Profiling In America

Racial profiling has existed from when slavery was an acceptable act in the United States and is continuously occurring despite legislation over the past several decades attempting to push this type of active discrimination. This is a form of oppression. Miriam Webster dictionary defines Oppression as unjust or cruel exercise of authority; the condition of being weighed down. Through the years, the United States has created, implemented and practiced customs and laws that have continuously oppressed the underrepresented demographics in our communities, specifically those of the African American race.
One form of systemic oppression is the concept of racial profiling, specially through the police employees, policies and social norms. Police profiling consists of a discretionary suspicion-based police traffic stops or interrogations without cause …show more content…
I have been witness to stereotyping and profiling of African Americans. I have seen a bias where some of my coworkers would target individuals that they assumed were criminals or potentially dangerous. This targeting was more towards those of middle eastern raced followed by African American races. In some instances, there would be a middle eastern couple or pair of middle eastern men, that would be stop and interrogated as to what they were doing, where they were going followed by so unwelcomed remarks. As a 19-year-old tossed into a male–dominated military and career field, I fell into the group think mentality. I knew the profiling and harassment was not professional and borderlined discrimination but I chose to not speak up. I felt if I stood up to my co-workers, I would be judged, ostracized or assigned extra duty which is something that happens in the military. This is just one personal example of how discrimination and racial profiling is prevalent both in the civilian police force and military police