"Living while black" : African Americans in the Public Space
Location
Guzman 111, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 4:00 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Patti Culross, MD, MPH
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Racial profiling is defined as “the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed an offense,” (Dictionary.com) and has led to unfortunate and often times violent encounters between black and non-black Americans. Multiple studies have documented examples or racial profiling and the discrimination felt by African Americans in the public space. One study calls attention to the how African Americans experience shopping in retail or grocery stores. (Lynn, Brewster, & Cocroft, 2014)They state that several experiments have found that minority customers are under higher surveillance when shopping. Furthermore, the authors state that, “even when not suspected of shoplifting there are reasons to suspect that customers of color might more generally experience differential treatment in their interactions with service workers in the form of less friendliness, professionalism, respect, appreciation and enthusiasm.” In another study, African Americans spoke about discrimination when looking for rooms or apartments to rent, applying to or attending college, going to a doctor or health clinic, and interacting with the police (National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2017). There is a disconnect between the experiences of African Americans in the public space and the knowledge others have that these experiences even happen. The purpose of this study is to show through interviews and real-life encounters, the social pressures of living while black in America.
"Living while black" : African Americans in the Public Space
Guzman 111, Dominican University of California
Racial profiling is defined as “the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed an offense,” (Dictionary.com) and has led to unfortunate and often times violent encounters between black and non-black Americans. Multiple studies have documented examples or racial profiling and the discrimination felt by African Americans in the public space. One study calls attention to the how African Americans experience shopping in retail or grocery stores. (Lynn, Brewster, & Cocroft, 2014)They state that several experiments have found that minority customers are under higher surveillance when shopping. Furthermore, the authors state that, “even when not suspected of shoplifting there are reasons to suspect that customers of color might more generally experience differential treatment in their interactions with service workers in the form of less friendliness, professionalism, respect, appreciation and enthusiasm.” In another study, African Americans spoke about discrimination when looking for rooms or apartments to rent, applying to or attending college, going to a doctor or health clinic, and interacting with the police (National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2017). There is a disconnect between the experiences of African Americans in the public space and the knowledge others have that these experiences even happen. The purpose of this study is to show through interviews and real-life encounters, the social pressures of living while black in America.