NOW, IMAGINE HE’S WHITE . . .

   A couple of days ago, Professor Henry Gates, Jr. was seen breaking into his house, having lost or forgotten his keys. His neighbor called the police, the correct thing to do, who arrived soon after he gained entrance to the house. The police officer demanded identification from a man he didn’t know and, after being assured that it was, indeed, Professor Gates’ house, he asked him to step outside, subsequent to which he was arrested for disorderly conduct. He was soon release, and the charges dropped in this unfortunate incident.

   Not long after this occurred, there was national news coverage, including mention of it in a presidential news conference, with the assertion that the arrest was race related. The facts, however, are still at issue. Perhaps it was an issue of racial profiling, or perhaps Professor Gates became so enraged over his perceived mistreatment by the police (some of whom were African-American I might add), that he, indeed, behaved badly and was justifiably arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. At this point, WE DO NOT KNOW.

   In one of the more famous movie courtroom closing statements, Matthew McConaughy tells the story of the rape, beating and attempted murder of a little black girl to an all white jury in a small southern town and, after describing the actions in detail, directs the jury whose eyes are closed, “now imagine she’s white!” Of course, his client is acquitted.

   Neither I, nor anyone but the parties involved really know what occurred at Professor Gates’ house that day, and perhaps there needs to be an investigation if there was racial profiling involved, but before we pre-judge the incident before all the facts are in, I would ask everyone to imagine the scene at the house; the hulking police officer(s), the enraged Professor . . . NOW IMAGINE HE’S WHITE!