Understanding Race: Witt Ch.

13
1. What is racial profiling? Provide examples of how law enforcement, government
officials and/or ordinary citizens use racial profiling in the aftermath of 9/11.
(review Arizona case). How might the contact hypothesis remedy profiling?
Racial profiling is usually used by the police or other law enforcement parties
who are investigating other people by their race or ethnicity instead of what the
person actually did. People with darker skin color might have a higher chance to get
caught for no reason and just because their race and cultural stereotypes.
During the incident of 9/11, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and
caused many death happened. The terrorists were mainly Arabs who caused the whole
tragedy happen. After that, government is active about searching terrorists and trying
to keep people from danger. Airport, departure and arrival locations would have more
frequently checking on potential terrorists. Racial profiling happens when police
checks the people. Potential terrorist passengers may suffer from more baggage
checks during the flight and most of the Arab and Muslim people would be affected
due to racial profiling.
In the case of Arizona, the state established a particular law for checking illegal
immigrants in 2010. Due to the increasing amount of illegal immigrants, the law was
established to authorize the police to arrest people who cannot provide a proof of legal
citizenship. During that time, the main racial profiling target was the Hispanics.
Although racial profiling affect most of the races, the contact hypothesis brought
out an idea that people in different race may actually interact in general. The contact
hypothesis mentions that even people are in different ethnicities, they still may
interact with each other through different opportunities and this might reduce the
chances of racial profiling by knowing more about each other. This would decrease
the issue of racism in the society.
2. Discuss various ethnocentric practices historically used by those in power that
have contributed to prejudicial attitudes towards racial and minority groups.
Ethnocentric practices would create social discrimination and incorrect attitudes
toward minorities. This starts a long time ago which the America consists of different
races and each of them carries their own culture.
Ethnocentrism suggests that one race which has their own culture would
evaluate the other races by their own standards, which would create conflict and
inequalities. This happens in America since there are various races contain in this
country. For example, starting from slavery, black people has been treated in unfair
situations like segregation and stereotyping. This is occurred under the racial
difference between the majority group and minority groups. Another example would
be the impolite gestures and discrimination on Asian group or Hispanic group.
3. What is the social construction of race? Provide a symbolic interactionist
perspective. How can this concept (social construction of race) be applied to
Americans from multiple racial backgrounds?
Social construction of race refers to the social view based on skin color that a
person have. The society view every person based on their race and ethnicity which

produces the word Racism. Since America is a place where consists of many
different races, social construction of race occurs in a high rate and affects many of
the people. According to symbolic interactionism, people interacts with each other by
their language, action and behavior. Social construction of race might be one of the
factor which would affect the interaction between people. Racism and discrimination
would occur when social construction of race increases which would affect the social
balance in the society. Multiple racial backgrounds are present in America for years
and this affects peoples way of life. This has been developed as a cultural and
sometimes discrimination still take place in some places.
4. Define the term model minority. Discuss which minority group is perceived as
living up to that image. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of being a
model minority.
Model minority refers to the group of minorities who has a more successful
future which can describe as model compared to others. For example, Asians might
have a higher opportunity to pursue a higher degree because of their culture,
background and belief. In some of the classes, Asian would have a better grade than
the others. This is model minority since Asians are minority in America. There are
advantages and disadvantage of being a model minority. The advantage is that this
would create their own success with their hard work and it will increase the chances
of getting different opportunities. The disadvantage is that there might be stereotyping
issue when a special group of minorities becomes better and better. People would start
stereotyping verbally or behaviorally.