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On-Line Course for Private Detectives
Prejudice is closely related to bias. Again, a bias is a personal like or dislike of some
thing or someone. Maybe you don't like tall people or scruffy people or people who whistle. These are
your preferences - your biases, and again, we all carry biases around with us.
However, prejudice and bias often lead to discrimination, something that almost all can
agree is unjust, unfair and - from your professional perspective - illegal. Discrimination is the
treating of one group of people differently from another. Examples of this can be found daily in the
local newspaper. Even though there are numerous Federal and state statutes prohibiting discrimination,
stories of this practice appear regularly on the evening news.
Case File
01
03/03/91
Can't We All Just Get Along?
On March 3, 1991, Los Angeles resident George Holliday videotaped a brutal
beating of Rodney King, an African-American who had refused to stop for a traffic violation
and engaged local law enforcement in pursuit. The tape, which was shown on the nightly news
for several weeks, shows a group of patrol officers beating a prone Rodney King with their
batons. The tape clearly showed King being beaten after he had been subdued and
charges were filed against the police officers involved for violating King's civil rights by use
of excessive force.
On August 29, 1992, the LAPD officers who took part in the beating were acquitted
after a tense trial. The disposition of the case of California v. Powel, et al lead to
riots and looting within several of LA's African- American communities. These riots were
caused by the belief of African- Americans that they had been denied justice and were being
treated differently from other groups - in other words, this segment of the
population had experienced discrimination. Death and destruction
followed. The association between discrimination and violence has a long
history, not only in the U.S., but also in many other countries around the
world.
Key Points
1. It is natural for humans to maintain prejudices and biases.
We all have them.
2. A prejudice or bias is simply a personal like or dislike.
3. When prejudice is applied to a group of people it often leads to discrimination.
4. Discrimination is treating one group differently from another.
5. Discrimination often leads to violence.
Think About This:
Selective views of a particular group is sometimes called "racial profiling." Put yourself in the following
situation: you're working private security at a mall. A group of white, teen-aged girls enters your patrol
area. At the same time, a group of African-American, teen-aged males enters your area. Which group would most
likely get your attention?
Is This an Example of Racial or Sexual
Profiling?
Where Does Prejudice Come From?
Prejudice is learned behavior and
belief. Early in life, we may hear friends and even family refer to a specific group in derogatory
terms. As impressionable youngsters, we assume that these beliefs are true.
As we grow older, these prejudices may be reinforced by other "socializing agents": the news
media, school, personal experience, films, books and our social group - our network of friends and co-workers
who further reinforce our beliefs.
Prejudice Is Learned
To demonstrate how our beliefs and opinions are shaped by the people in our lives, take
out a sheet of paper and a pen. Make lists of all of the derogatory names people use to describe
members of the following groups:
African-Americans
Italians
Arabs
Jews
Gay Men
Gay Women
Hispanics and Latinos
Native Americans
Women
Caucasians
NOTE: All of these groups have been the victim of prejudice and discrimination.
You should've been able to come up with at least two racist, sexist or otherwise derogatory
terms for each of these cultural groups. Why? Because we've heard these names before - at work, at
home, in school, in the media. Regrettably, prejudice is simply a part of living with people who
are not like us.
Case File
02
1971-Present
What Are We Fighting For?
There has been a long-running civil war in
Northern Ireland between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants. Both groups share the same national history,
the same traditions and customs. Both groups are part of the Christian faith. There are far more similarities
than differences between these two groups and yet, the long-running civil war has taken hundreds of lives,
divided neighbor from neighbor and has caused sorrow for the nation. In this case, the allegiance to one's
faith and religious group is so strong that this civil war has lasted for decades.
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