blog #10

Brent Staples essay was very interesting to me because I had never heard someone write about their experiences with racial profiling the way in which he described it. It’s so interesting how something so simple as walking down the street at night can become so different just because of your appearance. The fact that he had to be so careful just because he fit the stereotypical profile of a mugger as portrayed in the media is both tragic and sad. However this also showed the narrow mindedness that some people still cling to in this day and age. How can simply changing from a business suit to casual jeans make you look more like a mugger? It is very unfair. I have had a few experiences of racial profiling but they were never as dangerous or sever as the ones described by Stapler. Of course I do understand what he means about changing some little behaviors to help make you seem “less thuggish”. One example he gave was that he would whistle Beethoven when he walked on the streets late at night. It is amazing how simple little things can help avoid being racially profiled. For instance, in some stores, especially close to Christmas, whenever I’m would be in the game section or toy store I would be watched a lot closer than some people. “Stereotypically all Latino boys are very skilled at robbing things and all do so unless you watch them closely.” I actually had this sentence told to me by a clerk at a convenient store once when I was little. It was meant to be comforting; a way to explain why something just happened to me. I was with a group of kids and we were all holding toys while observing other ones. A manager comes to us singles me out and takes the toy I was holding away and says, “You don’t have to hold that. Let me give it to the cashier and when you are ready to leave you can go pay for it at the desk. OK?” I was the only minority in the group and this was not the only time this happened to me. It is just the one that sticks out most in my memory. Well I have done something similar to what Stapler does when he changes his behavior. Now when I’m in a store I always have either a cart or a basket with make because I wouldn’t need one if I intended to steal anything. I also avoid putting my hands in my pockets when I’m in the store especially when I go to pay because apparently it’s very easy to slip some gum and candy in your pocket while you are getting out your wallet. I do not know this for a fact but I have been accused of it before. Fortunately a manager heard the cashier’s accusation, told him off, and said today’s purchase was “on the house”. It was only a gallon of milk but still pretty cool. So Staples essay really made me remember sometimes I have had with racial profiling and some insight on how other deal with it too.