Flying While Black

[Perknose]

Even if you're in the Denver Broncos Hall of Fame

Broncos Hall of Famer Terrell Davis ‘humiliated’ after detainment on United flight​

"According to Davis, who published a lengthy statement on Instagram, the incident occurred on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County, Calif. As he was sitting with his wife and three children, Davis said his son’s request for a cup of ice was either missed or ignored by a flight attendant. Davis “lightly tapped” on the attendant’s arm to get his attention, he said.

The flight attendant then shouted, “don’t hit me,” Davis said, before hurriedly exiting the area, leaving Davis, his family and the surrounding passengers confused.

“As we landed in Orange County, the pilot asked all passengers to remain seated, six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane,” Davis said. “The FBI agents and local authorities proceeded directly to my seat and immediately placed me in handcuffs, while seated and without any explanation, in front of my wife and children while the entire flight of passengers watched in silence.

In a statement, United said the flight attendant has been removed from duty while the case is being reviewed."

 

[Greenman]

There almost has to be video of this.

 

[allisolm]

I read that earlier today and it seemed like the airline and the law enforcement couldn't back pedal fast enough when they got the actual facts. Pity they couldn't have done that before the handcuffs in front of his children and all.

 

[Indus]

Actual facts only came out because he's a hall of famer.

In another situation the flight attendant is always right.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I read that earlier today and it seemed like the airline and the law enforcement couldn't back pedal fast enough when they got the actual facts found out he was famous. Pity they couldn't have done that before the handcuffs in front of his children and all.

FTFY

 

[ch33zw1z]

There almost has to be video of this.

Oh? What will that prove for you?

 

[dank69]

Oh? What will that prove for you?

Everything if it confirms what he feels is right, nothing if it suggests the opposite.

 

[Indus]

I try really hard to not fly domestic airlines.

There's a world of difference between how you're treated on international carriers and our domestic ones.

I've flown quite a bit (easily 100+ flights) but once on Korean Air.. the food didn't sit right with me. We were about to land and I had to run to the bathroom.. the Flight Attendant looked concerned and followed me but once she knew it was me just going to the bathroom, she relaxed.

No security was called and we landed uneventfully.

 

[brycejones]

There almost has to be video of this.

Are you sure we don't need a full trial to determine anything? We'll only know for sure after the SCOTUS appeals are done right?

 

[HomerJS]

Clearly the OP is racist for even discussing this incident.

IMO - Par for the course in the United States 2024.

 

[eelw]

Watching interview with him. Well it was a male flight attendant. So guess he got intimidated with a gentle 2 finger tap on his shoulder by this huge black man. But luckily guy in row in front confirmed what actually happen.

 

[HomerJS]

Watching interview with him. Well it was a male flight attendant. So guess he got intimidated with a gentle 2 finger tap on his shoulder by this huge black man. But luckily guy in row in front confirmed what actually happen.

Bet we needed a white person to confirm TDs story. Could be wrong but doubt it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Bet we needed a white person to confirm TDs story. Could be wrong but doubt it.

Two things: In a world where White people are considered the base line for truthful integrity, individual by individual deservedly or not, it sounds like from the thread I just read, that there was one White person at least who spoke truthfully of what he or she saw. In my opinion, at least, that's not nothing.

In a world full of multiple forms of fear of the truth, any truth telling White person will become well versed in what it's like to be discriminated against.

Just saying. I am well aware that I personally, as a person lacking color, can never fully experience the life long painful effects of racial bigotry.

Months ago I went with my Nephew who is Indian to an Indian restaurant and commented to him something I noticed about the waiter who was also from India as I assumed by his accent. I mentioned in passing that I saw in the manner I was treated as an ignorant White person as to what the items on the menu were, and the level of service in general, that the waiter was in possession of something rather indefinable I shall call here as 'personal character'. My Nephew said something interesting. He said that I would always be treated by people of color all over the world with a certain deference owing to the fact that people everywhere have been exposed to the prejudice that White people are superior and have internalized that prejudice. They will always see White people that way as they have internalized that prejudice and actually feel inferior and that it will continue that way until people of color deal with that fact.

What do you think? Personally what I felt I saw in that waiter was genuine self respect projected onto me. I did not sense any form of psychological deference to my whiteness but rather an inner state of gratitude and empathy for others based on his own inner self respect. That is what I think I saw. I feel I know a lot about what self hate looks like.

Self hate is the result of internalizing having been put down. Bigotry is an attempt to avoid self awareness on ones own feelings of worthlessness left by such exposure onto some target that does not threaten self awareness. It is transmitted by exposure. The belief that one thing is better than another is a fundamental form of discrimination created by thought and imagination. Discrimination requires training, training nobody needs.