I refuse to be put in a position to of having to waste too much time defending position that I didn\'t take or statements that I didn\'t make. Just about everyone above who responded to my posts, have stated or implied ridiculous nonsense that I didn\'t say and cant be found in my posts. If you aren\'t clear, and you want to ask me what I mean by a specific statement, then fine, but dont paraphrase, dont summarize...JUST QUOTE ME!!! within context, so that we can all be on the same page. Overly emotional, and overly sensitive people have a tendency to misinterpret the meanings of others, b/c they think they are \"familiar with your kind\", so they make ASSumptions accordingly.
So far, not one here has provided me with a specific example of \'racial profiling\' that I said s/b ignored and allowed to stand. I dont even believe anyone here has even given me a concrete definition of what constitute racial profiling(is it any and every instance where race is part of a profile?) , or answer for me whether of not they are agreeable to race being part of a profile, if/when it is associated with the description of a suspect that is reported in a specific crime.
My actual posistions have been as follows:
1. Lets be honest and try to understand the reasoning behind racial profiling, so as not to allow an instance of us being racially profiled, to cause lasting deep seated damage to our self-esteem, personal pride, psyche, and over all psychological well being. That is NOT the same as saying that we should IGNORE all racial profiling in general. Understanding does not equal ignoring.
Renee gave an example of her being asked for ID while making a credit card purchase, right behind a white female who was not asked. She questioned why she was being treated differently, and I have no problems with that,(especially if done in a non-violent way). However, I pointed out that we also need to be honest and acknowledge that Blacks in general DO tend to have worst credit history/habit than other groups, so we shouldn\'t take it personal and allow it to scar our psyche if/when those of us with good credit are given extra scrutiny.
I also have the same view when it comes to negatives that whites tend to have a higher incidence of. Bo gave the example of white males tending to engage in pedophilia (specifically with boys) at a higher rate....so if the coach of your young son\'s sports team happens to be a white male, that white male may very well be a very decent harmless man, BUT should he try to understand if some parents are more suspicious of him, I say yes he should understand the reasoning behind it and not take it personal to the extent of having it scar his psyche. Should he sit back and IGNORE being called a possible pedophile, no, he is entitled to defend himself (in a non-violent way).
2. I get the feeling that the term \'racial profiling\' is being generalized to apply to just about ANY and ALL interaction that black folks have with law enforcement or businesses, and crying wolf takes away from the legitimate instances of racial profiling that is causing great harm to us.
If you can admit that violent street crimes (the type most likely to be reported to the police), IS commited at a higher rate by young blacks, especially black males, then WHY is it so unacceptable for cops to watch or interrogate black males at a higher rate? I understand that if you are an innocent black male, it might be stressful or inconveniencing for you to be pulled over and questioned or have your car searched, BUT isn\'t it worth it to you to sacrifice some convenience, IF that results in a higher probability of a criminal (most violent crimes are black on black) being captured and removed from the black community? Or do you prefer to have extra criminals reaking havoc in the black community, just b/c white males aren\'t being interrogated at the same rate in their lesser violent communities? WHERE IS THE LOGIC? I have asked repeatedly, how \"racial profiling\" is causing tangible harm to YOU (if YOU are a law abiding person) in such instances?
And when whites are interrogated, is that racial profiling, or is the term reserved only for any encounter that blacks have with law enforcement? Perhaps its b/c I\'m a law abiding person why I\'m less fearful of \"racial profiling\"...perhaps its my absolute confidence that I have nothing illegal to be discovered.
For criminally inclined people like Cross damon, who has proudly bragged on here that he never pays to get into movie theaters (he sneaks in = theft), bragged how he vandalized churches with religious icons, brags that he carries a GUN with him everywhere in the \'hood\'....for such theiving vandal gun toting thugs, I can understand how/why they want the black community to be inhabited by criminals, it makes him feel more at home. But there are still some of us who would have liked to be able to live in the black community, if it could be a safe place where law abiding people can be comfortable, instead of being unable to walk the streets w/o our pistols cocked.
3. I pointed out that a good portion of what we label \'racial profiliing\', are clearer instances of socio-economic class bias, along with xenophobia. Anyone who is visiting a neighborhood, and dont look like the majority of those who are known to live there, will raise more suspicions...that goes for a minority visiting a relatively all white neighborhood, or a poor looking person in an affluent area, or a white person in an all black neighborhood (I dont suppose you consider it \'racial profiling\' of whites, when you are watching the show Cops, and white folks seen going into all black/minority neighborhoods are suspected of looking to score drugs?)
I gotta go now, so to quickly answer some of the questions regarding specific examples of racially biased treatment.....Bo the example you gave of that person who was being given all the grunt tasks at work....depending on the type of work, I can see that causing either tangible physical and/or financial harm, so I would confront my boss. Its tangible financial harm b/c my future earnings ARE related to they type of experience that I am able to get at work.
I believe Smirk or someone mentioned something about if Rosa Parks having to stand on the bus while white folks sit was just an \"inconvenience\"....the answer is hell no...I spent many years riding public transportation, and having to stand on tired aching feet, instead of being able to sit, is most definitely a tangible physical harm.
