I think my definition of racial profiling is different than what we hear in the media and amongst the more idiotic of our peers.
If you think a black guy is about to commit a crime just because he's black, that's racial profiling in my book. I don't care what statistics say about blacks and crime, the color of a person's skin is not indicative of what they've done or are about to do.
If it's a black guy looking around suspiciously at night? Sure, I'd be concerned that he's up to something...but I'd also have that same concern if he was white. I'm not going to give a suspicious acting person a pass just because he's Asian and Asians statistically commit fewer crimes.
Either I have a reason to suspect them of doing something or I don't, but the color of their skin alone is not enough for suspicion in my opinion. To me, judging a person based on skin color alone is racial profiling.
Have you ever moved to the other side of the street because a group of Asian kids were coming your way?
I haven't. But I've sure as heck taken a different path when a bunch of black kids in their saggy baggy clothes were strolling in my direction. FWIW, white kids dressed like punk gangsters may draw the same reaction. I don't want to deal with them.
If you were a store owner would you head to the upper room with the two way mirror to watch three Japanese kids dressed in Polo and khakis shop your store? What about the group with flat brims, pants dragging the ground and strap t-shirts? Is that racial profiling? Maybe the Japanese kids WERE going to rip you off and the black kids were just checking out the new shipment of pokeman cards. But because of the statistical probability, who are you going to keep an eye on.
Statistics exist for a reason.