‘We don’t have the benefit of doubt’: the fear of driving while Black

Many Americans associate driving with freedom, but recent tragedies - including the killing of Daunte Wright mean Black families must remain hyper aware

When Lewis Holloway first obtained his driver's license at 17, the San Diego native remembers feeling ecstatic. He was already promised his mother's car upon getting his learner's permit a year earlier, adding to the anticipation. It was an exciting feeling, being able to finally drive legally without getting in trouble," Holloway says.

Now 28, Holloway's excitement is waning, and getting in trouble feels out of his control. While many Americans associate driving a car with freedom and autonomy, recent tragedies - including the killing of Daunte Wright, who was stopped by police for an expired license plate - suggest that's not true for Black Americans.