Racial Profiling: Everyday Inequality

Gr 6 Up—Behnke provides an in-depth analysis of the inequalities that people of color experience at different levels of U.S. society, from housing and education to criminal justice and poverty. The author foregrounds her examination with relevant historical context, extensive data from studies, and testimonials to draw evidence-based conclusions while still recognizing other perspectives. Complex concepts including white privilege and implicit bias are unpacked with a balance of sensitivity and boldness. This unflinching exploration is a more accessible text for teens than Michelle Alexander's adult title The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, yet it still highlights similar points. Behnke also covers religious-based discrimination and addresses policing tactics and officer accountability in an increasingly technological society. The extensive back matter makes this valuable for research.