Racial Profiling: The Negative Effects
Racial profiling is certainly not a new issue, it has been ongoing and a lot of people have been targeted by it.
Racial profiling refers to the discriminatory practice which bases individual’s actions or judgement based on their race, ethnicity, religion or national origin rather than their actual behavior, or any evidence and sometimes judged based on people who share their ethnicity or skin color. More often than not it is performed by crime-serving authorities. An example of racial profiling is the use of race to determine which driver is likely to stop for violations or using race to determine which pedestrian to search for illegal activity.
Usually racial profiling takes place for safety reasons, security or public protections. Although, many can argue it cause more damages that actually helping the society. You can decide in next few minutes
Here is an example of daily racial profiling:
Here is an example of an African-American teenager, who is only 19 years old Trayvon Christian, who purchased a $ 350 belt from Barneys. Once he left the cashiers must have thought "Well how could a young black male afford a belt worth 350 dollar. So they called the police. The police cuffed and asked him - "HOW COULD YOU AFFORD A BELT LIKE THIS?"
He then sued Barneys for racial profiling
- Can anyone answer & explain why the cops asked him this question?
He then sued Barneys for racial profiling
- Can anyone answer & explain why the cops asked him this question?
Racial profiling is often based on stereotypes created by the media. These are assumptions because of one’s race, color, ethnicity and more.
Here’s a thought for you guys : How many times do you see racism or racial profiling in public places yet you go along with it?
23% of the New York population is African-American.
47% of the New York population is American
30% of the New York population is Hispanic
There is only 23% African American population, yet 53 % of the time a police stops someone, it is an African American citizen in New York.
Furthermore, there is only 13% of the time that police stops an American citizen, even though the city has mostly American population compared to Hispanic and African American.
47% of the New York population is American
30% of the New York population is Hispanic
There is only 23% African American population, yet 53 % of the time a police stops someone, it is an African American citizen in New York.
Furthermore, there is only 13% of the time that police stops an American citizen, even though the city has mostly American population compared to Hispanic and African American.
Now you might ask well how does this relate to prison, well given the statistics you can
already estimate how many innocent people have gone to prisons for no crime,
rather just because the numbers say African-American and Hispanics are most
likely to commit a crime.
This shows the down-sides of the criminal system. Today it is estimated that about 3 - 5 % of the prisons in U.S. are innocent, and it may not seem like 3 or 5 percent is much, but 1 % accounts for 20 000 citizens that are innocent. Although, sometimes innocent do not even have a chance to go to prison, instead they die as a result of racial profiling.
CASE STUDY : AMADOU DIALLO
The police were on hunt for a well-armed black male, who was a serial-rapist involving 51 victims. Since Diallo matched the description of the rapist , the police approached him and instantly told him to put his hands up. Diallo had recently come to American 2 years ago, so his English wasn't that good. So he reached his pocket to take his wallet for his I.D. but the police thought he was taking out a gun, so they shot him to death.
Now I would like to ask you guys how many shots could 4 police men fire on him?
Do you think this is justifiable? explain?
The police were on hunt for a well-armed black male, who was a serial-rapist involving 51 victims. Since Diallo matched the description of the rapist , the police approached him and instantly told him to put his hands up. Diallo had recently come to American 2 years ago, so his English wasn't that good. So he reached his pocket to take his wallet for his I.D. but the police thought he was taking out a gun, so they shot him to death.
Now I would like to ask you guys how many shots could 4 police men fire on him?
Do you think this is justifiable? explain?
The question remains, why do authorities still do this even though the laws. Its the amendments in U.S. but in Canada we have The Canadian Charter of Right and Freedom which states:
Sec 15 -Equality Rights: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
Sec 15 -Equality Rights: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
ACTIVITY TIME - GUESS THE CRIMINAL
Instructions:
- Look at the picture of the person
- Raise your hand if you think the person is a criminal