Racial Profiling Term Paper Essay Example
Racial profiling is a popular method used by law officers in order to hypothetically enhance crime prevention by targeting minorities, because they are more likely to commit a crime. According to Wikipedia, racial profiling is defined as: the inclusion of race in the profile of a person considered likely to commit a particular crime or type of crime. In other words, it is targeting specific ethnic groups because they are more likely to commit certain crimes. Racial profiling is a flagrant form of racism. According to Dictionary.com, racism is defined as hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be confused with stereotyping, because they are two different things even if racial profiling is heavily inspired by racial stereotypes. But why would law officers use such a discriminating approach? Racial profiling, in some cases can lead to police brutality or in extreme cases, murder such as Amadou Diallo's case, who died in february 1999 after he was shot 41 times in front of his Bronx house by for cops, who were later acquitted of all charges.
Racial Profiling has been around for years and quite frankly, I don't see it fading away any time soon because it is practiced in many parts of the world and thus cannot be prevented. Being racially profiled can happen to anyone no matter the race or gender. According to an article called "Chief Moose on Racial Profiling" published in October 2004, Chief Moose, a black officer, once got arrested simply because he was black and gives his opinion about it:" I love this country," he said. "I stayed out of jail, I got a good job, a doctorate degree and leadership positions. Yet still this happens to me because of the color of my skin... It's hard to respond nonviolently and seek legal remedies."
Racial profiling is just one example of how minorities are still victims of unfair treatment under a variety of institutions throughout the world. Here are some arguments that make the claim that