BY JIBRIL TURE

The African Magazine: “Why, and why now?”

Dakarai Larriett:

“I chose to run because Alabama deserves leadership that listens. Last year, I experienced something that made it clear just how broken some parts of our system are—and how urgently we need change.”

What Mr. Larriett experienced is the same thing African Americans across the nation experience all the time: systemic police brutality that sometimes leads to death, two out of the thousands of best-known cases being George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Recounting his experience with emotion, Larriett, a successful businessman, said to The African, “It was a personal experience that profoundly shaped my perspective on justice in our country. I was pulled over, with no reason and no real explanation—just flashing lights and a surge of fear.”

Stopped on April 10, 2024, by two Michigan State police troopers on the false suspicion of drunken driving, Larriett went through humiliation he said he wishes on nobody. “Honestly, I’m just floored,” he told the troopers who didn’t believe him. Instead, they patted him down on the roadside in the dark, cold night in his pajamas and Ugg boots, subjected him to seven sobriety tests, then handcuffed him and took him to a hospital for a blood draw. During the ordeal, Larriett, a gay, was subjected to racial and homophobic slurs.

While booking him, the police accused him of trying to smuggle drugs in his body—which X-rays showed to be false. Instead, the suspicious “anomaly” in his stomach was only gas. Probably the most degrading of all was when he was told by a trooper to poop in front of him on a toilet in the booking station that was visible to the public, allegedly yelling, “Don’t flush!” Larriett said about the bathroom experience, “I was so nervous. I was so humiliated, I’d never seen anything like this before. This was dehumanizing.”

When it was over after six hours in jail, the honorable 41-year-old man from a good family, a former Whirlpool executive and now CEO of his own company, was vindicated, and the charges were dropped within days. He filed a $10 lawsuit against the troopers and the police department but that did not prosper.

Larriett now resides in Alabama where he was born. His appeal to the public: “I believe that no one should live in fear of those who are meant to protect them. Together, we can advocate for reforms that strengthen our justice system, ensuring it works for everyone—where every voice is heard, and every person is treated with dignity and respect.”

“I’m running not out of ambition,” the successful businessman insisted in his interview with The African, “but out of responsibility. Responsibility to make sure that families in every corner of this state are heard, protected, and given a fair shot. We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines anymore—not when so much is on the line.”

In his political manifesto, Larriett points to the following as his goals if elected to the U.S. Senate:

HEALTHCARE

Every Alabamian deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. We need to, and we can, lower prescription drug costs and protect rural hospitals—while also ensuring that honest working families aren’t one medical emergency away from financial ruin. Let’s pursue common-sense solutions that put people and patients over politics.

EDUCATION

Strong schools are the foundation of a stronger Alabama. Every child—no matter where they are—deserves access to the kind of education that prepares them to become employable, responsible members of our communities. We must support our teachers, expand our technical and job training programs, and ensure that parents have a voice in their children’s education.

SAFE COMMUNITIES

Every family deserves to feel safe in their home, and in their community. That means supporting law enforcement, giving them the resources they need to do their jobs effectively—while also fostering mutual trust and accountability. We need policies that keep criminals off the streets, while ensuring that our justice system works for everyone. To those of you familiar with my own personal experience, rest assured: It has not shaken my faith in law enforcement, or my respect for the men and women who faithfully serve and protect us all every day.

JOBS & OPPORTUNITY

Hard work should be rewarded, and Alabama should always be a place where businesses can thrive and workers get a fair shot. That means cutting red tape for small businesses, investing in our infrastructure, and bringing meaningful, high-paying jobs to our state. Let’s build an economy that benefits everyone.

2ND AMENDMENT

I support the rights of responsible gun owners, while also ensuring that we have common-sense safety measures in place to protect us all. Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, and those who pose a threat to themselves or others, is something we can all agree on.

NATIONAL SECURITY & DEFENSE

As the son of a U.S. Army Veteran, I know how important a strong military is to protecting not only America, but our very way of life. We must invest in modern defense strategies to keep our country safe, while—at the same time—ensuring that our veterans get the care, support and respect they deserve when they return home.

FAITH

Faith is a guiding light for so many of us, myself included. My upbringing in a God-centered home taught me that genuine faith unites us in a common bond, as men and women created in His image. I’ve drawn on my own faith for inspiration to serve others, with a deep sense of responsibility to demonstrating compassion and integrity in leadership. In the same way, God calls us to love our neighbors, working together toward a better future for us all.

Larriett’s dehumanizing experience at the hands of the Michigan State troopers may have ignited his decision to run for the Senate, but his passion for public service, he says in his manifesto, was ignited during his junior year as an exchange student at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dakarai Larriett’s father is a U.S. Army veteran, and his mother is a former schoolteacher. The family returned home to Alabama after the father’s service took them to Washington, California, Oklahoma, and Germany, while Dakarai was in elementary school. In the 6th grade, he enrolled at Birmingham’s WJ Christian, a magnet school for gifted students. After graduating with honors from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, he earned a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in business and economics.

This gave birth to a brilliant career that took him to New York, Texas, and Michigan. While working full-time as a Forecasting Manager for L’Oreal, managing a broad range of leading national consumer products, the thirst for education of this son of a dedicated teacher entered NYU’s MBA program in 2006 and earned his degree just three years. In no time, while still working full-time, he launched his own pet care business. “I spent my weekends driving to retail shops with my dog and building relationships with the people who sold our products,” he recalled. With the surge in demand for pet care that came with the pandemic, the company did well enough for him to quit his job in 2023.

Larriett didn’t wait for his political ambition to blossom before dedicating his time and resources to his community. A volunteer worker with the United Way, Meals On Wheels, and the Humane Society, he also leads the board representing the 60 families and businesses located in the Mercantile on Morris, a mixed-use development in downtown Birmingham. “I love my home state, and my hometown. I love our culture, our history, and our quality of life. Most of all, I love the people,” he writes in manifesto.

Asked by The African, “Where exactly do you think Alabama’s current representatives in Washington have failed Alabamians?” Larriett said: “Too often, our leaders in Washington are more focused on partisan politics than on solving the real problems people face back home. I would like to see our representatives working together to support Alabamians.” He added: “Right now, we need to be doing everything we can to support our local economy. We need representatives who fight for us—not just for their party.”

“What’s your take on President Trump’s actions so far?” we also asked him.  “I believe our country is at its best when we lead with integrity and put the American people first. I do see people’s fears across the aisle and I want to validate them” he said. “That being said, I do believe in democracy and I believe in the constitution. I am hopeful that justice will prevail. What matters most to me is making sure Alabama families have a voice, and that we move past the division and chaos toward something more productive.”

There are growing calls in the Democratic party for generational change as the party seeks to chart a path forward going into the 2026 midterm elections. Larriett’s candidacy might be a response to that burgeoning movement.

Discover an interesting side of the would-be Democratic U.S. Senator Dakarai Larriett on the show “The Hot Seat.“