Racial Profiling - How Does Profiling Make One Feel?

Racial Profiling is a controversial issue that has become more prevalent in the United States since the events of September 11, 2001. Inside the issue, there are questions of whether it is justifiable in any case, as well as when it occurs. The definition of racial profiling really is subjunctive; each person asked to define it will more than likely have a different answer. According to dictionary.com, profiling is "the use of specific characteristics, as race or age, to make generalizations about a person, as whether he or she may be engaged in illegal activity". In the two stories "Everything isn't Racial Profiling" and "Close Encounters with U.S. Immigration", the author's share the same experiences of being foreigners traveling to the United States, and being questioned about their intentions. However, each author experience differs, as do their opinions about them.

In her story "Everything isn't Racial Profiling", Chavez says that while she's opposed to racial profiling, she's not in opposition of requiring airlines to pay more attention to passengers who are boarding planes-including paying attention to nationality. What she is opposed to is the unjust profiling that occurs when an African American person is pulled over for no particular reason, while many white citizens are speeding right on by the policemen. The assumption that someone is more likely to commit criminal acts because of the color of their skin is "morally wrong, and ineffective." Chavez also says it wouldn't make sense to check all people that didn't fit the profile of a particular suspect. It would be a complete waste of time and effort to check those who obviously did not apply.

Chavez seemed annoyed by all the extra scrutiny that she had to endure, but she understood why she had to go through it. Due to the fact that she was of Middle Eastern descent, and terrorism has been high, with more and more of the activity coming from females, she knew that by paying more attention to her than say the white passengers boarding the plane, that airport security was doing their job. She feels safer as an American knowing this.