Ethnic and Racial Identity Issues in the U.S

I encounter many people of different races and ethnic backgrounds in my line of duty.
One morning, I met a man who was serving a one-year jail term for a misdemeanor. As he talked
to me, he registered his disappointment in the justice system and even said he felt that he had
been jailed wrongfully. However, I asked him why he felt so, and he said he was only in prison
because he was black, not because he had done any wrong. I asked him what he had done, and he
explained. Then I explained to him that the act was actually a misdemeanor and that he was
rightfully placed in prison. I then gave examples of other white people who had served similar
terms for similar misdemeanors.
My encounter that morning made me think about the place of race in the justice system. I
felt that the man felt that he would be a free man had he been white. I felt that while racial
profiling is still a problem in the country’s justice system, but there is also the issue of public
perception and attitudes. Racial inequality has taken center stage in the justice system such that
even when black people are incarcerated rightfully. A report I read shows there is a higher
probability that Hispanic male drivers and African American drivers than white drivers will
report that police stops were unnecessary and that officers acted improperly during the stops. As
reforms in the justice system are implemented, a lot of public awareness is necessary to shape
people’s attitudes and for them to not relate every police act to race.