How to Profile Without Profiling

Katie Mandell

Blog #1

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly difficult to protect oneself without being bombarded with accusations of being racist. So when is it justifiable to profile? These days, in fear of public scrutiny, no one feels comfortable suggesting someone may be a terrorist or a threat to their community based on their appearance or their religious beliefs.

 

Donald Trump’s immigration plan, proposing the prohibition of all Muslims entering into the United States is extreme and radical, but his ideas have sprouted from fear. I do not agree with Trump’s plan in the least, but it serves as a desperate example of “last resort” measures to protect American citizens’ way of life.

While it is true that not all Muslims are terrorists, the problem we have found, is that the majority of the acts of terror in the last decade, have been committed by radical Muslims. So what can we do? If we profile a Muslim or someone of any other group for that matter, it is assumed we are racially profiling.  But by not profiling, do we take the risk of allowing more acts of terror to occur? 

 

Profiling is one of the most complicated issues because our safety and freedom are at risk. Racial profiling has become such a common occurrence in today’s society, that even hearing about a police officer shooting an unarmed African-American youth is not surprising. The goal of law enforcement is to prevent illegal acts. Although it is a fact that many low-income neighborhoods are made up of predominantly African-Americans and Latinos, unfortunately, this is where a lot of crime occurs.

There is no doubt that racial profiling is a part of today’s society. To assume otherwise is simply naive. According to a 2008 study on LAPD racial profiling, the majority of individuals subjected to stops, frisks, searches and arrests were African-Americans and Latinos, regardless of social standing. The LAPD study reveals the disproportionately lower number of whites that were subject to these acts.

I would never condone this abuse of power without just cause.  But the problem lies in the fact that there is no sound, “politically correct” way to justify whether someone is a threat unless they have a track record that precedes them. Trump’s plan to prevent all Muslims from entering into our country is on the far end of the ridiculous spectrum, but it does bring to light the issues of stereotyping and racial profiling and what measures we should take to protect ourselves as a nation without discriminating against any entire group of people when only a few members of the group are to blame.