Argumentative Essay: Racial Profiling In America

For hundreds of years, racial profiling has been apart of our society. People of color have been wrongfully accused, jailed, and even killed for crimes they didn’t commit or things they didn’t do. Many people today have the mentality that people of color are the people who do the most wrong, but not every person of color is a criminal. Although racial profiling can help catch fugitives faster in certain circumstances, racial profiling plays a major role in America’s society causing many people of color to be wrongfully imprisoned and creates a sense of segregation which is against the civil rights act of 1964; Therefore racial profiling is still wrong no matter the circumstances.

Since 1954, America has been integrated. Although, the integration law has to follow the 1st amendment. The 1st amendment is freedom of speech.For many years, people of color have been wrongfully accused, due to their race. Although police officers are qualified to be more suspicious of people of colour, many have been abused or even targeted by law enforcement authorities. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed to protect people of color from the segregation of America. This act stated that all persons would share equal enjoyment, services, privileges, and facilities. This ceased segregation in public places, but not anywhere else.

Segregation and discrimination have been apart of our country for hundreds of years and it is still playing a major role in today’s society. “Over 4 million Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and its colonies from 1619 to 1865, and as a result, the United States was able to begin its grand place as the most prosperous country in the free world” (“Representative John Conyers Proposes Establishing Reparations”, 2015). For millions of years, people of color have been subject to discrimination from whites. Descendants of the slaves brought here thousands of years ago are still taking discrimination to this day. “It is a fact that slavery flourished in the United States and constituted an immoral and inhumane deprivation of African slaves’ lives, liberty and cultural heritage. As a result, millions of African Americans today continue to suffer great injustices” (“Representative John Conyers Proposes Establishing Reparations”, 2015). Although segregation and discrimination are no longer a big as it used to be, millions of African Americans still suffer the way their ancestors did. This proves that Discrimination has been apart of America for many years and is no doubt still around. Many people of African heritage are subject to discrimination because of their past.

The Civil Rights act of 1964 explains that all people are to cease segregation and discrimination. “All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin” (“Civil Rights Act of 1964”). The 1964 Civil Rights Act states that all people are entitled to the enjoyment of all aspects in America, regardless of race, faith or national origin, without racism or prejudice. “Each of the following establishments which serves the public is a place of public accommodation within the meaning of this title if its operations affect commerce, or if discrimination or segregation by it is supported by State action” (“Civil Rights Act of 1964”). Under the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the ADA, the federal government provides for the following in public accommodations: ethnicity, gender, faith, national origin, and disability. This proves that because all races are entitled to the enjoyment of all public establishments. Segregation/ discrimination is illegal in public by the laws of the federal government.

People of color have been wrongfully accused, jailed, and even killed. “Critics further charge that racism clearly feeds into the practice of racial profiling, making it a morally untenable policing policy. Targeting black and Hipic people for searches and traffic stops, critics maintain, sends the message that these populations are somehow predisposed to criminality” (“Racial Profiling: Is Racial Profiling A Necessary Police Practice?”, 2012). Racial profiling is an immoral policing policy. This sends a message that people of color are dangerous. “Senator Richard Durbin (D, Illinois) has argued, ‘Racial profiling undermines the rule of law and strikes at the core of our nation’s commitment to equal protection for all’” (“Racial Profiling: Is Racial Profiling A Necessary Police Practice?”, 2012).

Police officers take an oath to protect all people, racially profiling isn’t equal protection. Racially profiling those who fit the description of those who are considered dangerous in past times, doesn’t mean they are still dangerous. This practice causes many people of color to be wrongfully accused or/and imprisoned. This practice causes a sense of segregation in America. Many people can be attacked and even hurt by being racially profiled.

Some people believe that Racial profiling is only directed towards people of color. Racial profiling is used only against people of color, this is not practiced by any other individual, so it is not a controversy. People of color have been discriminated against for many years, therefore, should be used to it. “All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin” (“Civil Rights Act of 1964”). Racial profiling is used against all different kinds of people and religions, such as race, religion, and national origin. All people can be subject to racial profiling but people of color are the ones who are most affected by this causing segregation and/or discrimination. People of color shouldn’t be used to the effects of racial profiling.

Although racial profiling can help catch fugitives faster in certain circumstances, racial profiling plays a major role in America’s society causing many people of color to be wrongfully imprisoned and creates a sense of segregation which is against the civil rights act of 1964; Therefore racial profiling is still wrong no matter the circumstances. Racial profiling isn’t used by just police but also by everyday people creating segregation and discrimination. The Civil rights Act of 1964 explains that all persons should have the same enjoyments. These all explain why segregation is still a part of our nation. America may have overcome racial hardships over the course of thousands of years, but racism and segregation are still very much alive.