Danny Glover Was Telling The Truth! I Can't Catch A Cab!

Now that I am a new yorker I have come to face a hard reality as a young (black) man in NYC.  I can't catch a cab to save my life!  Since I have been here, cabbies question me on where I am going before they let me in the cab, which is illegal.  If I don't give the right answer or looked puzzled why I am being asked an illegal question they speed off before I can hop in!

Let's not even get started on trying to catch one at night.  If I am on a corner, I can be there for 10-15 minutes easy as cab after cab drives by.  I was told by a friend they probably think I am going to Harlem.  Granted I live on the upper east side but that is cold of a theory to have.  Then to make matters worst I always see white females taking my cab!  They probably figure a lesser threat.  Look at my photo, do I look threatening!

I even had a cab driver lock the doors in times square on me so I couldn't get into the cab.  What is the world coming to!  I mean most of these drivers would be insulted if I were to assume they were terrorist, or Muslim extremist, but then I guess when they see a black guy in a suit in midtown at 8:00 PM with his wife I am a terrorist as well.  Go figure!  Welcome to America!

I am contemplating seeing I can partner with a network or TV show and do an undercover investigation on cab driver discrimination. My daily life would be enough for a few documentaries.  Soon as I figure out how to get a video camera and these guys on tape it's on!  At the very least it could very good youtube.com material.

Well enough of the angry social activist.... some things just take a while to change..

Comments

[Renee]

I would love to see you do the undercover camera thing with those cabbies! I think it's a fabulous idea, so go for it! Getting a private driver is a good idea, but if you do that, please still do the investigation. I think it would promote change.

[Theophilus]

LOL, didn't think about that one, you gave someone a job, cool. I don't trust many peoples driving skills, I guess it's a control issue, haha.

[Ephren Taylor]

Some good ideas. I did hire a private driver though. Sometime you gotta make a move. Once I learn the city more, I may have one of my vehicles shipped in, but until then who knows. NYC is starting to grow on me!

[Chris Flores]

Ah my city. Can't wait to get back there soon now that college is over.

I love my city.

You will too.

And you'll hate it. New York City is the girl you can't live with or without her once you've let her in your heart.

Hey hey. Try this. Go to a trendy upscale clothing store, like, where shirts are hundreds of dollars ... Try going there dressed in Target clothing.

And here's a goody for fighting back at racist cabbies. Get the car numbers of the guys that pick you up ... and reward them. Better still, get their numbers and have them on call (side job) if you get picked up at regular locations.

Encourage your closest cab patrons to do th same. Maybe the trend will catch on and people will start picking their cab drivers! Kind of a 180 but we discriminate for good service!

[Theophilus "Chip" Caviness]

I got an idea, take it to the tyra show, they might do it, lol. I don't watch her show, but I know they do that type of stuff, and they're right there in New York.

[Clemente Grimes]

Millionaire or not! wrong is wrong! Black cab drivers do the same thing in every major city.

[Tim Wilson]

WOW!!!! dont they know you a MILLIONAIRE??? lol as much as we have progressed in life you would think by now we are passed that ignorance... but i guess the fight will always continue..

[Theophilus]

Dang, it sounds like it really sucks there, lol. I never had to try to catch a cab, when I was there I had my car, and that seemed worse than walking. The people acted like I wasn't in a vehicle, lol. I remember just sit at the light waiting for them to finish crossing and screaming in my head "THE LIGHT IS GREEN FOR ME, MOVE OUT THE WAY!!"

There are tons of actors there, I met Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Winton Marcellus, and this white guy, lol, it’s a shame I forget to white guys name, but I remember that he played the president in Air Force One, at least I think that is the movie.

As far as the racism, it seems to be spreading. It isn't just racial conflict, it's just hate. Everybody seems to hate or just not care about other people. Selfishness is the only way to be for tons of Americans. Everybody feels like they are the only ones experiencing a hard time. You have the older people not even caring about the youth. Then that leaves the young people thinking they know what's right for themselves, and it just keeps getting worse.

Lastly, DUDE, THERE ARE SOME FRIGGIN COOL SPYCAMS!! lol, just thought I'd throw that in there. Trust me, I still have to get mine. I had a catalog of them, and I was going to use them for our Talk Show I Direct here, but I've been sidetracked.

[Ben-Oni Jean-Pierre]

I totally agree with you! Although racism has died out a little, however it has broadened out to all races. Now making stereotypes tell us who we are. Because cab drivers are rarely white anymore. It’s sad that your wearing a suit that probably cost more then what the cab driver is making weekly and you still are questioned to where you going due to your skin color.
But this is where I get mad at mine own race, because we do have black people out there that is messing it up for us, and it goes the same way for every race. Because we all know if a monkey slaps you once, the next time you see a monkey whether it’s across the world or it’s totally different looking we are going to take great precautions.
Anyways! If I were a cab driver I would give you a ride to any destination!
We’ll beat this out someway somehow… but let’s not let it be the barrier to our success!

[natural]

did you expect anything else. racism is not new and yeah, welcome to new york. i'm never surprised, i expect it...try taking the subway.

just wait until you go into a department store. you will have two security guards following you to make sure you are "safe".

sorry E.