Table of ContentsIntroductionMyths and StereotypesInteraction with the LawArguments for Racial ProfilingArguments Against Racial ProfilingThis Article Chooses This SideConclusionReferencesIntroductionPolice bias and racial profiling are responsible for many false arrests, convictions, and deaths of African Americans. It is a difficult and unfortunate part of life that certain groups of human beings have to face these so-called obstacles in their lives because they are a minority or because of their skin color. Racial profiling by police is a persistent problem that African Americans have faced for over 500 years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay For a very long time, law enforcement officials have used profiling as part of their tactic to apprehend criminals. However, in recent times, profiling has become a major concern because law enforcement officials are unable to separate their criminal profiling tactics from racial profiling. According to Perry (2016), racial profiling occurs “when members of a particular racial or ethnic group are subject to greater criminal justice or institutional surveillance than others.” Additionally, racial profiling can also be seen as individuals belonging to certain ethnic groups being more likely to predict sinful behaviors. For example, an officer may see two black individuals shaking hands in a high drug crime area and assume that a drug transaction is taking place. As a multicultural nation, Canada protects its fundamental values ​​such as freedom from discrimination and arbitrariness. Although the government and police services have recognized that racial profiling is unacceptable and intolerable, it still persists today. Certain activities by law enforcement can make people feel like they are being racially profiled. This article will aim to examine stereotypes, the interaction of racial profiling on our legal system, and the arguments for and against racial profiling. Myths and stereotypesMyths and stereotypes can have a major impact on all ethnicities. Portrayals of African-Americans, both past and present, are presented as stereotypes that disproportionately disadvantage them in their lives. This is especially seen in words associated with African Americans. According to Brooms and Perry (2016), stereotypical words associated with white skin color are “respectability, courtesy, and trust,” while black skin color is typically associated with “poverty, danger, and distrust” (p. 168). . These comments not only have a negative impact on their personal lives, but also on their professional lives. Black men working in professional settings are at higher risk for racial microaggressions because they are often employed in white institutions or businesses where they experience many forms of discrimination. However, this idea of ​​racial microaggressions in the workplace could be attributed to the fact that their life opportunities are significantly reduced due to the color of their skin. Therefore, these young black men have no choice but to work for white leaders. Another interesting myth is the fact that most crimes in the United States are committed by African Americans. Along with this, there have been myths in the past about African Americans preying on white people. Even if therethere is some truth to this myth, it is likely to be exaggerated. For example, in 2005, 86% of white Americans murdered were murdered by other white Americans. Therefore, it was proven through statistics that African Americans were not the ones “taking on” white Americans. This is simply a stereotype about African Americans that goes back many years. This could very well be because black male avatars are typically portrayed as more violent and aggressive than white avatars in video games and mass media. Additionally, the continued portrayal of black men in this manner further imposes fear and resentment towards black men. These negative stereotypes of black men being dangerous criminals are deeply embedded in the psyche of society. According to Brooms and Perry (2016), this is a contributing factor to racial disparities in which white officers kill young, unarmed black men. Of course, racial profiling is not limited to interactions involving the black community alone. This applies to any group that is subject to stereotypes based largely on their race or color. Interaction with the Law Given the racial tensions between police and citizens, it is important to note the impact that racial profiling has had on the United States of America. Racial profiling can affect many different ethnic groups. However, one of the groups most affected is African Americans. One of the most prominent examples of racial profiling can be seen in 2012, when George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Following this, Trayvon was essentially put on trial in court for his own murder. Since then, this type of racial profiling is at the origin of the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Some victims of racial profiling include: Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald and Michael Brown. However, it is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and there are many more victims of racial profiling in the United States and Canada. Subsequently, police officers in the United States again used deadly force against young black men. On February 9, 2019, Willie McCoy was shot 25 times while sleeping in a car because police allege there was a gun in his lap. However, since 2012, there have been few if any cases of racial profiling against civilians of other ethnic groups. Another great example of racial profiling closer to home can be seen in the case of Donald Marshall Jr. In 1983, Marshall was an 18-year-old Aboriginal man who was convicted of the murder of Sandy Seale (R v. Marshall, 1983). Although Marshall did not murder Sandy Seale, he still spent 11 years in prison before finally being exonerated (R v. Marshall, 1983). Early in the investigation, one of the officers ultimately decided that Marshall had stabbed the victim despite a lack of evidence to support his conclusion. According to R v. Marshall (1983), there was a general feeling that Indians were not considered equal to whites. Two witnesses were intimidated by police and ultimately forced to provide alternative versions of events that supported the investigation into Marshall. Despite this wrongful conviction, racial profiling played a significant role in the imprisonment of Donald Marshall Jr.Arguments in Support of Racial ProfilingDespite the literature surrounding racial profiling, many arguments emphasize the positive effects of racial profiling. Racial profiling can be considered beneficial because it allows law enforcement to search for specific criminals based on similar ideologies. This means that if law enforcementknow what type of person fits the criminal's profile, this can help save value. Additionally, this may lead to an assumption that law enforcement officials will be able to apprehend more criminals. According to Pudnick (2017), racial profiling is often advocated as a way to maximize the effectiveness of scarce resources to control crime and prevent terrorist attacks. However, it can be difficult for police officers to accurately distinguish between races, especially when different racial groups share similar physical characteristics. For example, it can be difficult for officers to differentiate Punjabis, who are perceived to be affiliated with gangs and drug trafficking in British Columbia, from other South Asians. However, this is not the only argument in favor of racial profiling. Many supporters of racial profiling argue that it is a necessary tool during an investigation because statistics show that people in certain demographic groups are often more likely to commit certain crimes associated with those backgrounds than those in certain demographic groups. from an unrelated background. Additionally, many law enforcement agencies believe it would be irresponsible to ignore this idea simply because it could be considered racist. In a reasonable scenario, law enforcement officials generally use whatever information they have access to in order to deter present and future criminal activity. If a certain level of racial profiling were to provide crucial intelligence that actually deters crime, perhaps the conclusion would be that racial profiling should in fact remain a part of law enforcement's more general professional arsenal.Arguments Against racial profiling Despite the literature surrounding arguments for racial profiling, the other side of the debate must be addressed. One of the first arguments against racial profiling concerns the idea that it is actually racist. According to Pundik (2017), racial profiling “consists of viewing the suspect’s behaviors as being determined by their race, age, and gender, none of which are within their control.” The act of racial profiling is well known to law enforcement officials, but generalizations that coincide with racial profiling are known to create tension in specific communities. These tensions can further cause the community to feel constantly suspicious. When this happens, it is likely that these individuals are less likely to help law enforcement solve crimes and more likely to engage in suspicious behavior. According to Tanovich (2002), this is one of the reasons why most law enforcement groups oppose racial profiling. Over time, racial profiling practices on minority groups will contribute to the overrepresentation of ethnic groups within the criminal justice system. Subsequently, it is also known that racial profiling violates section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 15 of the Charter states that all individuals are equal before the law and prohibits discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin and color, among other grounds. However, cases relating to section 15 of the Charter are in fact rare. Additionally, section 15 of the Charter guarantees equality in the application of the law and the right not to be discriminated against based on race or ethnic origin. Any form of unequal treatment would constitute a violation of this article. However, cases falling under Article 15 concerning race are 11.