stop and frisk.

Stop and frisk is a program located in New York practiced by the New York Police Department.  It is when police officers stop pedestrians, ask them questions, and frisk.  This program monitors urban environments to prevent vandalism, illegal substances, and other crimes.  

In the video Stop and Frisk, a high school senior, Kasiem Walters, talks about being stopped and frisked by the NYPD.  Because this senior was stopped numerous times by police, he realized it wasn't what he is wearing, but his race.  He is judged, stopped, and frisked, because of his race.  Kasiem even has to re-evaluate what he wears and how he acts.  Stop and frisk affects and impacts the community and everyone in his community. Everyone he knows have been stopped and frisked before, once or even more than 20 times. He questions why are African Americans are always stopped and frisked?  Kasiem cannot even go to the police for help.  The police are supposed to protect the community, not abuse and judge the community by the colour of their skin.   

“I think people shouldn't have to live in fear. The point of police is not to instill fear. I think the point of police is to protect people and have them not feel fear.”  Kasiem Walters

Much is needed to prevent this treatment.  This is an issue of racism.  These people are being stopped, because of their race, the colour of their skin.  But what does race have to do with anything?  How can we find a solution for this problem that has been going on since forever?   We are taught about racism, the importance of Black History Month, but we are still ignorant over this matter.  We are ignorant because it makes us feel superior, that one's race is better than the other?

I believe we have similar issues in the city of Toronto.  Although it may not be in the news, but I am sure this does happen in our city.  We are too busy focusing on things that are not important.  We don't seem to care, because we never been stopped and frisked before.  And many of us do not know there is such a thing as this happening in our world today. Toronto may be diverse, but are we really?  We even have a law, the charter of rights and freedoms states everyone is equal under the law, regardless of race, creed, gender or sexual orientation. 

Racism has been with us for so long, it has become hard for it to leave. Racism is everywhere. Racism is global situation. Most of us witness racism, but don't do anything about it. People are judged because of their race.  Why do we do this?  Is it human nature to be arrogant?  We need to shed light on this issue.  Are we all not the same?  We all have morals and dreams, no matter what race you belong in.  I think that racism exists, because of discrimination, stereotypes, and fear.  We fear what we hate, we fear difference. We are brainwashed by these stereotypes.  We need to accept people for who they truly are, not their physical appearance.