The conflict of racial profiling has become a huge issue in the United States in the last few years. I am interested in researching about racial profiling due to the fact that I am a minority that is living in the United States. The issue of prejudice and racial profiling has been present in the United States for quite a while; however, I feel that the importance of this issue is increasing because of the tension between minorities and the government has increased. This research question affects me because I am a minority in the United States. I do not have any personal experiences dealing with what is described as racial profiling. I do, however, have the experience of communities sticking together after unarmed minorities were man slaughtered by the police.  I am qualified to write about this topic because I have done research on the topic by reading multiple sources, such as articles, interviews, and peer reviewed journals. I am also qualified to write about this research question because I have collected sources that have differing opinions rather than focus on one opinion about the topic.

The article "The Disproportionate Risk of Driving While Black" claims that blacks in the United States are more likely to be stopped by the police due to racial profiling. To support this argument, the authors give statistical data such as the percentage rate of blacks pulled over opposed to Caucasians.  The major values and stakes are that of blacks living in the United States and police officers. There is an interest for blacks because they would be directly affected. Sharon Lafraniere and Andrew W. Lehern's experience as investigative journalists for New York Times and writing other articles on this topic makes them credible. Lafraniere and Lehern also use different statistics about blacks being stopped by the police, which makes them more credible. This article's bias is that racial profiling is a real issue. The bias is also that racial profiling affects minorities negatively.

The article "Proactive Policing is not 'Racial Profiling'" central claim is that racial profiling isn't a real. Heather MacDonald uses the case of Vonderrit D. Myers to support this claim. MacDonald further states that police officers acting on legitimate suspicion is legal and is in no way racial profiling. The major values and interests at stake are that of the police and communities, especially communities that are high in crime. With the police being accused of racial profiling, changes could be made making them less effective. The author's bias is that profiling is not a racial thing but rather the police doing what the police is supposed to do. MacDonald is credible because she has written other articles. 

The article "FBI Data: Racial Profiling Is Real ... and Ferguson Is Just the Tipping Point" states that there is an obvious racial disparity of arrest in the United States that worsens in certain areas. To support this, data that the FBI has released about arrests is used. The major values and interests that are at stake are blacks and the police. The system of identifying potential suspects that the police uses could be changed as well as backlash from communities. The author's, Julissa Catalan, bias is that the outstanding difference in blacks arrest in comparison to other races is a problem that has been increasing over the past few years. The author, Catalan, is credible because she has written various articles about the subject matter of racial profiling, meaning she has experience. Additionally, Catalan is credible because she uses evidence from other sources and statistical data from the FBI about the subject matter. 

This research question is arguable because many individuals over the past few years have advocated their opinion on the United States police system and that the use of racial profiling is threatening minorities' safety. However, other individuals argue that racial profiling is not an issue that exists. The problem with this topic is the definition of what racial profiling is and whether or not it is a real issue. Two of my sources, "The Disproportionate Risk of Driving While Black" and "FBI Data: Racial Profiling Is Real ... and Ferguson Is Just the Tipping Point" agree that racial profiling, especially against blacks, is a problem in the United States. The article "Proactive Policing is not 'Racial Profiling'" disagrees with the concept of racial profiling and what it is. My perspective on racial profiling is that it exists and is a problem, so the articles "FBI Data: Racial Profiling Is Real ... and Ferguson Is Just the Tipping Point" and "The Disproportionate Risk of Driving While Black" support my perspective. The article "Proactive Policing is not 'Racial Profiling'" is different in my perspective in that it supports the idea that racial profiling does not exist. I might need to change my research question by finding a new one. 

