Brianca Spencer

Ms. Sanchez
English IV
5 May 2015
Racial Profiling
African Americans Originally came to America unwillingly, have been stolen and sold by
Muslim slave-catchers in Africa to Dutch traders journeying to america in 1619. (As President
Taft noted : Their ancestors came here years ago against their will; [now] this is their only
country and their only flag. They have shown themselves anxious to live for it, and to die for
it. (Barton Foreword (no page #)). Originally prospering in their homeland, they were taken to a
foreign land where for centuries they lived in slavery until God delivered them and established
them in a new land. ( James Garfield, Americans 20th President, personally witnessed the final
chapter in the deliverance of African Americans from slavery in America. Barton Foreword (no
page #)). He fought to abolish slavery as a Union General during the Civil War and afterwards as
a member of congress, voted for the abolition of slavery and led in the passage of almost two
dozen civil rights bills. The four-long story of african american political history truly is an
incredible story but much of the early history is now unknown. That is while most today know
about the fifty years (the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Dubois, and Malcolm X). In
speaking of these accomplishments, (President John. Kennedy once observed : he is certain that
it was no easy task to compress into a single volume the American Negros century-long struggle
to win the full promise of our Constitution and Bills Of Rights. Barton Foreword (no page #)).

Spencer 2
Few know much about the extraordinary heroes from the first three-and-a-half centuries of that
history. (Barton)
Despite such extensive works many of our early black heroes and patriots are unknown today;
and equally unknown is much of what occurred in black political history. That history will
surprise and shock many, but it is a history based on indisputable facts and documents. Too often,
only a handful of these heroes from black history are presented-much like showing only a
snapshot or two out of history are pre-of photos. Too much information is not presented today;
and often, too many conclusions are wrongly assumed from the little that is seen. For example,
while students in school early learn that the first load of slaves sailed up the James River in
Virginia in 1619 and thus slavery was introduced into America. Few learn about the first slaves
that arrived in the Massachusetts Colony set up by the Christian Pilgrims and Puritans. ( When
that slave ship arrived in Massachusetts, the ships officers were arrested and imprisoned and the
kidnapped slaves were returned to Africa at the Colonys expense. That side of history is untold
today. Barton page 6) Today, black history too often is presented just from a southern viewpoint,
describing only slavery and its atrocites as well as the numerous civil rights violations that
continued well beyond the end of slavery. Today, many critics assert that the Constitution was a
pro-slavery document, and to prove this, they point to the three-Fifths Clause. ( One of the
earliest black americans to investigate this claim was the famous abolitionist Frederick
Douglass. Barton page 9). He was promptly hired to work for the States anti-slavery society,
and he also served as a preacher at Zion Methodist Church. In 1808, Congress continued its fight
against slavery by abolishing the slave trade. What legacy of faith and politics will this

Spencer 3
generation leave for the next? Obviously, the choice is ours; but having this choice, we should
heed the warning delivered to citizens in 1803 by the Rev. Matthias burnet. (Barton)
On December 28, 2003, Cerqueira, a computer consultant who spent a great deal of time
traveling the country, was removed from an American Airlines flight from Boston,
Massachusetts, to Florida. The two Israeli men sitting next to him were taken off the flight as
well. They were not told why. Although the targets of racial profiling have changed throughout
U.S. history. The practice has remained much the same. U.S. citizens have previously placed
blame on specific racial groups and acted in racist manners. Throughout its history, the United
States has battled racism. Its people have fought to create a nation that gives equal opportunity to
all. In 1669, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed the Casual Slave Killing Act. It gave blanket
permission to owners to kill their slaves if they thought it was best. ( Virginia slave Nat Turner
led a small rebellion to free slaves and kill white people. Nat Turners Rebellion, more than 250
blacks were captured and killed by the government and private citizens. Orr page 19, & 20)
Whether the African Americans were part of the massacre was irrelevant. Their skin was black,
so they were killed. ( In early 2004, President Bush signed the End Racial Profiling Act, also
known as the ERPA. Orr page 73). Federal, State, and local law enforcement agents play a vital
role in protecting the public from crime and protecting the Nation from terrorism. The vast
majority of law enforcement agents nationwide discharge their duties professionally and without
bias. The use of police officers of race, ethnicity, religion or national origin in deciding which
persons should be subject to traffic stops, stops and frisks, questioning, searches and seizures is
improper. The act points out how racial profiling is harmful to commerce because minorities may
feel they are unable to travel freely. (Orr)

