Are we too racially sensitive?
By laylomo
@laylomo (165)
United States
November 23, 2007 6:37pm CST
This is a continuation of my other discussion regarding racism?
United States Representative Danny Davis of Illinois felt he was victim of racial profiling.
Racial profiling, synonymous with racial stereotyping, is the inclusion of racial or ethnic characteristics in determining whether or not a person is considered likely to commit a particular type of crime, most notably African Americans being most likely to be violent and unruly, as evident through the Rodney King scandal.
Davis, along with three guests (all of whom were black), were working on his radio show until about midnight Sunday. Around 1 AM, he was stopped by two white Chicago policemen. Davis claims he did not speed, had a valid driver's license, wasn't swerving, or any other legitimate reason. The Congressman was issued a $75 ticket for "driving left of center," forced to appear in traffic court in late December.
So this discussion is about being racially sensitive. When the same situation has two races involved, it is considered racism, even when the afflicting side is not causing harm because of any premeditated racial ideology or reason. Are we too racially sensitive? Or is racism as bad as the media portrays it - or even worse? Was the Congressman stopped because he was black or because he was, indeed, driving off center.
3 people like this
3 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Sadly the same thing will happen if only one race is involved.It is sad but true that if you are black and you are driving in the "wrong" neighborhood, you will be harassed even in 2007.The good news that not all black people are poor and will be pushed around.So it will be the good cops that will be in more danger because of this stupidity. Why? Because after the Congressman wins his lawsuit, there will be less money for more cops on the street. and the ones that are out there will try this " driving while black" routine with the wrong party and they will be the ones that will get hurt.As long as the cops think that a black person is automatically a criminal, they will be in trouble , either from lawsuits or revenge coming from the streets.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Besides this bad press will hurt the tourist trade.Because people will not come to a town where you can be harassed just because you are the wring color for the local police.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Nov 07
It would depend on the incident, or whether Davis was breaking a law and whether the law had never been enforced unless the driver was Black. Then it was wrong. I do think that certain crimes or misdemeanors are more likely to be committed by a certain ethnic group, like if there was a case of beating up a black woman, the police would be looking for a white blond haired blue eyed guy with a German accent. Or if there were a case of pimps kidnapping a girl, they would look for a black man. This before they find the real suspect. There are cases when people are too racially sensitive and it will take time for that to stop. Once people are treated equally, then there will be no profiling, unless there is an event like 9/11 when the perpetrators were Arabian.
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
24 Nov 07
There are times where its still like this Laylo.
However, some people have the ability to counter it (others do not though). Additionally, there are groups and organizations that try to counter this (though some only do it for self-serving purposes and not for the victim, another discussion). Anyways, I'll say you are correct as is Sarah. There are places people of all sorts of colors "shouldn't" go (talk about Land of the Free eh...)
