‘We ain’t taking no N****’: Kenyan in US racism row
Shocking footage has emerged showing moment a Kenyan family in Kentucky, America was denied help by a white fireman after being involved in an accident because they were black.
In an incident that exposes the extent of racial profiling in America, Southeast Bullitt Fire Chief Julius Hatfield was caught on camera almost begging to assist a white family that was also involved in the accident while profiling the Kenyans.
Mr Chege Mwangi was driving in the company of his wife and two children when the minor accident occurred in September.
In a video recording obtained by WDRB News, Mr Mwangi is heard telling Mr Hatfield, the fire chief: “We don’t have Triple A (insurance that covers roadside assistance insurance).”
But in a case of pure profiling based on skin colour, the fireman responds: “No Triple A? Okay…Who is driving?”
“Me,” Mwangi replied.
SAME TREATMENT
“I need your driver’s license, proof of insurance and the registration on the car,” the fireman said.
“I have…I have…this is my proof of insurance,” Mwangi said.
Mwangi told WDRB News he did not get the same treatment from the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department.
The irony is that minutes before speaking to Mr Mwangi, Mr Hatfield had almost begged to help Loren Dicken, who is white and whose pickup truck was also involved in the crash.
Mr Hatfield is heard saying: “Well, I’ve got a family of four from Cincinnati, I got to do something with.”
He went on: “We ain’t taking no (n-word) here (in reference to the Kenyan family).” Then he bursts into laughter.
He then offers to help the white family.
“You got a jack, ain’t you?” Hatfield asks Dicken.
“If you show me where them things is at (sic), I’ll get my guys to start changing the tyre for you.”
“That’s alright,” Dicken said. ”It will save you a bill,” Hatfield nearly begged.
IGNORING FAMILY
Dicken was taken to the hospital and discharged. Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department, firefighters picked him up and took him to the firehouse where his car was waiting for him.
Mr Mwangi told WDRB News he noticed fire-fighters helping Dicken, while ignoring his family.
But he added he did not think anything was amiss because his family had not been injured and was not in need of help.
It was not clear whether Mr Mwangi still holds Kenyan or American citizenship.
Parts of America are currently witnessing violent riots due to a racism row following a grand jury verdict Tuesday not to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer who was accused of killing Michael Brown, a 18-year-old black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri on 9 August.