Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Is this Racial Profiling?

#1
Zinjanthropos Offline
Recently Toronto police chief had this to say: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada...in%202020.

Apology to Black Community for what seems like an open and shut case. I have no doubt they’re guilty of racial profiling. However will racial profiling still be used to save lives even though not recognized as such?

Asked that question at dinner last night and almost everyone had a story about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, only to be rescued by concerned police. Examples: 

1. Years ago my wife’s softball team won a competition in Windsor Ontario. To celebrate they crossed the nearby Ambassador Bridge into Detroit. The carload of women got lost, had no idea where they were, and were soon pulled over by a Michigan state trooper who told them to follow him. This was at night and he led them to the border, got out and told them they’d be much safer going back to Canada. Apparently the neighborhood they’d entered was a high violent crime area. Turned out to be a predominantly Afro-American sector of Detroit. The trooper was black. 

2. I’m in Clearwater Florida staying in a hotel. I walk out the front door to cross 4 lanes of traffic to a convenience store. It’s the middle of the day and before I cross I’m stopped by hotel security, a retired white police officer, who tells me that it’s very unsafe to be on that side of the road. Tells me we’re at the edge of a safe zone and there are roaming gangs of Hispanics committing violent crime not even 100 yards away. I listened and enjoyed my stay. 

3. Friend of mine had an 18 year old daughter. Very religious and she wants to be a missionary for her church who sends her to New York city of all places to help with the under-privileged. On her first evening she decides to go for a walk and is almost immediately stopped by police and told under no circumstances should she ever walk in that territory alone. Again high crime area is the reason. I couldn’t tell you if race is involved but did the cop profile the denizens of that area regardless?

Does this type of profiling save lives? Is it good police work or should they stop the practice of aiding people who may have taking a wrong turn?
Reply
#2
Syne Offline
Yes, it is racial profiling, and yes, such profiles exist because they have proven to be true. In the US, the 13% black population accounts for 50% of the murders. Minorities tend to live in higher crimes areas, necessitating a larger police presence and more police interactions. Otherwise, more minorities die at the hands of their fellow minority. Blacks also seem to resist arrest more, which requires the police to use more force to detain/restrain them. That is a direct consequence of their own actions, not any sort of systemic or personal bias.
Reply
#3
C C Offline
(Jun 19, 2022 03:21 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: [...] 1. Years ago my wife’s softball team won a competition in Windsor Ontario. To celebrate they crossed the nearby Ambassador Bridge into Detroit. The carload of women got lost, had no idea where they were, and were soon pulled over by a Michigan state trooper who told them to follow him. This was at night and he led them to the border, got out and told them they’d be much safer going back to Canada. Apparently the neighborhood they’d entered was a high violent crime area. Turned out to be a predominantly Afro-American sector of Detroit. The trooper was black.

Yah, Black policemen necessarily have to engage in profiling suspect discernment and environmental assessment, too; though they perhaps might better discriminate the "valid" from mere play-acting (if cultural and community affinities apply).

Nigeria has pervasive badgering and mistreatment from police, but citizens there obviously can't tack-on "racial" to the profiling. (Although, maybe there could be old intertribal grudges still lingering that qualify as ethnic distinctions slash rivalries.)

At any rate, it's actually inference of potential criminal-activity: the stereotyped behaviors, speech patterns, dress apparel, body signs, coded gestures, etc of lawbreakers, organized felons, and any substance abusers and mentally ill prone to theft or property destruction or violence. 

Both poor white and minority youth of different historical eras have superficially emulated malefactor characteristics and conduct because it's cool. For this last half-century, the advent and popularity of hip-hop especially fuels it. Thus, the contingent harassment of the "innocent", via officers who can't delicately distinguish hipster from gypster.
Reply
#4
Zinjanthropos Offline
(Jun 19, 2022 05:51 PM)Syne Wrote: Yes, it is racial profiling, and yes, such profiles exist because they have proven to be true. In the US, the 13% black population accounts for 50% of the murders. Minorities tend to live in higher crimes areas, necessitating a larger police presence and more police interactions. Otherwise, more minorities die at the hands of their fellow minority. Blacks also seem to resist arrest more, which requires the police to use more force to detain/restrain them. That is a direct consequence of their own actions, not any sort of systemic or personal bias.

We’ve seen this movie scene before…..a non-white traveling through Hillbilly or Redneck USA is warned by local constabulary to vacate the area asap least they suffer severe consequences at the hands of the white folk. I’m sure it has occurred in real life situations also. 

If police of all races are going out of their way to warn unsuspecting (pick a colour) people of potential danger from a certain group then it is profiling of some kind. What kind of uproar would there be if a traveler was not warned by police and one of beaten, raped, robbed, murdered happened to an individual? Lots of potential for being hypocritical IMO. Sounds like public protection might have just got a little weaker.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Brazilian trans-racial polticians Syne 3 124 Feb 1, 2021 06:11 PM
Last Post: Zinjanthropos
  Racial stereotypes speed visual processing Magical Realist 2 771 Jun 18, 2016 06:41 PM
Last Post: Ben the Donkey



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)