Racial Profiling Discrimination - Essay Example

Racial Profiling Thesis ment: Despite the ongoing controversy about whether or not to discriminate people of different color or race, this research has proved beyond reasonable doubt that racial profiling is an unfair act that needs to be eradicated in the society to enhance both social and economic growth. I. Research on racial profiling in relation to the old century 1. Racial profiling in the American Middle Eastern II. Evidences of racial profiling in the modern society 1. Racial profiling at roads 2. Racial profiling at shopping centers 3. Racial profiling at work places III. Opinion about racial profiling in the society Introduction Racial profiling refers to discrimination of an individual by the law enforcement personnel due to race or ethical disparity. This practice takes place in determination of whether an individual has the right to engage in several actions in the society. This practice tends to be a controversial issue in the society and several nations disapprove the act (Higgins 1). This discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials targets individuals for suspicion of crime-based acts. Mainly the discrimination bases on the religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin. Law enforcement officers use race or ethnicity to articulate reasonable suspicion; decide with whom and how to intervene in an enforcement capacity. Racial profiling has posed a major challenge to individuals in the society (Welch 278). People from other nationalities tend to live in fear in a foreign country. They have lack of peace and contentment in the visiting country. Despite the ongoing controversy about whether or not to discriminate people of different color or race, this research has proved beyond reasonable doubt that racial profiling is an unfair act that needs to be eradicated in the society to enhance both social and economic growth. Racial profiling has evidenced itself as a controversial topic in many nations for the last decades. People with color disparity often find themselves prone to racial profiling. This poses a major concern to them and they need intervention from the nation. Although some nations disapprove of this inhuman and unfair act, some nations allow their police force to carry out this practice. Several countries that exhibit frequent cases of terrorism often live in fear of foreign visitors, therefore, they are forced to enforce racial profiling practices to raise suspicion, question, or even arrest an individual (Welch 281). This becomes a safety measure to their nation and the people. The question that needs intervention is whether there is ultimate rove in color profiling. For example, when enforcing law on drivers, the police tend to consider whether the individual is black or white. In most cases, the white person faces charges even to slightest mistakes while the black individual leaves without cautioning. This kind of discrimination becomes humanizing to the white person (Higgins 2). The American nation in the past has faced many terrorist acts and a way of ensuring the national security, the government has opted in use of racial profiling. Many cases have risen about plane crashes and bombs in the American nation. Will the American government sit done and relax yet the safety to the nation is at stake? The government has opted in the use of racial profiling to ensure the nation’s safety. However, this has posed great and more danger to the Americans since people justify that racial profiling against Arab or Muslim nationalities seems unfair, unjust, and depicts racism (Glover 556). Many people have opposed the idea of racial profiling saying that the act is not only unequal and unfair but also implements a system of dominance. Scholarly research depicts that even those people who believe that racial profiling is an unfair act, tend to take part in racially profiling people of the Middle Eastern descent. Why should it be that color has to determine the basis of criminal acts in the society? Racial profiling as depicted by the Arab-American Nadeem Salem tarnishes and compromises people’s civil rights. This act not only affects the Arabs, Muslims, or the Americans but also poses pessimistic impacts globally. According to George W. Bush, racial profiling is not a legal right; hence, people have to make judgment without considering skin color or religion. It is evident that almost all the foreigners who visit the country have likings of the place more than their homeland. Therefore, it is important to see that these people face no race prejudices and petty persecutions of law-abiding people. George W. Bush once depicted that there was need for the American government to change its attitude to foreign visitors. He emphasized that it undermines the law enforcement by lowering their dignity and confidence in people. Although nations are presently against the idea of racial profiling, the law enforcement community tends to argue that the use of ethnicity and racial profiling is both effective and necessary in the society. They base their argument on the high rate of crime experienced in communities that have a large minority population. Ignorance of the government on this high rate of crime activity due to the socio-economic and demographic factors, and sense of moral integrity becomes both morally and professionally wrong. If the ultimate goal and success of law enforcement is to identify and take action on violators, then it is evident that racial profiling as a way of identifying law violators would allow officers to portray effectiveness