Roxane Gay, in her book "Bad Feminist: Essays," argues that racial profiling stems from a misguided desire to identify and predict danger in society. This notion reflects a psychological need to feel secure by assuming that certain characteristics can indicate potential threats. The belief that we can foresee who might commit harmful acts leads to the erroneous practice of profiling based on race.

Gay emphasizes that this delusion ultimately fails to provide true safety, as it relies on assumptions rather than factual evidence. By focusing on superficial traits, we overlook the complexity of individuals and the real factors behind violence. This perspective reveals how racial profiling not only mischaracterizes individuals but also perpetuates societal fears and biases.