Gen Colin Powell weighs in on arrest of Prof Gates

I am not without some racial empathy of my own, having had similar run-ins with the police in Arlington, Virginia over the past 15 years.  Therefore, since I always managed to reason with the good ole boys who “racially profiled” me, I find it incomprehensible that Gates was unable to do the same in this situation.

[The arrest of Prof Gates was probably justified, TIJ, July 21, 2009]

Based on a report by the Associated Press, it’s the president and other blacks who appear to be engaging in (reverse) racial profiling…

I urge Gates to shut up with all the blather about using his arrest as a teachable moment on racism in America. Because the only lesson to be learned here is for him to learn how to show due respect to the police. 

[UPDATE: Sgt Crowley…gives sensitivity on racial profiling?! …  Oops, TIJ, July 24, 2009]

How’s this for racial polarization: 

With only one notable exception, all of my black-American friends have criticized me for not expressing unqualified support for the way Professor Gates “stood up to” Sergeant Crowley, which led to his now infamous arrest.  By contrast, all of my white-American friends have applauded me for expressing (as I did in the quotes above) what they deem is the only reasonable view of this incident.

This is why, no matter how well-intentioned, President Obama’s beer summit with Gates and Crowley, which is scheduled to be held around a picnic table at the White House tomorrow, will do nothing to bridge America’s racial divide.  In fact, it will amount to nothing more than a kumbaya photo op.

For the record, though, I was extremely heartened when the second-most influential black man in America weighed in firmly on my side in this contentious national debate.  Because, after revealing that he has been racially profiled “many times,” here’s what Gen. Colin Powell said last night on CNN’s Larry King Live:

I think Skip [Gates], perhaps in this instance, might have waited a while, come outside, talked to the officer and that might have been the end of it.  I think he should have reflected on whether or not this was the time to make that big a deal.

When you’re faced with an officer who is trying to do his job and get to the bottom of something this is not the time to get in an argument with him.

With that, I rest my case. 

To be fair, however, Powell also said that, even though he understands why Crowley arrested Gates, a supervising officer should have stepped in to prevent the incident from escalating to the point where Gates ended up in jail. I agree. 

NOTE: It pains me to concede that, despite the teachable moments that emanated from the arrest of Rodney King and murder trial of O.J. Simpson, what constitutes fairness and justice, in cases where race is involved, still depends (and perhaps always will depend) on whether you’re black or white.

Related commentaries:
The arrest of Prof Gates was probably justified
Sgt Crowley…gives sensitivity on racial profiling