Reflection paper
This week, we discussed the sociological meaning of race. Though racial categories are social constructions, our racial categorization can and does have a huge impact on our lives. One clear example of this fact can be seen when we look at how BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) have different experiences with policing than do white Americans. Racial profiling in police work is illegal, but happens.
Read this article that explores the research on racial profiling: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/07/data-police-racial-bias
Listen to the full episode from This American Life: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/547/cops-see-it-differently-part-one
Once you have completed the reading and listened to the full episode, write an approximately 2 page reflection paper that addresses the following:
What is race? What does it mean to consider race as socially constructed?
What does “racial discrimination” mean? What sorts of things count as discrimination?
What is racial profiling? What do we know about it? How often does it happen? In what contexts? Who is impacted?
In the podcast you listened to, how did racial profiling impact the individuals whose stories were told?
Were you at all surprised by what you learned in the article and podcast? Explain.
