Is the media afraid to identify race in suspect descriptions?

[cholo]

Why does the media feel the need to omit race in suspect descriptions? Take the description in the WTOP's story about the 18 year old who was stabbed to death in Germantown:

The suspect seen with the knife is described as about 5'10" tall and 160 pounds. He is believed to be between 18 and 22 years old. Police say he has cornrows and was wearing a black do-rag, a black tank top and blue jeans at the time of the incident.

The second suspect is described as 5'4" and 160 to 170 pounds. He has short black hair.

Police say he appeared to be about 16 years old. He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. The third suspect was not seen.

Nowhere in the story does it say whether the suspects were black, white, asian, hispanic, etc. You could say that this was inadvertent, but I have noticed it a lot in all forms of news media, and it frustrates me. Are we to assume that since a crime was committed that the suspects are black? Sure, in this particular story, there is a more likely chance that the suspects are black, given the "cornrows" and "black do-rag" portion of the description. But even some white kids these days have corn rows and wear do-rags.

[Toxick]

Originally Posted by cholo

Nowhere in the story does it say whether the suspects were black, white, asian, hispanic, etc.

We're all the same on the inside. It doesn't matter what color the suspect was.

If they were to mention the suspect's race as black or hispanic, no doubt you white racist rednecks in SOMD would profile every single person of color.



And don't give me that "accurate description so I can keep an eye out" bull####.

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Toxick

We're all the same on the inside. It doesn't matter what color the suspect was.

If they were to mention the suspect's race as black or hispanic, no doubt you white racist rednecks in SOMD would profile every single person of color.



And don't give me that "accurate description so I can keep an eye out" bull####.

Bad day, huh?

[Tinkerbell]

I need an accurate description so I can hide out...

[Toxick]

Originally Posted by cattitude

Bad day, huh?

Perhaps a should have added the label.





I thought it was obvious.

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Toxick

Perhaps a should have added the label.





I thought it was obvious.

Whew! Thought the New Agers had gotten to you.

[Toxick]

Originally Posted by cattitude

Whew! Thought the New Agers had gotten to you.

Apparently several people did. I got lots of Blank Red because of that post.



And to those people I say: I ain't changin' my sarcastic ways, you non-sense-of-humor-havin' chumps.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by cattitude

Bad day, huh?

"Excuse me, Stewardess? I speak Sarcasm..."

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

"Excuse me, Stewardess? I speak Sarcasm..."

I never figured you for the Harriet type.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by cholo

Why does the media feel the need to omit race in suspect descriptions?

Because Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton pissed and moaned, so now it's racist (and you could be sued or at least criticized) if you mention skin color as a description of a criminal suspect. Unless they're white or Asian or Hispanic - then you can mention it.