Rodney King & Driving While Black

Rodney King had led the police on a high speed chase through Los Angeles. Eventually the police got him to stop, and after he exited the car, he was savagely beaten by four officers. The entire country saw that video and the pictures of King’s bruised body. But King’s beating did not create the fear. Most of us had our own stories, which might not have been as dramatic, but which still left lasting impressions. Driving while Black was not a problem that we imagined.

By my junior year, then, I was wary. To prevent any…