Have any of you ever been racially profiled?

Question

If you have can you A: tell me about the experience. B: Tell me how it made you feel (you can skip this one) C: Tell me how it made you feel towards the type of people who profiled you. and D: tell me if you told others about the experience and if you did what did you say?. If you'd feel more comfortable you could e-mail me at [e-mail]. This is for a paper on racial profiling.

Note: Case your wondering if you've seen this before, this is the second time I've posted this question. I'm trying to get some new answers.

Answer 1

Yeah, I'm white and southern and in my 8th grade year there was this boy who would not stop calling me a redneck. Just because I talk southern. I know what a redneck is considered to be, and I'm not one of them. It hurt my feelings because thats all he called me, over and over. It really got on my nerves and hurt, although I knew it wasn't true. The boy that kept calling me this was half native american and half white. It didn't make me feel any way toward that type of person because just because one made bad decisions doesn't mean they all will. Yeah, I told my mom all about it and asked to change all my classes to get away from him. It didn't work.

Answer 2

Yes, I think this qualifies.
Years ago I worked for an auto parts company in a diverse community, shall we say, though more black than white. I was the csr in charge of everything, returns, special orders and usually did all the cashiering duties as well because we couldn't keep cashiers. This black guy comes in and wants to return a very expensive part but doesn't have a receipt. Now I was allowed to do up to $50 refund w/out prior autho from any supervisors. I'd do them with or without receipts. I just learned not to argue with those customers. Had my life threatened a couple of times because of that. Anyway, this was a $200 dollar part. I'm feeling for the guy, so I ask if he paid by check--no, I asked what store and the approximate date that he bought it--nothing, no info. If we can do some research like that, my manager may be able to justify the return to corporate and autho the refund. I tell him without a receipt or any info. I can't do anything but give him the phone# to the corp. office. He proceeds to call me a stupid white b*tch who's family owned slaves and wouldn't and never would give a black man a break. Then he tells me that I better not go to my car alone when I leave to go home. I calmly and submissively say yes sir I understand. I can't do anything my hands are absolutely tied. Needless to say, when I went to my car that evening there waiting was my husband and about 1/2 dozen of his friends. Who are not white by the way. Didn't realize I had such a support team.

Oh, this incident got me wondering...so I did some genealogy research. My family has never owned slaves, we were just poor gypsies. Selling our produce and dresses like street vendors. My maternal/paternal side family didn't get here till after slavery was over. Maternal/maternal never owned slaves they were of the Cherokee people. And my father’s sides of the family are all from the west coast and always have been. So after that I was prepared to show that I had every right to be appalled, by their assumption of me and my family’s character and just laugh at their own ignorance. Never got the chance, I quit not long afterwards.

Answer 3

I'm white, my ethnicity is mostly Irish and I look it. I come from a well-off family but moved to a very low-income area with few jobs. My income level dropped. (I moved from Philadelphia, PA to Saginaw, MI.)

When I go back to Philadelphia, I notice that when I am waited on in stores by people of any race, I am expected to buy a lot of things, or to purchase the most expensive item.

When I was looking in a jewelry store for a gift, I noticed that a black salesperson was waiting on a black customer. The customer pointed out the earrings she wanted and the saleslady took them out and completed the transaction. When it came to me, she tried upselling a LOT, even though I was in jeans and a tee shirt just like the black customer.

I work a counter job and I nkow how upselling is stressed, but I was embarrassed to tell the sales person that I only had enough money to buy the one item, because she was so insistent. It didn't make me hate the saleslady or anything, but if I had this experience every day, it would make me angry.

Working as a barista at a coffee shop, I always hear 'they're just college kids' when customers talk about us. They make it sound like I don't take my job seriously. The area I live in is so economically depressed, myself and other baristas have Bachelors degrees but cannot find a better job.

I think it comes down to a financial difference or a class war sometimes rather than one of race. Oftentimes, racial profiling in retail is usually due to assumptions about economic status based on dress, race, etc.

Answer 4

I'm white but I was racially profiled!

I got lost and ended up in a black neighborhood in the middle of the night. I was about 25 at the time and I was driving a new 7 Series BMW. (It was my uncle's car. He needed me to pick up a part for his classic Corvette in a town a couple hours away.)

Two black cops pulled me over and asked what I was doing. I explained that I was lost, but they apparently didn't believe me. They asked if they could search the car and while they were doing it, they kept telling me I was going to prison for drugs and they kept referring to me as "rich little white boy."

My uncle is an periodontist and there were a ton of syringes and prescription drugs in the trunk. They hauled me down to the station but they didn't arrest me. My uncle showed up a couple hours later and explained everything that was in the trunk. So they let me go.

How it made me feel. I was ticked off to be inconvenienced and I was also ticked that no matter what I said, these cops just wouldn't listen.

How I felt towards the cops afterwards... Well, I was ticked off at the two cops who put me through this, but it hasn't altered my view of the police in general. After i thought about it, I figured they were just doing their job. I mean, I was definitely out of place. I was a white guy in an expensive luxury car who was driving through a bad neighborhood.

I've told many people about the incident. I told them the same thing I told you. However, I was probably a bit more snotty and crude about it at the time considering I was ticked off about having to sit in a police station for four hours simply because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It also happened several times when i was between 16 and 18. We have a local "cruising strip" here on the South side of Chicago. Anyone from the southside of Chicago should know about "crusin' Archer." Anyway, if you drove a sports car or a luxury car, the cops would pull you over just to harass you or give you a ticket for doing one mile over the speed limit (they did it just to make you go to court and waste a day - I heard they stopped the 1 MPH ticketing after judges were getting really ticked off at the cops for wasting their time and the taxpayers' money). I used my parents' cars, so I was either in a Cadillac or a Corvette. That was 12-14 years ago, but it may be the same now.

