Addressing Racial Profiling in American Policing

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Policing Police: Racial Profiling

“It was so hostile. I was so confused. It was happening so fast that I could easily see how this situation could get out of hand very quickly. I didn’t feel safe as all. But one officer stopped his questioning and said, ‘we may not let you go’.” (Perry) This is a quote from famous producer Tyler Perry, talking about his experience being stopped by two white police officers in Atlanta. Police officers are among the most trusted men and women in American society, they should be anyway. However, in some cities and states the trust between officers and people of a racial minority, such as Africans, Latinos and Arabs, has been tainted by mistreatment of policing powers. Some officers are stopping, searching, or pulling people of these races over and breaking the code they stand for by disrespecting the citizen, most of whom are completely innocent. This is not only morally unacceptable, but also completely unconstitutional and needs to stop promptly. With proper legislative action this injustice can and will be righted!
Racial profiling is defined as “The practice of substituting skin color for evidence as grounds for suspicion.” In Layman’s terms, racial profiling is when police officers stop, search, and arrest more people of one minority race that a majority race. Typically, American Latinos and African-Americans are among the main targets of racial profiling, mainly caused by decades of stereotypical beliefs that most “gangsters” and other criminals are of one of these two races. Since the disaster of 9/11 and the wars in the Middle East, Arabs and South Asians have become much more likely targets of racial profiling, especially with airport security and in major cities. The act ...

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...er Perry is a strong advocate against racial profiling. Things are already being done to end this breach of our most foundational laws. However, it is still happening and will continue unless federal action is taken. The best solution to this problem would be to have federal laws that make policing racial profiling black and white. Investigations of police officers accused of discriminating against certain races need to be conducted by the FBI so that the process is subjective and legitimate. What can a regular citizen do to end this discrimination? He or she should be on the lookout for unfair policing, and if there is someone who has been a victim of racial profiling he or she needs to get ahold of the chief of that police department. Justice has been befouled. It is time to bring justice to those who think they can use their power over others dishonorably!

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