airport security. When I pointed out that I was a ticketed passenger as well as a paying customer he insisted that I remove myself from the van. It was at this point that I noticed I was the only person of color-more precisely-I was the only African-American woman on the van. The white woman next me to noticed as well and after an excruciating five minutes of the driver's harassment she spoke up. "Why are you singling her out?". Precisely.

Why did he single me out and why did he feel emboldened to threaten me in such a manner in a van packed full of customers who had already been inconvenienced by his late arrival. His harassment and targeting of me only added further delay to all of our schedules. Why were my fellow passengers silent for so long? Did their silence embolden the driver?

As if the humiliation, shock and anger of the incident were not enough, when I finally arrived at the terminal it was too late for me to check a bag for my flight and I was forced to rebook. So in addition to the indignity already endured by the incident, I now had to pay $322 in additional fees to rebook and guarantee a seat on the last flight to get to the next destination on my business trip. I was not going to make that evening's business dinner.

It is ironic that this should happen to me. I run a national collaborative that is aimed at addressing and preventing adverse childhood experiences in the context of adverse community environments. We call it building community resilience-where communities are supported across systems to address deeply rooted adversities, including racism, the lack of affordable housing and the associated effects of poverty. The compounding effects of limited economic mobility and adverse childhood experiences such as violence and neglect without supportive buffers within community systems can be devastating for individuals and families.

Imagine if this had happened to someone who was barely making ends meet and would miss a shift at work because of this driver's action. What if they didn't have an open line of credit that afforded them the ability to cover the unexpected expense of rebooking fees? This is an example of the hidden but very real cost of racism and discrimination. A toll that is both emotional and financial and leads to disenfranchisement. The persistent nature of this stress as a result of these constant exposures without supportive buffers is what we have come to define as toxic stress.

Luckily for me I have buffers. My buffers include the ability to readily cover the unexpected airline fees and airport meal that I was forced to purchase as a result of the delay. I was also able to pay for internet access so that I could continue working during my eight-hour delay while waiting for my flight. That evening I was able to check into my hotel and get a good night's rest. Despite missing a work-related dinner, I am not in danger of losing my job. I have buffers and supports. But this is not the case for a number of Americans for whom this incident could have had a devastating impact. $322 is not an insignificant amount of money for most. Missing a shift can have dire consequences. Am I angry? You bet! But because of my buffers, I feel supported. In addition, my support system empowered me to advocate for myself-such as writing this blog to share the story.

Examining what happened on that van also made me confront the fact that my fellow passengers were largely silent. Were they so frustrated with being delayed by the late shuttle that they just wanted me off the van so that they could get on their way? Were they similarly confused and perhaps even worried that they too would be asked to 'show their papers'? Or did they simply not care?

I'll never know. But I am grateful for the one passenger who did speak up. The one passenger who did provide a buffer in the moment by raising her voice. As for Thrifty Car Rental, I was given the standard lines of dismay and assurance by their customer service representative that the driver's actions would be addressed. The representative indicated they would address this immediately and refund my $322 expense. That was 36 hours ago. Like most of my fellow passengers, they too have been silent.

What happened to me is a microcosm of what is occurring in our larger society. Hatred and fear are able to manifest when we do not challenge or stand up for one another. It is easy to see wrong and shake our heads in dismay. It is far more challenging and frightening to stand up, raise your voice and defend those who are being marginalized.

As another adage indicates, "What goes around comes around". You never know when the target may become you or someone you love. Let's hope that you too will have at least one brave voice that will speak up for you. Let's hope that you too will have buffers.

We make this a resilient nation by speaking up for our fellow passengers in life. This much we can do.

*This incident occurred on April 17, 2017. This blog was first published on LinkedIn on April 20, 2017. After a series of tweets from the author and various supporters, calls to executives at parent company Hertz as well as outreach to the California Attorney General's office, Thrifty issued a full refund for rental and airline fees.

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As the adage goes, actions speak louder than words. I was reminded of this after being racially targeted during a business trip to Los Angeles this week.* The incident happened after returning my rental car and boarding the company's shuttle service to the terminal.