Racial Profiling - Research Paper Example

Racial Profiling Introduction The technological advancements and modernization process has brought in a new set of values which are global in essence but culturally unique in content. The world is thus moving towards a multicultural society that is an amalgamation of people from different countries, races and religion. The social changes brought about by rapid globalization, have changed the socio- cultural values of a country, forcing them to formulate new strategies and policies to meet the challenges of the emerging pluralistic societies. In the fast evolving societal norms, the increasing cases of racial profiling, has become a major issue. It is the most despicable practice that violates human rights and promotes a deliberate sense of inequality and fear among the minority ethnic group who are designated by their color of skin. Hence it forces one raise the most important questions; should racial profiling be banned? Outrage Broadly speaking racial profiling can be defined as those actions of police and government officials that are based on racial prejudices. In the new emerging equations of society, racial profiling has become extremely contentious and the discriminate behavior of police and people in authority in government departments, have posed very serious questions of the relevance of the fundamental rights of the citizens possessing different skin color. More than thirty two million Americans have been subjected to racial profiling and approximately eighty seven millions Americans are at high risk of being subjected to it in future (Amnesty international, 2004). The human rights violation and harassment, in the name of justice has provoked a widespread feeling of outrage and national shame. There is urgent need to address racial profiling. Vito and Walsh (2006) have asserted that ‘African American drivers were twice as likely as white drivers to be queried… a proactive traffic stop represents a conflict situation.. especially if the officers fail to inform the motorist why he or she was stopped’. Ground realities According to Macionis ‘Between 1820 (when the government began keeping track of immigration) and 2003, some 69 million people have added their ways of life to the mix of cultures in the United States … we must move beyond shared cultural patterns to consider the importance of cultural diversity’ (Manionis, 1995, chapter 2,). He further confirms that ‘Racism has also been widespread in the United States, where, for centuries, ideas about racial inferiority supported slavery’ (Manionis, 1995, chapter 11). While Jim Crow rules may have become obsolete, in almost all spheres of human interaction, racial discrimination is still prevalent in the American society in some form of overt or covert dimension. Racial profile as harassment technique Racial profiling is increasingly becoming a regular practice with the police and the government authority to harass people of different color. Juan Antonio Juarez, author of ‘Brotherhood of Corruption’, has exposed the shocking truths about police brutality and human rights abuse of people based on particular color (Juarez, 2004). According to the author, Charles Briggs, ‘just as police officers in United States single out people of color for traffic stops and searches, clinicians and public health authorities sometimes assume that members of particular communities are natural target for some particular disease… and are even presented as threats to the health of the body politic’ (Briggs ,2003). Institute of Race and Poverty, Minnesota has also advocated a drastic change of strategy in upholding the civil rights of its citizens irrespective of race and color of skin. Studies have revealed that racial profiling is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time. It undermines the legitimacy of the criminal justice system, and hinders effective policing in the communities that need it the most (IRP, 2000). Racial profiling as major tool of cultural barrier Racial profiling is promoting cultural barrier that are detrimental for socio economic development of the nation as a whole. Gregory Mantios in his paper ‘media magic: Making Class Invisible’ clearly negates this claim by stating that the affluent class enjoys unprecedented power and privileges and the concept of an egalitarian society is nothing but an eyewash. According to it, the media has misused its power of representation of issues and priorities and American society is very class conscious. Consequently, the socio political role of the poor and the minority has been marginalized so much so, that either they have become ‘faceless identities’ or undeserving social outcastes (Mantios, 1995). It extends beyond direct victims to negatively affect all persons of color of all generations and income levels, creating socio-cultural barriers and ill feelings. Racial Profile – violation of human rights In the recent times, racial profiling has become the most abusive practice in the American society that violates human rights and promotes a deliberate sense of inequality and fear among the minority ethnic group who are designated by their color of skin. The human rights violation and harassment, in the name of justice has provoked a wide spread feeling of outrage and national shame. Very often the rationale behind the government decisions is based on wider perception of violent activities and drug trafficking where the gang membership is predominantly African America. (Coker, 2003). There is urgent need to address racial profiling. Techniques of racial profiling Canadian Review of Policing Research had defined it as ‘a racial disparity in police stop and search practices, customs searches at airports and border-crossings, in police patrols in minority neighborhoods and in undercover activities or sting operations which target particular ethnic groups’ (cbc, 2005). Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or FISA is a government act that legitimizes the collection of information regarding foreigners by the state intelligence to protect the state against espionage, terrorism, sabotage, assassination, hijacking or any other such activities that may be conducted by the foreign agency or state or such elements (FISA). It allows the law enforcement authorities to use electronic surveillance like wire tapping, eavesdropping, permits physical entries for investigation and any other such activities to gain information from agents regarding foreign intelligence that may be against the interest of the state. The recent times have seen increasing use of the act to target people of certain color and race. It also deploys more trained marshals and better screening facilities for the passengers and the luggage as well as for air cargo. Use of advanced technology and thorough checking of the credentials of the airport staff, including biometric indicators, are incorporated to ensure enhanced security. The use of CAPPS II (computer assisted passengers prescreening system) using finger printing and biometric indicators, have been made compulsory. CAPPS II also uses national security and commercial databases to assess risk and identify passengers for extra screening raising concern about privacy rights and civil liberties (TSA). Meaning and scope of accountability The scope of accountability has gone beyond the rhetoric to encompass the transparency in the work process. The changing environment of values and work ethics has necessitated that the parties involved must be responsive to the impact that their decisions, actions and behavior have on the people at large. According to Mulgan (2000), the scope and meaning of accountability ‘has been applied to internal aspects of official behavior, beyond the external focus implied by being called to account; to institutions that control official behavior other than through calling officials to account; to means of making officials responsive to public wishes other than through calling them to account; and to democratic dialogue between citizens where no one is being called to account’. Conclusion In 2001, The President of America, George Bush had acknowledged the abuse of human rights in the form of racial profiling. He had announced that ‘we’ll end it in America (Feb 27, 2001). Due to the seriousness of racial profiling, the Justice department has developed guidelines to make it clear that it is prohibited in Federal Law Enforcement (USDOJ, 2003). In the new emerging equations of society in the age of rapid globalization, racial discrimination has become extremely contentious and the discriminate behavior of police and people in authority in government departments, have posed very serious questions of the relevance of the fundamental rights of the citizens possessing different skin color. Indeed, the changing order has tremendously transformed not only the social structure but the upwardly mobile ethnic population has become a significant economic force whose interest considerations are important for the socio-economic development of the nation as a whole. Ethnic population coming from diverse regions, races and cultures have brought in their own distinct personalities, bringing in a plethora of new issues and new challenges that need to be addressed urgently to create amicable environment of mutual respect and avoid conflicts. It is high time that racial profiling is banned and stringent punishment is implemented for perpetrators of racial profiling. Reference Amnesty International USA. (2004). Racial Profiling. Available from: http://www.amnestyusa.org/Other/RP_Report__Threat_and_Humiliation/page.do?id=1106664&n1=3&n2=850&n3=1532 [21 June, 2009]. Briggs, Charles, L and Briggs, Clara Martini. (2003). Stories in the time of Cholera: Racial Profiling. California. University of California Press. CBCNEWS. (26 May 2005). Racial Profiling. Available from: [21 June, 2009]. Coker, Donna. (2003). Supreme Court Review. The Journal of Criminal Law and Injustice, 93(4), 827-879. Institute of Race and Poverty. (2000). University of Minnesota. Available from: [21 June, 2009]. Juarez, Juan Antonio. (2004). Brotherhood in Corruption. Chicago Review Press. Macionis, John J. (2006). The Basics. Eighth Edition Prentice-Hall. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 2 & 11. Mantsios, Gregory. (1995). Media magic: Making class invisible. In P. S. Rothenberg (Ed.), Race, class, and gender in the United States (3rd ed.). New York: St. Martins Press. Mulgan, Richard. (2000). Accountability: An Ever-Expanding Concept? Public Administration, 78(3), 555–573 doi:10.1111/1467-9299.00218. Nagel, Thomas. (1979).Equality” in Mortal Questions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Vito, Gennaro F and Walsh William F. (2006). Suspicion and traffic stops: crime control or racial profiling.International Journal of Police Science & Management, 10(1), 89-100. US Department of Justice. (2003). Available from: [21 June, 2009]. Read More