The ACLU defines racial profiling as “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin” (American Civil Liberties Union n.d.[d]). Based on this definition, racial profiling is not limited to discrimination based on skin tone but can include traits associated with religion or ethnicity. Religious signifiers, such as a Muslim name and clothing, inspire racial profiling in airports, which is captured in the phrase flying while Muslim, revealing the racial nature of this encounter, as it is a reference to driving while Black—abusive stops and searches of African American drivers that is triggered by skin tone.

DEFINE: Clarifies that the ACLU's definition of racial profiling encompasses religion, ethnicity, and national origin, not just skin tone — as illustrated by 'flying while Muslim.'

Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, loc. 169