Racial profiling is the practice of law enforcement or other authorities singled out for interrogation, investigation, or other law enforcement actions not because of proof of criminal activity but because of the subject’s presumed race or ethnicity. This behavior affects many facets of society and has important ramifications. The following are some essential points that put the relevance of racial profiling into context. Racial profiling is a serious problem that affects people on a personal, social, and political level. It is a subject of continuous worry and discussion because it poses significant issues regarding justice, civil rights, and the function of law enforcement in a multicultural and heterogeneous society. 

 

Understanding what racial profiling is and how it is present in todays society, it is important to understand the main issues regarding the topic. Historically, several main points arise in the discussion of how racial profiling has affected society and black communities. One of the biggest, if not the strongest, main points is police brutality. Police brutality against the black community has been a massive issue since the inception of Jim Crow Laws. Jim Crow Laws created restrictions for African Americans such as certain jobs, access to public areas, political positions, and generally created a hugely racist environment in the U.S. This is where it can be cited that such brutality can be seen on such a large scale. Historical photographs of the civil rights movement really display the level of brutality African Americans were facing while protesting for reform. When the Civil Rights Movement had ended, racism, racial profiling, and police brutality had not ended. In the more modern era, such actions are still present in police forces. Names like the Chicago Riots and George Floyd bring out some of the most pivotal moments in the creation of Black Lives Matter and even more reform. Now we can see that police brutality doesn’t just come through as violence. Traffic stops, searches, ways of dealing with resistance, invoking fear. These are just a few of the issues of racial profiling that have plagued society for years.