I’m a woman with fair skin. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to live in several countries around the world, mostly free of conflict. But in one country I felt targeted by the police because of my gender and skin color.
The first time I drove my car in that country, within minutes I was pulled over and told to pay what the police officer called a “fine” (it seemed more like a bribe to me) or be taken to jail. I knew I hadn’t broken any law, but because I had my small children with me, I paid and went on.
The same thing happened the next two times I drove, and yet when I was with my husband or someone who lived in that country, there was never a problem.
