Racial profiling is the inclusion of racial or ethnic characteristics in determining whether a person is more likely to fit a specific category. Originating hundreds of years ago as a police aid, racial profiling is still a major issue of debate today. For example, police use racial profiling to identify individuals more likely to commit a particular type of crime, yet some people then become targets of investigations solely on their race. In “Blind Spot,” an article by Randall Kennedy, the author states "The racial profiling controversy-like the conflicts over affirmative action-will not end soon” (182).
The controversy of racial profiling in the United States arose in December 1941, as a direct result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Alien Land Law was then passed against Japanese landowners, forcing countless Japanese-Americans to forfeit their property and enter internment camps for the remainder of the war. The threat of attack to our nation superseded the individuals’ civil rights.
The use of racial profiling has recently stimulated new controversy as a result of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. As soon as the connection was made between Arabs and the attacks, the entire race became suspect. Police started searching Middle Easterners without provocation. This was another case of racial profiling that was accepted by the public despite its breaking of civil liberties. The concern for safety once again surpassed the individuals’ freedom for which this country stands. One of the major debates of our time continues to question the limiting or even disregarding of individual rights in order to protect the nation.
In Kennedy's article, “Blind Spot” he discusses the fact that law enforcement uses race to make assumptions about what types of people are more likely to commit a crime. Kennedy states that the Supreme Court agrees with this practice as long as race is only one of the factors police are basing their decision on. Civil rights activists, however, disagree, stating that most racial profiling is based solely on race, without any other factors playing a part.
Another strong point is made in the article “What Looks Like Profiling Might Just Be Good Policing”. The author Heather MacDonald feels that bringing up the issue of racial profiling could result in law enforcement having a more difficult time making arrests. She states that over the past decade the nation has witnessed a decline in crime. However, over the last decade tensions have risen between police and people living in urban communities. She believes this is due to the fact people feel that they are being discriminated against solely because of their race. MacDonald gives an example of a criminal mugging and beating up pedestrians. “The victims stated that the man was a dark-skinned Latino or a light-skinned African American” (158). Would law officials be unfairly discriminating if they were to single out suspects fitting this description? In conclusion, the issue comes down to the value of safety over freedom. It is a matter of opinion that cannot truly be decided by logic or reasoning. Ironically enough, one’s race plays a large part in determining what side of the issue one might support. Also, some feel that if individual rights are lost for even one person, the possibility exists for them to be lost for all. The controversy of the racial profiling is the first of a long set of debates to come, on the topic of governmental power.
Work Cited
Kosuth,Dennis. "Memories Of Racial Profiling" Interview with Roger Shimomura. Socialistworker.org October 19,2001.p.9
Kennedy, Randall. "Blind Spot." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational, Inc., 2007. 180-182Mac Donald,Heather. "What Looks Like Profiling Might Just Be Good Policing" Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational, Inc., 2007.184-188Siggins,Peter. "Racial Profiling in an Age of Terrorism" Markkula Center for Applied Ethics forum March 12, 2002
The controversy of racial profiling in the United States arose in December 1941, as a direct result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Alien Land Law was then passed against Japanese landowners, forcing countless Japanese-Americans to forfeit their property and enter internment camps for the remainder of the war. The threat of attack to our nation superseded the individuals’ civil rights.
The use of racial profiling has recently stimulated new controversy as a result of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. As soon as the connection was made between Arabs and the attacks, the entire race became suspect. Police started searching Middle Easterners without provocation. This was another case of racial profiling that was accepted by the public despite its breaking of civil liberties. The concern for safety once again surpassed the individuals’ freedom for which this country stands. One of the major debates of our time continues to question the limiting or even disregarding of individual rights in order to protect the nation.
In Kennedy's article, “Blind Spot” he discusses the fact that law enforcement uses race to make assumptions about what types of people are more likely to commit a crime. Kennedy states that the Supreme Court agrees with this practice as long as race is only one of the factors police are basing their decision on. Civil rights activists, however, disagree, stating that most racial profiling is based solely on race, without any other factors playing a part.
Another strong point is made in the article “What Looks Like Profiling Might Just Be Good Policing”. The author Heather MacDonald feels that bringing up the issue of racial profiling could result in law enforcement having a more difficult time making arrests. She states that over the past decade the nation has witnessed a decline in crime. However, over the last decade tensions have risen between police and people living in urban communities. She believes this is due to the fact people feel that they are being discriminated against solely because of their race. MacDonald gives an example of a criminal mugging and beating up pedestrians. “The victims stated that the man was a dark-skinned Latino or a light-skinned African American” (158). Would law officials be unfairly discriminating if they were to single out suspects fitting this description? In conclusion, the issue comes down to the value of safety over freedom. It is a matter of opinion that cannot truly be decided by logic or reasoning. Ironically enough, one’s race plays a large part in determining what side of the issue one might support. Also, some feel that if individual rights are lost for even one person, the possibility exists for them to be lost for all. The controversy of the racial profiling is the first of a long set of debates to come, on the topic of governmental power.
Work Cited
Kosuth,Dennis. "Memories Of Racial Profiling" Interview with Roger Shimomura. Socialistworker.org October 19,2001.p.9
Kennedy, Randall. "Blind Spot." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational, Inc., 2007. 180-182Mac Donald,Heather. "What Looks Like Profiling Might Just Be Good Policing" Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational, Inc., 2007.184-188Siggins,Peter. "Racial Profiling in an Age of Terrorism" Markkula Center for Applied Ethics forum March 12, 2002
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