in their work (Glover 561). Racial profiling is a major concern to the society since some of its victims end up in health problems and probably death. Death cases due to racial profiling have become rampant in the society (Krueger and Maleckova 136). These deaths portrayed not only depict the presence of this harmful act but also the fact racial profiling seems like a global issue for significant concern. The American nation has posed greatest cases of racial profiling although the government efforts in its reduction and extinction. Similarly, racial profiling has also been evidenced in Asian citizens for the past decades. The Asian citizens are highly discriminated in the American society. An Asian American youth became a victim when the police force stopped him from jaywalking basing their argument that the Asian Americans had been kept against the wall for about an hour. This shows disapproval of those people as American citizens. Why should individuals face discrimination in a walking area? This illustrates depriving an individual the necessary rights. The Asian Americans had to speak out their suffering and declare of their need to have their civil rights, which were violated when officers viewed them as suspected gang members based merely on ethnicity and clothing. Cases have aired about racial profiling in terms of the skin color of an individual (Audi 2008). In America, a black person driving is stopped for immediate frisking and suspicion. This means that there is lack of trust and privacy for the black people driving. Their color differentiates them from the rest making them prone to suspicion of crime acts. Moreover, racial profiling based on color is common in shopping centers. Once, in America, a black woman went shopping with her daughter. While coming out of the shopping centre, a security guard took their shopping and started frisking arguing of shoplifting. When the woman complained, the guard threatened to call the police. This portrayed injustice to the woman she was suspected to carryout shoplifting only because of her color disparity. In many working places, racial profiling due to color is highly notable. Many people often lost job opportunities due to their disparity in color. For instance, the whites will advocate employing other whites in their companies rather than employing the Africans as well employ fellow Africans. Sincerely, racial profiling manifests itself almost at every sector in the society (Krueger and Maleckova 128). Moreover, it is common in the society where people tend to consider the leader to choose biasing on color or religion. This affects the society’s leadership due to the wrong decision-making processes. Racial profiling takes place even in the transport machines. In most cases, a person feels unsafe when travelling in the same vehicle or airplane with either an Arab or an Asian. This is due to their suspicion of terrorist attacks. An example is given of an Arab who had to be taken out of a plane with suspicion of having drugs that turned out to be a lie. Racial profiling has been rampant in the modern society despite measures to eradicate the inhuman and unlawful act (Audi 2008). It is in many cases where people in the modern society tend to loose or fail to achieve their goal dreams due to racial profiling. Many people lose hope of achieving their job dreams, visa cards to travel abroad, educational scholarships and extensive medical care. In conclusion, racial profiling needs global eradication (Risse and Zeckhauser 141). The paper has stated why this act is a threat to the growing society although some people advocate for its practice. The society ought to take advantage of the changing technology and invent methods of enhancing security either I transport or workplaces. For instance, a handful of new invented security technologies are available to supplement the present luggage scanners and metal detectors. The use of these technological devices will help in reduction of a considerable measure of racial profiling as a security measure in the society. Any form of discrimination is prohibited in the society and any security measure taken should encompass all individuals despite the skin color, race, ethnicity, or religion. In cases of security purposes in places where these devices are not available, everybody ought to face an equal measure during inspection and asking of questions. The law enforcement officers ought to understand that in any way, they should look out for suspicious behavior and not suspicious people. In order to emphasize on equality, a profile must be based on analytical and accurate capabilities. This is will reduce the incidences of racial discrimination and harassment. Works Cited Audi, Ghada Q. Challenges Facing the Arab American Community from a Legal Perspective. American Studies Journal 52 (2008). Web 29 March 2012. Glover, Karen S. Police Discourse on Racial Profiling. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 23:3 (2007): 239-247. Print. Higgins, George E. Racial profiling. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice 6:1 (2008): 1 – 2. Print. Krueger, Alan B. and Maleckova, Jitka. Education, Poverty and Terrorism: Is There a Causal Connection? Journal of Economic Perspective 17:4 (2003): 119-144. Print. Risse, M. and Zeckhauser, R. Racial Profiling. PHILOSOPHY & PUBLIC AFFAIRS 32:2 (2004): 131 – 170. Print. Welch, Kelly. Black Criminal Stereotypes and racial profiling. Journal of Contemporary Criminal 23:3 (2007): 276-288. Print. Wise, L. Racial Profiling. HARVARD JOURNAL ON LEGISLATION 38:2 (2001): 551 – 580. Print. Read More