re: Half-Moon plans to solve social inequality in New Orleans

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About 5 or 6 years ago, I had to go down to City Hall. I wound up walking down two hallways on two floor. In total, I saw 50-60 people.

Let's just say, I felt like the proverbial turd in the punch bowl as I was the only white person I saw that day in the building.

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Anytime I've gotten a traffic ticket I've always just paid it ahead of time and avoided going to court (white privilege I guess ).

Except one time about 8-9 years ago I decided to just go down there and see if I couldn't calmly and professionally discuss the situation with the prosecutor. Boy was that an experience. I get that it is only traffic Court and that not everyone owns or can afford a suit (I was in one), but I think that everyone should still make an effort to look presentable no matter what your ethnicity - especially if you're going to attempt to negotiate with a lawyer/judge that can decide your fate.

That was the first time that I saw a cross dresser in a professional setting. Several people actually had their incorrigible children with them. A number of them looked like they hadn't showered recently and were wearing dirty clothes. They were all, every single one, of a particular ethnic group (I'm sure you can guess which one).

Until then I had always viewed the courthouse as a place with an aura of prestige, of high decorum and of reverence. I was obviously in the minority with that opinion.

What kind of mentality does it take to show up before a government official like a prosecutor or a judge and display zero respect for the office? What level of entitlement do you have to feel you're owed to show up to court after you've broken the law and present the attitude that they are the ones with the problem?



Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story: I said "sir/ma'am" to everyone I encountered. I presented myslef in a calm and dignified manner. I respected the authority of the judiciary. ... The A.D.A. said "why don't you just have a nice weekend sir," and let me walk out without so much as a chiding.