Racial Profiling is Wrong

American Civil Liberties Union defines racial profiling as “discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin”. Race is “ defined as referring to major biological divisions of people form the world” ( Kats and Walker. 390). While Ethnicity “ refers to the culture differences, such as language, religion, family, and foodways”( 390). Using these definitions the range in which profiling a person or group is unlimited. Meaning a police officer can use your name, the color of your skin, the way to talk for any reason. Profiling allows the police to use race to help determine if they will stop a car, check a bag at the store, or frisk a person on the street. While using race alone to decide if a crime has been committed is illegal in most states officers must find another reason to make a arrest or to give a ticket. Most racial profiling can be seen that major drug crimes are committed by minorities. Maybe that why gap that has formed between white cops, blacks and Hispanic population is a two way steam. Most minority groups have been influenced to dislike police officers. For example a survey taken in 1997 shows that 42 percent of Hispanics and 33 percent of blacks have respect for the police. The question remains is it right for law enforcements officials to use profiling. One argument is that racial profiling helps crackdown on crime and drug trafficking.

Looking at the history of America it shows that racial profiling as always been apart of our society. During the slaver era African-Americans where to care Free Persons of color cards to help white people know if they where free, and the name ...

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