Writer’s choice 200-225 Words
Identify three problematic diversity issues to discuss in your journal entry (race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, age, language, disability). Select different issues than those you’ve addressed in the previous weeks of this course.
Write a journal entry that addresses each of the three diversity issues you’ve identified. Each diversity issue should be addressed in 175 to 225 words. To craft your journal entry, consider what you’ve learned in this course and observed in your life, and address the following:
Where in America would the person moving here likely see or experience each issue (workplace, education institutions, armed forces, sports, religious organizations/institutions, families, politics/government, entertainment/media, justice system, health care, etc.)?
What are the causes of each issue? From your perspective, why did each become an issue, and why does each issue continue to exist?
What is at least one effect of each issue on the U.S. as a country and its citizens individually?
In your opinion, what are possible strategies and solutions for overcoming these issues today and in the future? Discuss what the person moving to the U.S. might do to be a part of the solution.
Racial Profiling in the United States
Racial Profiling in the United States
Racial or ethnic profiling has been a longstanding and troubling problem in the United States, despite assertions and claims that the country is currently in a post-racial era. Racial profiling continues occurring in towns and cities across the country, especially when private security and law enforcement personnel target people of color for frightening and humiliating interrogations, checks, searches, and detentions without any evidence of criminal activity (Romero, 2006). While racial profiling is illegal in the country and is a violation of the constitution’s key promises of equal protection and treatment under the law, it is still common in most cities and towns. Upon arrival in the United States, you are very likely to experience racial profiling in cities and towns, especially where you interact with law enforcement officials such as the traffic police and any private security personnel.
In most regions of the country, traffic stops and searches are biased and people of color subjected to unnecessary searches and use of force during such instances. Some regions where this is common include Arizona, Northern and Southern California, Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas (The American Civil Liberties Union and the Rights Working Group, 2007). Racial profiling alienates immigrant communities from law enforcement, causes law enforcement agencies to lose credibility and trust from people, and makes community policing efforts difficult. The major cause of racial profiling is ingrained racism which occurs in various national and state departments, including the Criminal Justice System and the Public Service Authorities. The problem can only be resolved through education and training to eliminate the racism that continues to eat up the American society. Immigrants also need to cooperate with the state and federal authorities to understand their role and avoid any form of misunderstanding and stereotypes that result in profiling.
References
Romero, M. (2006). Racial profiling and immigration law enforcement: Rounding up of usual suspects in the Latino community. Critical Sociology, 32(2-3), 447-473.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Rights Working Group. (2007, December 10). The Persistence Of Racial And Ethnic Profiling In The United States. https://www.aclu.org/report/persistence-racial-and-ethnic-profiling-united-states
