Sociology Paper
Lewis University
Racial Profiling
One of the Major Social Injustice’s in America
Gregory Aaron Hargrove
Cultural Diversity 200 M-W-F 1-50pm
Thomas Brignall
May 8, 2013
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, racial profiling can be defined as “any law enforcement initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than the behavior of an individual that leads law enforcement to a particular individual who has been identified as being, or having been, engaged in criminal activity” When examining racial profiling from a sociological prospective there are several theories and concepts that can be used to do so. In this paper the concepts of institutional racism, labeling theory, and conflict theory will be used to examine bill 1070 an instance where racial profiling is prevalent. Richard T. Schaefer, the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups with Faculty Readings explains institutional racism as “The denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that result from the normal operations of a society” (Schaefer 63). The concept of institutional racism was introduced by civil rights activist Stockley Carmichael and political scientist Charles Hamilton. In their book Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America Hamilton and Carmichael state that institutional racism is when non-minorities (whites) participate in covert acts that negatively affect minorities.1 This notion is even further expressed later when Carmichael and Hamilton say, “Institutional racism relies on the active and persuasive operation of anti-minority attitudes and practices.”(Carmichael, Washington 5). This ideology can be applied to modern day issues such as laws on immigration. The bill SB 1070 can be seen as a covert act of the “superior” group to get rid of the subordinate group (immigrants), because law makers aren’t just forcibly kicking legal immigrants out their just making them go through so many loop holes as
Racial Profiling
One of the Major Social Injustice’s in America
Gregory Aaron Hargrove
Cultural Diversity 200 M-W-F 1-50pm
Thomas Brignall
May 8, 2013
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, racial profiling can be defined as “any law enforcement initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than the behavior of an individual that leads law enforcement to a particular individual who has been identified as being, or having been, engaged in criminal activity” When examining racial profiling from a sociological prospective there are several theories and concepts that can be used to do so. In this paper the concepts of institutional racism, labeling theory, and conflict theory will be used to examine bill 1070 an instance where racial profiling is prevalent. Richard T. Schaefer, the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups with Faculty Readings explains institutional racism as “The denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that result from the normal operations of a society” (Schaefer 63). The concept of institutional racism was introduced by civil rights activist Stockley Carmichael and political scientist Charles Hamilton. In their book Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America Hamilton and Carmichael state that institutional racism is when non-minorities (whites) participate in covert acts that negatively affect minorities.1 This notion is even further expressed later when Carmichael and Hamilton say, “Institutional racism relies on the active and persuasive operation of anti-minority attitudes and practices.”(Carmichael, Washington 5). This ideology can be applied to modern day issues such as laws on immigration. The bill SB 1070 can be seen as a covert act of the “superior” group to get rid of the subordinate group (immigrants), because law makers aren’t just forcibly kicking legal immigrants out their just making them go through so many loop holes as