The term is really only appropriately used when applied to the actions of government officials. If Zimmerman used race in making his decision to suspect Trayvon Martin of wrong-doing, it's really just racism, plain and simple.

It's usually only legally actionable when public officials do it...

And even then it's still relevant since Zimmerman was already acting in a quasi-LEO position in the first place...

Thats not racism. That's prejudice.

Racism is structural. Bigots with guns are just bigots with guns.

Zimpig not being charged for as long as he was and the D.A.s actions were racism. That's how it goes in America.

It is nice to be retired, and sub when I want to.

I have had a fourth grader a number of times whose name is Trevon. The name is so similar, he is having a tough time. He told me, out of the blue, that his dad talked to him about his name, and where it came from. His dad talked to him about Trayvon, too.

The tragedy was bad enough. It is sickening that our kids have to learn about racial profiling at all, let alone at such young ages. Whether or not you agree that Trayvon was profiled, the issue has to be discussed. I believe that race was a big factor in the shooting. Splitting hairs does not make that teenager any less dead.

From the ACLU ""Racial Profiling" refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Criminal profiling, generally, as practiced by police, is the reliance on a group of characteristics they believe to be associated with crime. Examples of racial profiling are the use of race to determine which drivers to stop for minor traffic violations (commonly referred to as "driving while black or brown&quot , or the use of race to determine which pedestrians to search for illegal contraband. "
https://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/racial-profiling-definition

I'm not quite sure why you're so stuck up on the legal minutiae...

1. Zimmerman is supposedly on the lookout for "criminals"

2. He sees a black teenager who he *knows* doesn't belong in his neighborhood

3. Zimmerman calls 911, and in that call tells the dispatcher that Martin is suspicious, possibly armed, possibly on drugs, is likely about to commit a felony and probably related to a string of burglaries in the neighborhood (with NO evidence whatsoever to back up those claims)

4. Zimmerman then proceeds to track down and apprehend the "criminal"


I don't know who you are or where you came from, but please don't lecture to me on matters of race...

He is not law enforcement.

And I am lecturing you on English, not race. You misused terminology. That has nothing to do with race. The correct response would be "I'm sorry. I misused the term, but my point is valid." That would have been acceptable and the end of it. There was no need to be defensive and try to turn this into something it wasn't.

And I already know fucking English, thank you...

Perhaps you should educate yourself on the facts of the case and get back to us...

And strangely enough, I don't recall seeing your name in ANY of the thousand ongoing DU threads back when the case was still active, so I'm wondering what the hell it is you're doing here and what you're trying to accomplish...Because it's clear you're not one of us...

Your answer tells me pretty much all I need to know about you. As to being "one of YOU"...I sincerely hope not. I enjoy intellectual debate - not profanity and paranoia. There is plenty of that to be found on this forum and many interesting and intelligent people who love to debate in a civil manner.

Apparently you aren't one. I'll make a note of that and won't attempt to engage you in thoughtful debate in the future.

You are NOT wrong. Zimmerman may not have been a cop, but he was acting as a neighborhood watch person, helping law enforcement. In many places, neighborhood watch groups work with the police, and are trained by them. They are quasi-official.

I find our contrarian here offensive. Racial profiling may have a definition in relation to law enforcement, but it exists in other professions. Teachers do it. Employers do it. In fact, most large institutions do it. In my rural county, we are embroiled in a murder case where two people are being accused of a hate crime. Lawbreakers do it, too.

Maybe I should be responding to our legal "expert" instead of you, but I wanted you to know that I agree with you.

The blacks that participate in this forum can tell you first hand you are wrong - if you believe everyday dominant culture citizens don't actively engage in racial profiling and well - act upon it.