A producer was arrested and detained for six hours on Friday because he seemingly fit the description of a black male bank robber.
Charles Belk, 51, had a planned a night of fun at a pre-Emmy’s party when he was stopped and arrested by police around 5:30pm in Los Angeles. He was taken to the station and detained without being allowed a phone call or given an explanation of why he was arrested.
The Harvard-educated producer spoke out on Facebook about the unfortunate incident. After missing the party and finding himself in a situation that people usually only hear about, Belk realized that being tall, black, and bald had its repercussions. He loosely resembled the suspect who was also tall, black, and bald – and the LAPD took advantage of this.
He took to his wall and wrote: “All they saw was someone fitting the description. Doesn’t matter if he’s a ‘Taye Diggs BLACK,’ a ‘LL Cool J BLACK’ or ‘a Drake BLACK. I was ‘tall,’ ‘bald’ a ‘male’ and ‘black,’ so I fit the description.”
Belk has produced many films, and helped coordinate at least four NAACP Image Awards. He received a degree in electrical engineering from University of Southern California and a MBA from Indiana University. He also completed a certificate program in Executive Leadership at Harvard. With these credentials, robbing a bank was hardly on Belk’s mind.
The LAPD has since apologized for the mishap, but have said that they were only following procedure – although it took them over six hours to view the tapes and realize that they had caught the wrong guy.
Belk isn’t the only recent instance of racial profiling. From children being held at gunpoint to celebs like Nate Parker being confronted by the police, here are some examples of what happens when you’re just going about your daily business – and happen to be black.
On August 20, actor Nate Parker was en route to Ferguson, MO to protest police treatment following the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown. He was pulled over by San Marino police on the grounds he was talking on his cell phone and live tweeted the situation.
I just got pulled over for speaking on my cell through earpiece! Officer said I didn’t have it in! #racialprofiled pic.twitter.com/lERkMzaD5t
— Nate Parker (@NateParker) August 20, 2014
Officer lied to my face. Others have shown up. I’m safe but in disbelief. Sen officer making excuses for other cop. pic.twitter.com/YNCFQgeG7m — Nate Parker (@NateParker) August 20, 2014
I received no citation for the infraction I was pulled over for. The infraction the officer made up. Who shall police the police? #epidemic
— Nate Parker (@NateParker) August 20, 2014
Kametra Barbour and her four young children were held at gunpoint on August 9 by police in Forney, Texas after being mistaken for another vehicle. The mother was handcuffed in front of her kids and police approached the children in the car with guns drawn. The policemen later apologized.
Oprah Winfrey told viewers about a case of racial discrimination during a trip to Switzerland in 2013 for her pal Tina Turner’s wedding. When Winfrey asked a Zurich store clerk to see a $38,000 Tom Ford bag behind a glass, the clerk told her “No, it’s too expensive.”
Earlier this year, Rashid Polo recorded himself being racially profiled at local store. His vine videos show white employees following him around different areas of the market.
Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker was falsely accused of shoplifting at New York City’s Milano Market in February, 2013. The actor stopped in at the deli to buy some yogurt when a store employee patted him down in front of other customers and employees.
Compiled by Aysha Lou and Michael Ward