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Sherelle and I,
a typical high school story.
Content Warning: Suicide, Bullying, Racism, Drugs
Daniel Bailey
70.1K posts
Daniel Bailey
@DanielLBailey
Director/Dramaturg | Next Up: #LAD | Chair of Judges @AlfredFagonAwrd | Director Rep: @casarottoramsay
#LFC #YNWA
- I drove my friend to a bank, and after she came out I dropped her down the road and drove through Streatham. I'm hyper vigilant for a number of reasons, one reason- being a black yute in this here England. I looked in my rear-view mirror and noticed a car moving extremely erratic
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyThe irony was lost like lives in The Troubles.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyI had just turned my car around because my friend went in the bank, I was going to be late to my job so I wanted a head start when she came out. I dropped her off and not home because I was late for my job as a YOUTH WORKER, working with Y/P "at risk" of prison or road politics.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyWhat snapped me out of it was a Rasta man and a black woman who were shouting "Police brutality" and "Leave him alone" "Take him of the floor" and that's where my dignity was, on the floor, where those boots trod... They said the car I was driving had a tag, that it was involved
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyOne officer shouting at me, shouting for me to turn the engine off. For me to "Get out the car, get out the fucking car before I smash your windows." By now the whole of tooting Broadway had stopped, everyone SO still, it was like they were playing Grandma's footsteps.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyMy insides told me to run on instinct, my insides told me to fight on instinct, to resist on instinct. You don't know what you'll do to survive in a moment as hyper-taut tense as that. But rationale came to rescue me, I got pulled out of the car.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyAt that point, I knew it was undercover police, I slowed down, ready to pull over. I had a hunch, a feeling, an experience, or two. That car jumped in front of mine and 4 other police cars with at least 3-4 firearm police who hopped out. Surrounded me, guns pointed.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyThe car was jumping queues, they were at least 6/7 cars behind me but I clocked it. I was in south though, so it wasn't usual. 🤣🤣🤣 When the erratic moving car had been two cars behind me, I saw it was a white guy in the passengers leaning out the window, shouting at drivers.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyI was told to lay down on the ground, in the middle of the road. Guns drawn, I felt like I was having an outer body experience, me watching Daniel. I thought: "My guy, I beg you listen to them, we've seen this far too many times, you know the horror of it, the tragedy of it all."
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyIn some madness many moons ago. I asked them who was on the logbook and they said, I was. I couldn't even muster the words to question them further, I just counted about 16 officers... all for me. They said I moved suspiciously when the secure van left the bank.
- Replying to @DanielLBaileyWith dirt on my face and cars beeping, it all felt so surreal. As I was pulled up and dragged outside an estate agents, I heard words from the officers as they searched the car. They were talking but I was on another planet, thinking the darkest of thoughts - Our Black Horizon.
- When I see deodorant adverts for 72hr protection I truly wonder who isn't planning on washing their armpits for 3 days??? 🤔