Spencer 4
He must be honest. Negros-Afro-Americans-showed no inclination to rush to the United
Nations and demand Justice for themselves here in America. ( Americas Negroes-especially
older Negroes-are too indelibly soaked in Christianitys double standard of oppression. X Page
419). So, in the public invited meetings which He began holding each sunday afternoon or
evening in Harlems well-known Audubon Ballroom. He is for violence if non-violence means
we continue postponing a solution to the American black mans problem- just to avoid violence.
He dont go for non-violence if it also means a delayed solution. To me a delayed solution is a
non-solution. If it must take violence to get the black man his human rights in the country. ( He
is for violence exactly as you know the Irish, the Poles, or Jews would be if they were flagrantly
discriminated against. X page 422). Is white America really sorry for her crimes against the
black people? Does white America have the capacity to repent-and to atone? Many black men,
the victims-in fact most black men-would like to be able to forgive, to forget, the crimes. But
most American white people seem not to have it in them to make any serious atonement-to do
justice to the black men. ( X )
They somehow need to find the courage deep within ourselves to be able to confront conflict
rather than avoid or run away from it. They focus on the heart of the conflict and find ways to
deal with the issues and problems in a positive and constructive way. They should strive to create
a community where all people can live together in harmony. ( Not with oppressor and no
oppressed, with no winner and no loser. LaFayette & Johnson page 166). They work for
common good and not just personal gain. The beloved Community, calls us to be inclusive,
sharing, trusting, and loving. ( It is not always an absence of conflict, but a positive process in
which people attempt to reconcile the conflict. LaFayette & Johnson page 166). The second part

Spencer 5
of the principle looks toward the future with hope and possibility. Many communities in the
south had certain persons in authority who personified injustice. They focus had to be on
understanding the root of the problem that produced the oppressive conditions. Then how to
change the contingencies that fed that conditions. Sometimes when we use hurtful words we do
internal harm to a persons spirt. So it becomes psychological and spiritual violence. They also
unconsciously do damage to our own spirits when we allow ourselves to become hateful toward
others. One of theirs personal goals in Selma was to bring people together in a trusting,
respectful relationship in order to reduce fear. (LaFayette & Johnson)
Ferguson, Mo. As residents swept broken glass from the sidewalks here on Wednesday
and painted hopeful messages on boarded-up storefronts. Public officials cautiously said that
tighter security measures and hundreds of additional National Guard troops had helped stabilize
this St. Louis suburb after a night of arson, looting and violence. But under daylong snow
showers, anger and frustration over a grand jurys decision on monday not to indict a white
police officer in the August killing of Michael Brown. Remained palpable across the region.
West Florissant Avenue was still barricaded by the police on Wednesday. National Guard troops
in camouflage uniforms, who were largely limited to protecting government buildings two nights
earlier. though windows at City Hall were shattered, a police car was flipped and burned and an
AR-15 assault rifle was stolen from inside the vehicle. Across the country, largely peaceful
protests resumed over the grand jurys decision. In St. Louis, about 200 protesters staged a mock
trial of Darren Wilson. At one point marched on the steps of City Hall, chanting loudly. As the
demonstrators gathered just outside the entrance, dozens of officers, many in riot gear, moved in
and ordered the protesters to disperse. Some reluctantly complied, but others questioned why

Spencer 6
they were not allowed to be there. In one case, officers used tear gas on a man running alongside
the building and then tackled him. Three protesters were arrested, including one charged with
assaulting an officer. ( In Southern California, demonstrators chanting Black lives matter
closed the 101 freeway for a time on Wednesday. Jack Healy). Echoing tactics that had brought
traffic to a standstill in cities across the country a day earlier. ( In New York Citys Harlem
neighborhood, members of Mr. Browns family and their supporters appeared at a prayer event
organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Mr. Sharpton and Benjamin Crump again criticized how St.
Louis County prosecutors had handled the investigation into Mr. Browns death and said the
grand-jury process seemed tilted in Officer Wilsons favor. Jack Healy). Although unrest in
Ferguson had diminished drastically from Monday night, when the town endured the worst
violence since Mr. Browns killing. residents and officials were concerned about flare-ups over
the Holidays, which could bring more people into the region. (Jack Healy)
Some contend that they as human beings by nature are prone to react when attacked, either to
defend or counterattack. ( Accepting suffering is not a popular idea for most people. Its more
palatable to avoid suffering. LaFayette & Johnson page 167). In the context of nonviolence this
concept has a different meaning. It does mean accepting abuse and punishment with no response.
( But that response must be consistent with goals we seek so that suffering is not in a vacuum
but rather in the context of a campaign for change. LaFayette & Johnson page 167). The first
change is within the individual who is the object of the attack. If a person is attacked without a
purposeful response then that person could be considered a victim. However, if the person
responds without violence but with the power of nonviolence and as apart of a strategy to

Spencer 7
achieve a more just condition. Then the suffering becomes the source of strength. (LaFayette &
Johnson)