Race is a broad unification of people based on geographical and ethnic origin, containing a large group of people with varying personal traits. While race is sometimes a valid characteristic in describing a person, using race to clump an entire group of people is completely uncalled for. While racial profiling may help the FBI pinpoint suspects, it promotes the belief that everyone within a race behaves in the same manner.

Palo Alto Police Chief Lynne Johnson commanded her squad to watch for African-American men, especially those wearing do-rags. However, suspects ranged from Latinos to Pacific Islanders to whites—Johnson had no right to isolate African-Americans. How was the police force so sure that the robber was an African-American? Should African-Americans fear being suspected for crimes solely because of their race?

Pigeonholing African-Americans as criminals will only create enemies for the police force. According to law, police can stop people in the middle of the street to interrogate them. This law is often exploited by police because causes for suspicion are not difficult to come up with. Questioning innocent people and probing quizzically through their belongings is very uncomfortable and stifling. The suspicion the police force casts on African-Americans causes lasting damage, such as lack of confidence and a mentality of inferiority. Members of targeted races often develop resentment towards the police and lose respect for the law.

The problem with demographic studies lies deeper than their unjust statistics of innocent people. Demographic studies measure the rate of crime per race, but they forget to acknowledge what the criminals are facing. Conditions between races have improved from a couple decades ago, but acts of hatred are still far too frequent. Of course, racial tensions do not justify criminal acts, but they do present a reason that shoots down the premises of a race having “criminal genes.” The more conscious we become of racial hatred, the better we can diminish it and lower crime rates. Quite simply, racial profiling is another term for discrimination. If the public, schools and workplaces work so hard to eliminate discrimination, then why is it ok for the FBI or the police–who are considered to be the pinnacle of justice–to discriminate freely?

If the justice system discriminates against targeted racial groups, what are the people of the race supposed to think about themselves? According to the Law Library, reasons for committing a crime include greed, anger, jealously and revenge. Each of these emotions stemming from insecurity can be induced by telling people of a certain race that they are criminals. If a person within a certain race thinks he is already thought of as a thief, it is that much easier for him to become one. In fact, the idea of “a criminal” may be so hammered into a person’s mind that he or she feels that crime is the only path available.

Racial profiling may simplify the process of gathering suspects for a crime, but the gain does not outweigh the harm of categorizing an entire race. Long ago, the United States learned slavery was wrong, and that everyone should be treated equally. Now, for the sake of time efficiency, we are compromising equality again. It is still wrong.