by William Stamps

About the author: William Stamps is a probation officer in Los Angeles County.

Since [the terrorist attacks of] September 11 [2001], racial profiling in the United States has taken on new dimensions. As our government tries to search out and bring to justice those responsible for the tragedies, many Americans wonder if the government isn’t overextending its legal bounds. In our search for the enemy, are we going too far? Are we sacrificing our sacred and hard- fought-for civil liberties for a few evil men"

Fifty years ago, in certain parts of this country an African American man could be arrested, prosecuted and convicted of a crime for which he was innocent.

Many times it was a simple solution: A scapegoat was needed and who was more “qualified” than a black man...