Profiling

After reading the anecdotal introduction to Taylor's sixth chapter about racial profiling, I was immediately reminded of something my mother said. We quite typically get into controversial discussions, mostly because we both always think we're right and hold polar opposite political views. This time, when the slightest reference to racial profiling came up on the television, my mother said "Now how are you to blame a cop for pursuing minorities more often when statistically, they are more likely to be committing crimes? If I was a black man, I wouldn't be mad at the cops, but at other black men for giving me that reputation."

At that point my jaw dropped, and I couldn't immediately speak as if I had just witnessed a bomb explode. On occasion, I hear things that just seem so illogical to me that I cannot begin to explain why they are wrong. But in this case, I tried. I tried to explain how using race as a factor to judge a whole group of people is not rooted in logic and how such prejudice is the problem in our society. I tried to explain how the "statistics" she references are already skewed solely because of racial profiling, thus it can't be used to explain racial profiling. In the end, all she could really say was: "It's statistics Ashlyn, and cops have a job to do. I can't wait for this liberal phase to go away."

I was dumbfounded. But I usually am after conversations like that with my mother (who I do love dearly despite our difference in opinion). What mostly disturbed me was an unwillingness to acknowledge the problem and I find that to be the biggest hindrance in working towards racial equality in general. There absolutely is a problem, but it is constantly overlooked. People don't want to be pushed out of their comfort zone. (white) People don't want to consider a problem if it's not theirs to begin with. Why would my mother or any other white person be bothered to acknowledge the issue of racial profiling when it doesn't affect them? People who desire a more just society may push acknowledgement but people content with their status in society see no reason to rock the boat. It's sad. And unfortunate. And I don't understand it. And I don't know what I should do about it. I don't know if I would make any sort of difference. And I don't think anyone would ever take me seriously even if I tried to make a difference because I am a white female college student who is apparently going through my "liberal phase".