Racial Passing Research Paper

Racial passing is when a person classified of a specific racial group is also accepted as a member of another race. For example, in a reciting of “passing” by Toi Derricotte, a young light-skin african american woman passes as a white woman. One of the black students mentioned in the poem says “ sometimes light-skinned blacks think they can fool other blacks, but i can always tell.” (Derricotte 2016). The idea of passing is easy to get a hold of but it’s not easy to actually understand why a person would want to be someone they are not.

The reading touched on how the building of black schools was financed. I found it interesting that most of the financial contributions were personal contributions from Blacks and taxes paid by black while the philanthropists gave less than 20 percent of the amount needed. However, because the elementary schools were referred to as Rosenwald schools the contributions of Blacks were often relegated to the background. Although, the contribution of the philanthropists did not equal that of the Blacks we see a usurping of power in how they stipulated that, as part of their agreement, the school would be deeded to the southern local school system.

For centuries many have practiced a deception of identity called 'passing ' not only in America but other nations as well. Passing is a term that many Black/African-Americans have heard at one time or another from an acquaintance or possibly from someone in their own family speaking of a relative that 'passed ' as another race during a time period in America pre-civil rights era, for personal gain, whether it was for acceptance in their communities, ease of living or financial equality.

Racial profiling is a tool used to pull over blacks and for reasons other than what the traffic stop should be. To the average person who does not experience this will view as a non-issue or not a big deal. But having an experience as a victim of racial profiling can leave a psychological scar for many years, depending on the severity of the traffic stop. The statistics show that these incidents are not random but shows a systematic pattern of law enforcement misconduct rather it’s coming from the individual officer or the police department, it’s clear that racial profiling has a disparate and degrading impact on blacks.

Crime should be punished regardless of whether black, white or Hispanic committed. However, police profiling is not about punishing a certain individual for a certain crime that is being investigated. Thus, some officers make the crime to be by minority through unreasonably targeting them with unfair searches based on their color of their skin. Police profiling and how the police treat suspects should not be mixed up. An instance of harassment or abuse by a police officer based on race is racism, and should not be characterized as police profiling.

Racial profiling affects those in Knott C. county by making people live in fear. Not just Knott C. county , but also throughout the nation. Doubting those kids that grew up in a poverty neighborhood of even making it out alive. Also even doubting them that they will have a future if they do make it out alive. They wake up not knowing if they will actually be who they dream of being one day which “every shot they shoot , they shoot for their dreams” says Coach Rhodes. Not just that , but being racially profiled for how they look , act , live and mostly for who they show to be , not knowing where they really come from.

One may consider how racial profiling began. The term was initially instituted in the 1970's while rebuffing medication traffickers. In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Organization made a system called Operation Pipeline. This system was constituted of cops who were prepared in a particular way to target people who drove in specific ranges in light of their age and race. The well known racial profiling case White versus Williams speaks to this reason, where minority drivers were ceased along the New Jersey Road. Therefore, the American Common Freedoms Union of New Jersey had a noteworthy triumph in its lawful endeavors to end racial profiling when the court declined to reject a case that state authorities acted with conscious lack of interest to

In communities where there are heavy percentages of racial and ethnic minorities, racial profiling can cause a gap between them and law enforcement departments. Communities and officers work better together if they are in a positive relationship. However, when the two parties are at odds with each other due to racial profiling, it diminishes the ability to find criminals and probe crimes and also minimizes belief in these agencies (Head). What racial profiling specifically does is cause a central problem to minority communities: trust. When there is trust between people, organizations, or other groups, there develops the power to cooperate and actually move forward. In a simple racial profiling case, an officer arrests an African American male

Police brutality and racial profiling have become one of the most common topics of discussion in the United States today. Both of these things have had a huge impact on the African American population’s everyday lifestyle. There have been many controversial examples of this in just the past two years. Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown and Walter Scott, were all killed during an encounter with a caucasian police officer. Was there a valid reason for the police encounter? Was the victim holding/carrying a weapon? Was the police officer threatened verbally or physically?

As much as we don’t want to admit it, racial profiling from police has been going on in America ever since the early political policing era in the mid 1800’s. With racial disparity within the criminal justice system, I would be approaching how blacks and Latinos are targeted and approached in a more aggressive manner than that of a white American. I would also be approaching how Latinos and blacks are more likely to be frisk and stopped by police for no valid reason, besides racial profiling. Also those police not having probable cause and physically harms individuals. Blacks and Latinos are more likely to be stopped and frisk at a higher rate than other races. Latinos and blacks are approached while walking in their own neighborhoods, also

Imagine that you’ve recently moved into a new town due to accepting a promotion for a new job. You’re excited for the next step in your career and the opportunities it will bring for you and your family. You’ve left home early to arrive to work on time when suddenly a cop pulls behind you, siren blaring and its florescent red and blue lights flashing. You slowly pull to the side after quickly checking your speedometer wondering what you could have done wrong. After turning off the car you pull out your license and registration and roll down your window as the officer approaches your driver’s side door. The officer directs his attention from the inspecting the outside of the car to you and asks if you’re new in town. After your response of yes

Racial profiling is a tool used to target a certain group, majority blacks, by pulling him/her over for reasons other than what the traffic stop should be or not. To the average person who does not experience this will view as a non-issue or not a big deal. But having an experience as a victim of racial profiling can leave a psychological scar for many years, depending on the severity of the traffic stop. The statistics show that these incidents are not random, but shows a systematic pattern of law enforcement misconduct rather it’s coming from the individual officer or the police department, it’s clear that racial profiling has a disparate and degrading impact on blacks. Driving while black (DWB) demonstrates, reflects, and exacerbates important issues we face today when talking or debating problems within that involves the police, criminal justice, the courts and the law.

Many historians argue that race has played a central role in the history of the United States. The statement previously made is a factual statement because there is historical evidence to prove it is true. Knowing and taking in count that there is a lot of racial discrimination for all different races, our main focus will be on the African American (black) race.

Reavy, P. (2014, June 20). Family Suing Over Alleged Illegal Search Wins Round in Court. Deseret News.

In early 20th century it was quite common to pass. Passing back then was a way for the ‘passer’ to leave their old identity behind most likely because of race complications. With all the racism happening in the early 20th century it doesn’t come to surprise that a black person would want to lose their identity to become white. Sadly enough to protect who they really