Racial Profiling

"I'm calling it the Thrilla In Vanilla. You know, couple of suburban white guys..."
--Cade Raymond (Joe Somebody)

Prof Williams discusses racial profiling--something that he has done before. Profiling can be generally defined as use of readily observable characteristics to predict difficult, hard-to-observe characteristics.

All people are prone to engage in profiling to some degree. This is because information is costly and people will seek to economize on their information costs. Profiling helps people get more information for less cost.

Capacity for particular intrinsic behaviors is often a difficult to observe characteristic. If, however, groups of people who possess certain readily observable physical characteristics are thought to engage in certain types of intrinsic behavior, then people who belong to that group are likely to be profiled.

Because it is one of those readily observable physical characteristics, skin color is commonly employed in profiling.

Racial profiling has valid uses in peaceful societies engaging in voluntary exchange. For example, market researchers might gather information on skin color to tailor products for potential market segments.

However, it is in situations perceived as hostile that racial profiling has garnered considerable attention. Under conditions of threat, people might profile based on skin color to prepare themselves against possible attack. For example, an individual walking down a street in a high crime neighborhood might profile individuals for skin color common to crimes in the area. Upon seeing people walking toward her that fit the profile, the individual might cross the street to reduce the threat. Racial profiling, then, can be part of prudent self-defense.

While it can be useful, racial profiling never justifies aggression. Identifying someone who 'fits the profile' does not justify launching physical force against that person in preemptive attack. It also does not constitute definitive 'probable cause' and subsequently permit illegal search and seizures prohibited by the Constitution--not even in the name of 'security.'

Racial profiling is part of a natural process that helps people get more information for less cost. It is how people use that information that is either good or bad.