If the TSA's 'natural hair patdown' practice is not racial profiling, what is?

If the TSA's 'natural hair patdown' practice is not racial profiling, what is?

The idea of African Americans' hair as terrorist threat is absurd, but apparently our unruly locks strike fear into white America

Imara Jones
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 20 December 2012 15.23 EST

What does America's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) believe that black people are holding in our hair before we board planes?

I was forced to ask myself this question just days ago when two TSA agents halted the security line at Los Angeles International Airport to search my shoulder-length curls for weapons of war. As the country moves into the busy holiday travel season, countless more black and brown Americans with natural hair will be forced to query the same.

Over the past year, "natural hair pat downs" have taken place with greater reported frequency. The fact that they occur at all underscores that America's post-racial future still has roots in its racist past.

With a twice-elected black man as the country's chief executive, how could the TSA get it so wrong?

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/20/tsa-natural-hair-patdown-racial-profiling

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5 replies	Author	Time	Post
If the TSA's 'natural hair patdown' practice is not racial profiling, what is? (Original post)	Judi Lynn	Dec 2012	OP
"Undercover Brother" is a TSA training video.	Scootaloo	Dec 2012	#1
They do it to blonde hair too. I was wondering why they were touching my hair.	cpamomfromtexas	Dec 2012	#2
Perhaps they found it irresistable	Bucky	Dec 2012	#4
The rhetorical device "How can people still do X after this country elected a black president?"...	Bucky	Dec 2012	#3
I hope the TSA checks THIS lady's hair!	FailureToCommunicate	Dec 2012	#5

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Dec 20, 2012, 04:57 PM

Scootaloo (5,864 posts)

1. "Undercover Brother" is a TSA training video.

Last edited Thu Dec 20, 2012, 04:57 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Didn't you know?

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Dec 20, 2012, 05:29 PM

cpamomfromtexas (618 posts)

2. They do it to blonde hair too. I was wondering why they were touching my hair.

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Response to cpamomfromtexas (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 20, 2012, 06:05 PM

Bucky (41,527 posts)

4. Perhaps they found it irresistable

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Dec 20, 2012, 05:59 PM

Bucky (41,527 posts)

3. The rhetorical device "How can people still do X after this country elected a black president?"...

is wearing thin. Colbert was making fun of it four years ago with his jabs about "okay, racism's over" riffs. I've met a few Obama supporters in the past few years who are clearly not all that enlightened on racial matters. I mean, if you can't count on a bigot to compartmentalize his feelings from his intellect, who can you count on?

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Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Dec 20, 2012, 10:52 PM

FailureToCommunicate (4,399 posts)

5. I hope the TSA checks THIS lady's hair!

TSA theatre never ceases to amuse

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