Racial profiling began as early as the 1700s. Racial profiling is thought of as a relatively recent problem that came about in the 1980's when news of things like African Americans “driving while black” began making national headlines. Racial profiling dates back as far as the 1700s in the United States for people of African descent.It is a recent manifestation of discriminatory conduct by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Racial profiling also goes back as far as slavery, continued through the Jim Crow Law, and even brought into our modern days.
Being alive during the time when racial profiling was occurring was and still is very dangerous. In the 1700s, 1704 to be exact, the first slave patrol was found in South Carolina and it was so bad that many people had to carry around freedom papers, stating that they had “permission” to be free and have their rights to be out. Even back then, like modern-day racial profiling, a person’s skin color, and not actions was and still is all it took to result in discriminatory treatment from the law enforcement.Being alive back then,and even now living in the error of racial profiling, was and still is very dangerous. You must be cautious of your surroundings, think twice about the things you wear, be careful of what you say and how you say it, who you say it to, and even control your attitude and facial expressions around certain people.Even in our modern days, like today, living with racial profiling all around is very emotional,life-threatening, stressful, and just wrong. Living with the issue of racial profiling can also be very scary.