Conversation with the World Project

         I am sure everyone has heard or said the words, “you're not what I thought you would be like at all.” Whether it is used in a positive or negative way, each of us have assumed based on someone’s appearance and when we finally got to know them realized our guess was completely inaccurate. We use assumptions to come to conclusions about the people around us, without having ever spoken a word to them. While this may seem innocent, it can have devastating consequences when someone presumes someone is a threat based on their race, and act without rational thought. This is an example of racial profiling. Racial profiling is a harmful practice that targets people of color in America and causes the unfair treatment of innocent people. 

One of the most common examples of racial profiling can be seen in the actions of the police. Studies have shown that people of color tend to be singled out by officers much more often than white people. In fact, “black and Latinx drivers are both at least three times more likely than white drivers to be searched by police during routine traffic stops” (Racial Profiling). It is disturbing to see these actions done by officers of the law. There is something ironic about the idea that the people meant to protect and serve are the ones mistreating blameless people. There is no biological difference between white and black people that would make one group more dangerous than the other, yet still black people are still more likely to be suspected of criminal activity.  

Racial profiling can be committed by more than just law enforcement though, it can be used by any person in power. In Indian Education, by Sherman Alexi, this can be seen when a teacher finds a kid passed out at a school party. Instead of assessing the situation thoroughly, the teacher asks, “What’s that boy been drinking? I know all about these Indian kids. They start drinking real young” (Alexi). The boy had been suffering from a diabetes attack. In this example, an innocent student was criminalized by their teacher based on their race with absolutely no evidence. Teachers should build up students and support them, not take any opportunity to belittle them for things they cannot control. 

    Not only are people of color shown to be put at a disadvantage when it comes to how they are viewed, but white people even seem to be favored. In fact, a family friend, Gabe Mudel even experienced praise from his teachers because he was white. His teacher called him “the great white hope” for being the only Caucasian to make chem Olympiad (Mudel). Many of the other kids in chem Olympiad has been Asian, so his teacher had diminished their success by implying that their race somehow made it easier for them to achieve. His classmates did nothing wrong, yet the teacher still found a way to bring them down based on personal biases. My own brother crashed his car into a road sign while technically speeding. In his time dealing with the police officers, he had no reason to fear he may be treated unfairly. If my brother were African American would that change? Earlier this year the country was captivated by the case of George Floyd. He was yet another black man who faced hostility from the police based on his skin color. Both him and my brother were guilty of petty crimes, yet my white brother still lives and George Floyd does not.  

    Not everyone believes that racial profiling is necessarily wrong though, some claim that it does have some basis in fact. All stereotypes are based in fact, so by using racial profiling your assumption has a high chance of being correct. For example, how Asian people are known to be intelligent. In fact, many Asians are intelligent due to the culture in Asia and emphasis on education. However, stereotypes could never apply to every person of a race or ethnicity. I know many people from Asia that do not well in school. By assuming anything based on a person’s race, people can end up unintentionally hurting them. You never know how your misjudgment might offend someone. 

Racial profiling is a biased practice and leads to the immoral treatment of people of color in America. As a white woman, I know I will never experience the hate and prejudice people of color have come to expect from the people in power in the U.S. My race gives me an unfair advantage, but it does not mean I have to sit by and watch people suffer for things they cannot control. It is the responsibility of those benefiting from these racist practices to support the people suffering and attempt to educate others. So, the next time you feel yourself begin to judge others based on their appearance, take a second to question why you make those and assumptions and if they are fair to make about a stranger.