Walking While Black

Garnette Cadogan is a writer who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. When he moved to New York City, he was looking forward to taking long rambles, getting to know his new home. 

But the anticipation soon turned to apprehension — and to fear.

On one occasion, as he was running to meet some friends, he was punched by a white man who feared he was a mugger. On another occasion, he was thrown against a police car, handcuffed and questioned at gunpoint by police. There had been an assault nearby and Garnette, like the suspect, is black.

Garnette Cadogan reads an excerpt from his essay, "Walking While Black."

Some days, when I am fed up with being considered a troublemaker upon sight, I joke that the last time a cop was happy to see a black male walking was when that male was a baby taking his first steps. On many walks, I ask white friends to accompany me, just to avoid being treated like a threat.- Garnette Cadogan

Click the button above to hear Garnette Cadogan's essay.