No. 22: Racial Profiling
October 23rd 2008 18:46
It was 1956, my thirteen-year-old brother and I (age nine), were returning home from watching several WWII vintage aircraft flying nearby. The airport was near a predominately black section of Nashville, Tennessee. Our return home took us along a residential street, when suddently! -- rocks, were hurled our way! While dodging as many as possible, we ran out of the area as fast as two boys could run. Fortunately, we were not seriously hurt. This was my first experience with racial profiling and its covert cause--racial discrimination; it is not my last.
Due to its media portrayals, most people think of white prejudice against blacks, or other minorities, far more than black and/or other minorities' prejudices toward caucasians. Regrettably, It works both ways.
If you are over the age of 20, there are good odds you could write your own stories detailing personal experiences with this nefarious problem. We do not have the space to go into causative factors right now, but we can look at a couple of bad side effects to discrimination.
A few years ago, I was discussing this with a young black couple in their home. The wife began to cry as she related how her brother, a successful black physician, was stopped no less than 12 times while traveling from Miami to Tallahassee, Florida, one day. He was profiled by the police as a possible black drug dealer because he was driving a Mercedes Benz.
Many Americans will recall how the Volusia County, Florida Sheriffs Office allegedly had a standing order to pull over all "suspicious" drivers on Interstate 95. Not only was this unconstitutional, but it raised other concerns when all of the cash these "suspects" possessed was impounded on the premise they might be using cash for drug deals.. One newspaper detailed the time an innocent man had the down payment for his new home taken. He had to spend untold sums on legal fees, and down time from work, in an attempt to retrieve what was rightfully his. I never knew whether or not he got his money back.
While a printer, I was doing paste-up at a local friend's printing firm (which happened to be in a predominately black section of Jacksonville, Florida), when a plain-clothed policeman came into the shop demanding I provide my identification. I asked him for a reason before giving it to him. This angered the officer who then got very vocal and abusive. I shouted back to him that "This is the United States, not Nazi Germany. I will show you my ID when you give me a valid reason for this." He then showed me his ID and continued: "I have shown you mine, now you show me yours." Once again, I said, "Okay. Now I know who you are, still I want to know what you are up to." He said that I would not be in the neighborhood unless I was up to no good. I showed him my ID just to shut him up, but still wondered what had happened to my country.
Just today, I had a sales call into a minority neighborhood. While passing an unidentified patrol car, I could see that the officer reached for his microphone. Rounding the next street, a marked police car began to follow my wife and me. The questions came to mind -- Is he following us to see if we are doing wrong things, or is he wanting to protect us? Only he would know the answers.
Upon arrival, I asked the merchant, with whom we had the appointment, why this happened. He replied he had been to the local city hall requesting this kind of profiling stop. His reasoning is that too much business is being lost because the police and news media foster fear in the minds of people. He further stated that as long as people are afraid, the prejudices will continue and people will not get to know one another on their own turf.
There is a giant argument for controlling drug selling and abuses. There is also a giant argument for informing the public on safety issues. I posit the
police patrolling these areas know where the drug houses are. If an officer sees someone going in or out of known drug use buildings that is one thing, but to profile every caucasian person, who happens to be in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood, as a suspected drug abuser or seller is wrong. It is also wrong to do the same thing to a minority who might be traversing a wealthier neighborhood.
Over the last few decades, we have made wonderful and courageous strides toward a color-blind society. I say we will never reach the goal of real freedom and acceptance (which this requires), until we stop all profiling just because one happens to be in a neighborhood the police do not feel is appropriate for certain individuals.
Yes, there are people who should be advised to stay out of certain areas at unfortunate times. These are the ignorant and naive. There are also those who know their direction and can handle the situations. They are the ones who need no profiling by police "nannies." These are the ones whose rights need respecting also.
In fairness, I do not want to disrespect the wonderful work most police officers, and their sacrificing families, endure. They are to be commended for being there and serving to save lives and property. I just think more should also respect us by allowing the freedoms we deserve.
I am writing from the U.S. We have rights guaranteed by our Constitution which many brave men and women of all races, ethnicities and religions have lost limbs and lives defending.
Please keep it between the lines.
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