Racism or Fear?

Race is a social construct for society to identify differences in the appearance of humans. In the words of Greek Philosopher, Plato, “The appearance of something may change, but the essence remains the same.” Of course he was speaking of things, not people, but the truth also applies to humans. People are identified by their skin color, texture of hair, and other physical features, and are assigned “racial” categories to distinguish groupings for classification purposes only. Beyond physical appearances, the biological makeup (essence) of a people remains the same. Physical appearance differences are what lead to racism, discrimination, and stereotypes. It is the person or thing that is different from a majority that is singled out for inequity, bigotry, and intolerance. Prejudice, bias, racism, and profiling are results of stereotyping a group or culture based on nationality, religious practices, distorted humor, rumors, out group, skin color and other physical features, or characteristics applicable from society’s construct of any one or any object that is different from the group responsible for stereotyping. Nearly everything can be an object of stereotyping and gross generalizations. A stereotype may or may not be reflected in reality as it is in myth. In reality a stereotype is an oversimplified, generally over-exaggerated belief that all members of a certain group act and think in the same fashion. Individuals use negative stereotypes as the basis to justify discrimination and racism. Stereotyping is a feature of dehumanizing someone of a lesser status, class, or ideology. Stereotyping derives from/evolves into prejudice, discrimination, and racism. In circumstances involving a police action, fear may be portrayed as a consequence of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. Racial stereotypes are, of course, the worst kind of stereotype; but often used in policing tactics of stopping and questioning persons of color. The practice of racial profiling is not ethical and is not legal in most states. Racial stereotypes are automatic and exaggerated mental pictures that we hold about people of a certain race. Racial stereotyping is demeaning, devaluing, limiting, and hurtful to the person being stereotyped. Racial profiling is patently illegal, violating the US Constitution’s core promises of equal protection under the law to all and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Furthermore, such practices are so deplorable that law enforcement officer