Who Isn'T Profiled? Poem by Richard Jarboe

Murder in the second degree
Is good for at least one casualty
And those on the left or those on the right
Are a mixed bag of black and white.

Everybody profiles people they meet
From the Rolex on their arm to flip flops on their feet.

The fashion industry thrives on profile
Teeth whiteners thrive on your smile
People profiled by their college degree
Their college, profiled by their pedigree.

Trayvon thought Zimmerman a cracker
Zimmerman thought Trayvon a thief
Both victims of human shortcomings
Both victims of compartmentalized belief.

Who will rally around the next victim?
Who will cry over their grave?
If you wear a hoody, wear a bullet-proof vest,
Who's next is anybody's guess.

Profiled by your address, profiled by your car
Profiled by your association with a movie star
Profiled at the airport by the scarf on your head
Profiled by the pointlessness of everything you've said.

Profiled by who you call, profiled by your phone,
Profiled by a satellite over your home,
Profiled by the books you read, profiled by your passport,
Without profiles, our economy comes to a screeching halt.