Scruples #7: Racial Profiling
Situation: A hot topic in the news in Atlanta is the issue of racial profiling. There is an upscale area in Atlanta by the name of Buckhead. It has been on the news lately because of the homicides that have been taking place. If you all remember, there were 2 men killed after the Super Bowl in an incident involving professional football player Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. Since then there have been other homicides, the lastest involving a shooting that took the life of yet another young man a couple of weeks ago. There have been 8 homicides in the Buckhead area this year. Four black, 3 hispanic, 1 white. There have also been several people injured and assaulted.
Most of the homicides and injuries have been to black folks - by black folks. Now as the debate goes on in Atlanta as to what to do, many feel that there are racial undertones. Many believe that the ideas presented and some of the actions being taken "are to get the black folks out of Buckhead." The clubs, bars, and restaurants in Buckhead realize that black folks have money and are willing to spend it in their establishments, so they have no problem catering to their black constituents. The residents that live there are tired of the murders and the crime.
Again I make the comment that we talk about how we are sick and tired of the negative stereotypes and publicity, but some of us continue to do negative things. And as much as I hate it and as wrong as it is, when a black person does something crazy the media will hype it up and use that person as a representation of us all.
Question: What are your feelings on racial profiling and the behavior of the few black folks who play into the stereotype of the "thug/hoodlum black folks who are up to no good". Have you ever been a part of an incident involving racial profiling or know of someone who has?
[This message has been edited by PinkCashmere (edited September 06, 2000).]
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