- What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression?
In high school and the few years following I was close friends with two African American men. We would often be in the car together, just the three of us, driving around town. There were multiple times when we were pulled over by police officers for no apparent reason. There were no warnings, or citations given. However, my two friends were always asked to step out of the car and searched, while I was allowed to stay in.
- In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
I believed this to be both racial and gender profiling; possibly agism as well. I think that we were pulled over simply because we were young and there were two black men in the car. They were obviously discriminated against because they were searched and I was not.
- What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
Initially I felt very angry that this type of racism was occurring in an area which I lived and loved so much. However because there was never any citations that they could find to give us, we would often laugh it off.
- What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
I believe multiple changes would have to occur. Obviously racial profiling is a problem in our police force and government that needs continual monitoring and improvement. Even if crime is higher among African American men than some other races, it is unfair and unjust to classify all African Americans as criminals, which is what occurs when police officers to assume someone is doing something wrong simply because they are black.
Hello Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteBeing a member of the African American race,it upsets and make me feel angry that most of crime in today's society are blamed on African American men. This is the worse type of modern day racism, and it is time to educate and teach people in today's society that just because someone is black does not mean that they should be the first suspects to blame for crimes. It is time to change these outdated circumstances.
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteI would walk with my African American friends home from high school sometimes, or around at the football games. The cops would nod to us and then ask "Ma'am are you okay?"
Of course I was okay! What about anything that was happening made them assume I was not okay?
The profiling is horrible and unnecessary.
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteAs an African American is frustrates me to see how racial profiling still exist. Society itself has minorities feeling as if they are victims because of the stereotypes and prejudice that they face. My cousin was the only black among his two white friends. One day his friend’s car stopped on side of the road. My cousin was standing outside the car when the police came and they threw him against the car without even seeing what the problem was. Now my cousin is skeptical about driving with friends from other races because he do not what to be a target of racial profiling.
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a personal story. It is sad that African Americans as STILL being targeted like this. I hear stories all the time from friends of mine that are similar to the one that you just told. It really is sad and I hope one day this all changes.