An encounter between Atlanta police and a rapper shows money won’t subvert racial profiling.

Sam Benson, the artist who goes by the name “Blac Youngsta,” withdrew $200,000 from an Atlanta Wells Fargo bank on Friday to buy a car, and was detained by officers waiting for him outside, NBC News reported.

“They come bum rushing me at the the car, put me on the ground, putting guns to my head, so I’m like ‘What I’d do,’” he said. “A lady was like I’m not supposed to have…$200,000 on me. I’m like, ‘I’m a millionaire. How can I not have $200,000 on me?”

The police reported it was a classic case of mistaken identity. According to CNN, officers had been notified of someone cashing forged checks at the same bank where Youngsta happened to have been making his withdrawal. However, it was later noted that the person who made the report gave an incorrect description to police.

Youngsta and his friends took to social media to bring attention to the situation.

According to Youngsta, police apologized, returning the $100,000 they initially took from the rapper.

In the face of old-fashioned racism, the only thing Youngsta let it change about him was his car choice. Originally planning to by a Mayback, Youngsta may be the new owner of a Ferrari.

Photo credit: Blac Youngsta Facebook

Author

  • Victoria M. Massie is a freelance writer and anthropologist who is currently the Staff Writer for Black Youth Project. Her work focuses on feminism, politics, science, and diaspora, but, more often than not, she spends her time obsessing about ideas of "home." She is a National Science Foundation fellow and a Lifetime Member of the West African Research Association.