Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Racial profiling (Rated: RANT)

Tonight here in Chicago, my buddy and I were walking back from the liquor store 2 blocks away from his girlfriend's house. The neighborhood is known to be fairly safe (Lincoln Park), and is populated by young successful professionals. My buddy's girlfriend and her roommate left the liquor store 4 minutes before we did to meet someone waiting at their door. On the way home they were mugged by two black men in their mid-twenties driving a early 90's Cadillac. Threatened them with a supposed gun, that they said was in their pocket. Dressed in all black, one with corn-rows. Unfortunately, many of these characteristics fit the "typical" repressed, low-income, driven-to-crime, that many people stereotype have about african-americans. These same individuals made two other muggings within one city block less than 3 minutes apart. The cops pulled over a young black man who was wearing the same clothing, and driving the same kind of car in the neighborhood. All the victims saw him and told the police that it was not one of the muggers, so the cops let him go.

Now, I consider myself a very liberal person who accepts diversity, and does not have any preconcieved notions about other ethnicities. But this experience brings a lot of rage into me because it effected people that I care about. At first I was pissed off, and thought to myself "These are the same kind of people that are always preaching about racial profiling, and judgement on the color of their skin. If they don't want that judgement, then don't pull sh!t like this. It only encourages stereotypes like this, so it's your own fault."

Now I know that these are the wrong thoughts, because they aren't that same people that are fighting for equal rights. And just because there are some african-americans that commit crimes, it doesn't mean that the majority of them are bad. That's racism. I know it's wrong to assume that just because someone is black that I see on the subway is more likely to mug me than the white person next to me. But I also know that presentation of ones self is a large part of the way people percieve you in all walks of life, whether its a job interview, or riding on the 'L'. So if people don't want to be judged before people get to know you, don't dress or present yourself like a thug, or a slob, or a drunk, or a badass because you are only setting yourself up for a bad situation.

I'm sure that I will probably get a lot of flaming for this, but I just had to speak my mind, and get my angry thoughts out so they wouldn't sit and boil into anymore rage.

I just see about watchin out for urself. Which was just accounted for tonite. Let someone step into my place or a place a frequent trying to start trouble. They will regret it. I love south georgia.

I almost whipped a bling-blingin' short black man tonight. He wouldn't give me the damn q-ball.

When I was let go from a job, the manager told me he once had to let a good old boy go. After thinking about it I guess that means that I'm not a good old boy.

The cops were probably looking for a specific person and that person met the description. It could have just as easily been a person with blonde hair and blue eyes that they were looking for. I think there are probably inocent people in prison because they met the description.

I'm not sure I understand your rant... are you upset that the cops pulled over a guy who was wearing similar clothes and driving a similar car to the muggers? Can't say I see anything wrong there.

But that's not to say I haven't seen racial profiling in action - one of my friends got pulled over and spent the night in jail for total BS reasons (actually I don't think he ever did get a straight answer for why he was brought in). And what's really f'd up is he was dressed like a yuppie at the time, like he usually is.

But in general I agree that if you dress like a gangsta you can expect to be treated with suspicion by most people. Doesn't matter if you're black or white.

Wait, so what's your problem? You're pissed cause the cops pulled over someone who FITS THE DESCRIPTION of the person running around mugging people? What do you want them to do? all they have to go on is the description given to them by other people...Is it me or is this post very confusing?

I guess I don't understand what the problem is. Since everyone said it wasn't the guy they let him go. He looked like the mugger so the cops got him. It would be bad if they didn't care that no one id'ed him but they wanted to pin it on some black guy anyway.

I guess I really didn't make my point clear.

I felt bad for the guy that the cops picked up wrongfuly, but I was more focused on the idiot black guys that decided to come into a fairly rich, white neighborhood to take some cash from some unsuspecting young people.

I guess it was more of a "What the hell are they doing coming into our part of the city" frustration.

HAha. I think I'm taking that the wrong way. Or maybe the right way but it's the wrong way. There goes the neighborhood.