The first rule about a black woman’s hair is you don’t talk about a black woman’s hair. And the second rule is you don’t ever touch a black woman’s hair without getting written permission first.

If you find yourself talking to the police, my advice is to stay calm but look guilty; it's your safest bet.

You know, your species [humans] has the most amazing capacity for self-deception, matched only by its ingenuity in trying to destroy itself.

It's a police mantra that all members of the public are guilty of something, but some members of the public are more guilty than others.

Not being invited in is one of the boxes on the “suspicious behavior” bingo form that every copper carries around in their head along with “stupidly overpowerful dog” and being too quick to supply an alibi. Fill all the boxes and you too could win an all-­expenses-paid visit to your local police station.

The study of the victim is called victimology because everything sounds better with and ology tacked on the end.

Somebody doesn't know they're not in Kansas anymore,' said Stephanopoulos.