racial profiling

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Word: Racial Profiling

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Racial profiling is a practice where law enforcement or security officials make decisions about whom to stop, search, or investigate based on the person's race or ethnicity rather than their behavior or any evidence of wrongdoing. This often leads to unfair treatment of individuals from certain racial or ethnic groups.

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You can use "racial profiling" when discussing issues related to discrimination, law enforcement practices, or social justice. It’s important to use this term sensitively, as it refers to serious issues of inequality and prejudice.

Examples:

1. "Many people believe that racial profiling is a violation of civil rights."
2. "The report highlighted several cases of racial profiling by the police in the city."

Advanced Usage:

• Racial profiling is often discussed in the context of criminal justice reform, civil rights activism, and social inequality. It can also be part of larger discussions about systemic racism within institutions.

Word Variants:

• Racially Profiled (verb): The act of being subjected to racial profiling.
  • Example: "He felt he was racially profiled when stopped by the police without any reason."

Different Meanings:

• While "racial profiling" specifically refers to law enforcement practices, "profiling" in a broader sense can mean assessing someone based on characteristics, but it is not always negative or racially motivated.

Synonyms:

• Racial discrimination
• Ethnic profiling
• Racial bias

Related Terms:

• Racism (noun): Prejudice or discrimination against someone based on their race.
• Discrimination (noun): Unjust treatment of different categories of people, often based on race, age, or sex.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "racial profiling," discussions around it may involve phrases like:
  • "Draw a line": To set a limit, especially in terms of acceptable behavior. Example: "We need to draw a line against racial profiling in our community."

Summary:

Racial profiling is a serious issue that involves unfair treatment based on race or ethnicity. It’s essential to discuss this topic with care and respect for those affected by it.

Academic

Noun

1. a form of racism consisting of the (alleged) policy of policemen who stop and search vehicles driven by persons belonging to particular racial groups