It's Because I'm Black Isn't It?: ETHOS!

Racial Profiling and stereotyping has been heightening for the past two decades due to false allegations by law enforcement agents against people of color. It has increased in number and frequency. This isn’t just talking about African Americans; It’s is referring to Hispanics, Indians, and many more ethnicities who have a darker skin tone then that of our Caucasian associates. Quantitative and qualitative evidence has been collected at a federal, state, and local level, confirming that racial profiling persists even though it was deemed unconstitutional.

       I, being an African American female and teenager who has friends and family who love to joke around, hear stereotypes more often then I want to. For instance, not all black teenagers get pregnant at a young age. That stereotype is also portrayed with Hispanic teenage females as well. All black people do not like fried chicken either. I, myself personally know of a few black people who can’t stand fried chicken. Teenagers that are of Indian descent are not playing to blow up the school. Yes, that may sound ridiculous but I have heard a stereotype like that.

       Teenagers aren’t the only group stereotyped; you also have adults who are stereotyped as well. At airports, security guards are allowed to do random searches on passengers at any moment. They don’t have to have a motive or reason, just every once in a while they feel the need to do it. Why is it that when an Indian passenger goes to get on the plane, they are stopped to be checked for bombs or drugs or other substances of that sort? It isn’t right to treat people that way.

        As far as education goes, black people are not inferior to white people when it comes to learning. We have the same amount of capabilities to achieve high goals and surpass high standards. We can excel in Ivy League schools and go on to exceptional careers. Dr. Benjamin Carson did not start off as a good student. Because he was black and the only black kid in his class, he was expected to fail, but he over came the bullying and name calling. He became the first surgeon to separate Siamese twins successfully with out one child having to die.

        We, African Americans and other ethnicities of a dark skin tone do not like being racially profiled or stereotyped. We take offense to it even if we don’t verbally express it. Yes we may joke around with some stereotypes but truth be told some of us feel some type of way on the inside.