The Black Gothic: Racial Profiling

 Jeffrika Little 

Ms. Harris

ENGL 2017-64187

May 1, 2023

 

The Black Gothic: Racial Profiling

This paper elaborates on what Black Gothic means to me in my own words. Racism, discrimination, afro pessimism, and racial profiling is ongoing effect in America. When I think of racial profiling, I instantly think about our classroom theme, The Black Gothic. Black men today are look down upon by the white law enforcement because the color their skin. We live in a world where black men are rarely judge by the content of character, but for simply been a black man. African American mothers are afraid for their son to leave the house because the high rate of police killing. White law enforcement are the ones who are mostly responsible for doing the killing. Racial Profiling has been the cause of many senseless killings. 

“Racial Profiling” refers to discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin.” (ACLU, n.d.) For many years police have been brutally killing black men. Racial Profiling is one of the many reasons they target black men simply cause the color of skin. “Blacks who account for 13 percentage of the US population account for 27 percent of those fatally shot and killed by police in 2021, according to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit group that track police shooting.” (Bunn, 2022) “This means that African American are twice as likely to get kill by police than whites.” (Bunn, 2022) 

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed by a police officer. The police suspect him of selling cigarettes illegally. Erica Garner was another racism killing outcome to racial profiling. “While in a choke hold, Mr. Garner uttered the words “I can’t breathe”11 times.” (News, 2021) George Floyd was not the only one who told a white officer he could not breathe, then died minutes after. There are so many men that have falling victims to racial profiling and the outcome was death. We often heard about the ones that make the news, like George Floyd. But how many know about Eric Garner, Michael Brown, or even Walter Scott? The list can go on and on of black men that have lost their lives because of a racism police.

“According to a Pew Research Survey 8 in 10 blacks with some college experience (81%) say they experienced racial discrimination.” (Anderson, 2019) African American have been dealing with racial discrimination for many years. Sadly, but true, some whites will never see us as human. That is why they treat African American unfairly. Anytime you are a Black male you fit the description to racial profiling. White Law Enforcement will suspect you of a crime they believe you committed, without any evidence. “Racial Profiling is patently illegal, violating the U.S Constitution ‘s core promises of equal protection under the law to all and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.” (ACLU, 2023) 

Works Cited

ACLU. (2023). Defend The Rights Of All People Nationwide. Retrieved from ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/race-and-criminal-justice/racial-profiling#:~:text=Racial%20profiling%20is%20patently%20illegal,from%20unreasonable%20searches%20and%20seizures.

ACLU. (n.d.). ACLU. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/other/racial-profiling-definition

Anderson, M. (2019, May 2). Pew Research Center. Retrieved from Oew REsearch Ceenter: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/02/for-black-americans-experiences-of-racial-discrimination-vary-by-education-level-gender/

Bunn, C. (2022, March 3). news. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/report-black-people-are-still-killed-police-higher-rate-groups-rcna17169

News. (2021, April 21). BBC. Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52905408

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