Racial profiling did not occur simply out of choice, but Americans soon latched to the idea overwhelmed by fear. With the approach of the new century, the idea of terrorism hitched onto the back of American minds as something that only occurred in vintage war films. To their surprise, their entertainment transfigured into a life-changing grotesque horror. “In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, there was an apparent shift in the debate about racial profiling, ” (Ramirez.) the need to sacrifice their security, became prominent over their idea for protection. The building that once defied man’s expectation, soon crumbled competently onto the concrete gravel. Following the events, more attempts similar to Sept. 11 occur on domestic airlines. Evidently, the ideas of fear, pressured Americans to use their suspicions as a means of protection. On January 16, 2002, just months after the tragedy with the twin towers, Richard Colvin Reid, an Al-Qaeda member and Osama Bin Laden follower, attempted to detonate a bomb inside American Airlines Flight 63. “Because of Reid's actions, the FAA, on December 11, 2001, announced a civil aviation security warning that terrorists may try to sneak weapons onto aircraft in their shoes,”(Lerner) a new protocol announced civil aviation security to do …show more content…
“Such explosive devices have been used by other groups and suicide bombers in the Middle East.,” which defined his intentions to attempted homicide, “The lack of metal parts made the bomb virtually undetectable to airport security screening used at the time.”(Lerner) With that idea in mind, Americans relied on what they knew so far. The terrorist attacks across the century, showed consistency in their tactics. Thus building the foundation of racial profiling, and the source of American fear. Controversially as a result, the nation was split into multiple perspectives. One in which, “ law enforcement relies on a broad, superficial category such as race or religion,” to their surprise, “this shortcut interferes with more effective techniques such as behavioral cues and suspect- or crime-specific descriptions or evidence.” (Ramirez.) Prominently the position of techniques shifted Americans towards a racial approach. Instead of focusing on criminal behavior, they eventually seeked clues through a pattern. On the backend of the issue, “ other minority groups are less willing to trust and confide in law enforcement officers and agencies, to report crimes that come to their attention,” losing the community need for involvement, “ to provide intelligence and