Good luck with your paper!

Answer 5

Yes I have in an atypical fashion. I was driving 63 mph in my Z3 on the PA turnpike and got pulled over for speeding. I was in the right lane and being passed like I was standing still. I got pulled over because I was driving a nice car, the cop actually admitted. I feel it was reverse profiling, especially considering how many other people were going so much faster than me.

Answer 6

I was walking down the street in the city I was born in with a young lady. I was followed about two blocks by a small group of current local residents. My date and I were surrounded by the group. Fortunately, I was able to talk my way out of the trouble and we eluded any major issues. It was clear that these people had a preconceived view of me before ever speaking to me.

I no longer visit my birthplace. It is not worth the aggravation.

Answer 7

Yes. I was in a check out line at the store. The white cashier was checking out the black woman in front of me. She was all smiles to her and gazed apon her adoringly like a precious gem. When it was my turn to be checked out her toothy smile dropped into a bored grimace as her demeanor changed. Her friendlyness had faided.
The way it made me feel towards the type of person who did it was utter contempt. I was also angry that this woman had been so brainwashed that she actually hated her own race as evidenced by her behavior.
Good luck on your paper.

Answer 8

sure I definitely have specifically ed, some youngster exchange into calling us all reatards and asserting that we get nap time and have worry buttoning our shirts and mentioned that he wonders why we wernt euthenized from the begining. Then he went on how all of us the place saved alive for television specials on how stressful this is to safeguard a reatard. I appeared at him and mentioned nicely whilst do i'm getting my television spot then... Iam particular ed in spite of everything? He in basic terms became and ran away yelling OH CRAP! "Iam the nicest yet between the biggest babies at college and that i've got been given a historic past of dropping my cool" anyhow I hunted him down and asked are you particular approximately your assertion? He had the look of soiling himself in sheer terror and he in basic terms nerviously mentioned.... "No" I replied sturdy, now howbout an apology, he apoligized and ran away. I walked with the aid of later and he exchange into bragging to his acquaintances of ways he tricked me with the aid of pointing towrds spelling blocks. I placed him right into a headlock and nuggied him till he all started crying and telling the reality. Make a protracted tale short. youngster mentioned i exchange into reatarded for being specifically ed I gave him a guess to repent He lost that risk so I gave him a nuggie from hell. He by no ability insulted spec ed babies ever lower back.

Answer 9

a: I was driving up to cape hatteras, North Dakota, from florida with a couple surfboards on my car. I was stopped in Georgia (not speeding) and was searched for drugs.

b: Ticked off

c: ticked off

d: Yes, I told others to make sure they don't have drugs in Ga. if they have a surf board with them.

Answer 10

Yes, I have. Quite an interesting experience for me!

At the time, I was studying in the States (Philly), and one Christmas I rented a car to drive down to Boston to see my best friend. On my return trip to Philly, I was going through New Jersey when I was flagged down by a couple of State Troopers. It was common knowledge at the time that State Troopers had been racially profiling drivers on the Turnpike.

I knew I wasn't guilty of anything consciously (speeding, driving dangerously, etc. - you get my drift), so I felt pretty secure - I believed I wasn't in any real trouble.

The officer approached me & asked me to produce my driver's license, where I was coming from, and where I was going to with a rather demeaning tone to his voice - I just guessed the power of being in authority had gone to his head.

Then, his partner also approached my car. This was a little intimadating, as here I was, a young female with two larger than life State Troopers literally staring (or glaring?) down at me. I was asked to step out of my car to have my vehicle searched.

I didn't think to object as I reminded myself that I had nothing to worry about as I knew that I had done nothing illegal, so I remained calm. Really calm. Besides, the sooner they did their job, the sooner I would be on my way.

After seeing my Hong Kong driver's license, my car rental contract AND hearing that I was coming from Boston & going back up to Philly after visiting a friend, their tension mounted & admittedly, so did my bemusement! It was so obvious with the way that they were questioning me that they just didn't believe me, and coming from a big city where people travel internationally so frequently, my explanation seemed pretty normal to me!

They thoroughly searched the interior of the car, then asked me what was in the trunk. "I went shopping!" I replied, "Please feel free to take a look." Which, of course, they did, and when confronted with a trunk-full of shopping bags, they hastily peeked in one or two, and seeing them full of clothing... began apologizing & explaining & thanking me for being so co-operative! Basically, I was given the story that the area I was travelling through was a known drug moving area, so they had to be extra careful... whatever you say, officer!

Honestly, I believe my sense of security in knowing I had done nothing wrong & choosing to co-operate graciously spoke volumes. and went a long way in preventing any additional trouble.

By this time, I had lived in the States long enough to know that racism permeated all areas of life, and because I have a very well-travelled background, I knew that the real issue at hand was simply ignorance. I just chose not to take it personally.

I did relay the story to a couple of my friends, and some were really upset about it because of their own personal experiences. I can't blame them for feeling that way, but I also believe that we all need to pick & choose our battles wisely, and know when to cry "victim." This wasn't one of those times for me.

Those State Troopers were trying to play a game with me, one that involved intimidation & heavy-handedness. I just didn't want to play along.

Hope that gives you something helpful for your paper - I'm sure it'll be a very interesting read & I wish you much success with it!

Cheers!