Druinte Encounter With Race on Earth
The following is a sample exam from the planet Druont administered to prospective candidates for travel to the planet Earth. There has been limited contact between the planet Druont and the planet Earth, but in order to prepare for the possibility of contact with Earthlings living in the USA, Druintes are required to demonstrate an understanding of its complex racial politics because they would appear to be African Americans to most inhabitants of the country. Candidates are asked to provide a reasonable essay response from the perspective of an African American and they are given the choice of answering as a person of poverty, middle income, or wealth, with liberal or conservative political leanings. There are correct responses for each option based on detailed analysis of human interaction, though the answer key has yet to be properly translated.
Sample Exam:
There is a man, Andrew, who was born in a town, Charlotte, in the US. One day Andrew wakes up for work, he did not sleep well and in his restlessness he found himself binge watching tv shows, and while he is driving to work, he is pulled over by police because he runs a red light; from his perspective, he sped through just before red while it was still yellow. The police officer who stops him, Theodore, asks him for standard documentation. Andrew is annoyed, he is going on very little sleep and he believed that he had beat the stop light, so he complies with Theodore’s request while broadcasting his annoyance. Theodore tries to calm Andrew and goes to his car to do his job, checking info and writing a ticket, and when Theodore reaches his car, he notices that Andrew is now out of his car standing next to his open door. Andrew is mad, he feels everything about the stop is unjustified and he thought Theodore rude for not listening to his complaints before walking back to his car. Theodore is alarmed; from his point of view, one of Andrew’s arms is obstructed by the door and later he would say in his report that it looked as if Andrew was reaching for something while he yelled. Theodore draws his weapon, feeling justified in the action because during a routine traffic stop, a person should follow the officer’s instructions and not leave their vehicle unless instructed to do so and Theodore can’t be sure if Andrew is reaching for a weapon based on his posture. Andrew is alarmed at the sight of Theodore’s weapon but it only makes him more upset and he says it; how dare this officer pull a gun when I haven’t done anything violent. It would later be revealed that Andrew had no weapon. Theodore yells instructions for Andrew to put his hands up, Andrew complies, but Andrew also approaches the officer, still angry, still yelling because the encounter seems to have escalated from nothing because the officer was being unreasonable. Theodore tells Andrew to stop and to get on the ground and Andrew does stop, gets on his knees. Theodore moves in to restrain Andrew, there is a struggle, shots fire, and Andrew dies in the street.
Based on the details of this story and the actions of the players, please answer the following questions in a comprehensive essay:
1. What tv show was Andrew binge watching the night before the incident?
2. How much money does Andrew have on his person?
3. If Andrew had experienced a restful night sleep the night before, would his actions toward Theodore be different?
4. Are Andrew and Theodore the same race?
5. If Andrew is a white man, what is the appropriate response from members of his community (regardless of their race) in reaction to his death?
6. If Theodore is a black man, does the black community have a responsibility to defend his actions in the event of community outrage in response to the incident?
7. If Andrew is of Chinese descent, do members of the black community who protest similar incidences involving black victims have an obligation to protest in response to this incident?
8. If Andrew is Albino, is his heritage or race relevant to a discussion of these events?
9. Does Theodore have any other weapon aside from a firearm on his person?
10. Is Theodore taller or shorter than Andrew?
11. If Andrew is taller and more physically imposing than Theodore, is Theodore justified in the use of his firearm?
12. Is Andrew an unreasonable and unruly human being whose actions warranted his treatment?
13. Is Theodore a jumpy and sensitive human being who is unable to handle the rigors of his chosen profession?
14. Whose interpretation of the events that transpired is more important to an understanding of the situation in regards to criminal prosecution related to Andrew’s death?
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