Racial Profiling, the War on Terror, and Democracy: Changing Trends and Perspectives.

Minorities in the United States have often been treated unfairly by law enforcement agencies. Prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States of America, African Americans were the main victims of racial profiling. Since the terrorist attack, however, Arabs/Muslims have become the primary targets for profiling by law enforcement agencies. In both case, racial profiling is discriminatory and it violates the civil rights of innocent people. However, the War on Terror has redefined racial profiling. This paper seeks to map the changing trend and rationale for racial profiling as well as the efforts to combat it. Furthermore, the paper will examine the implications of racial profiling for a democratic society that is increasingly becoming racially and culturally heterogeneous. I argue that racial profiling of Arabs/Muslims is not only an extension of the discriminatory practices to which African Americans and other minorities have been subjugated, but it also opens up new channels for the persecution of the traditionally disadvantaged minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]