Whereas many times I disagree with Derrick Jackson's interpretations of events, I must say that on the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., he has some very worthwhile and insightful thoughts, ideas that seem to wrap up the situation, at least for me. In his Globe editorial Saturday titled "All right everybody, let's all cool off," Mr. Jackson writes, "While it is a serious cautionary tale that we are not in 'post-racial' America, it does not invoke a 911 call on racism that throws out the baby of generally improving race relations with the shampoo of this bad hair day." 7/25/09, p.A13

Front page of the same edition of The Boston Globe pointed out how police officers have to operate within an air of suspicion, lest things go bad, something I had not considered before posting blog entry and comments of 7/23/09. Since then it has come out that Officer Crowley is "exemplary," in his field, Barack Obama's word for him. Following the President's lead, I apologize for assuming Professor Gates had fallen victim to racial profiling. I, along with President Obama, who is humbly acting as National Conciliator, evidently spoke too soon. Derrick Jackson writes, "Regarding Cambridge police, I think I have a pretty good idea of what constitutes a rogue cop, having once covered police brutality in New York City. Cambridge is not a corrupted city of rogues and monsters." 7/25/09, p.A13

The links below connect to yet another slate of articles on the case. Lest you are tempted to tire of the subject, I say re-think that idea, as while race relations have dramatically improved within the past ten years, much work remains to be done. Americans need to continue to discuss the issue, as open and thorough conversation is one avenue that could potentially offer a course to that elusive, sought-after "post-racial" society all of us dearly long for. Ending with Mr. Jackson's sage advice, "Now, after nearly a week of incendiary charges back and forth, it is time for this scholar on race and the cop who teaches on racial profiling to show how smart they truly are. Perhaps the next PBS special produced by Gates should be of him and Crowley discussing how it all went wrong. That might help the rest of us get it all right."


Telegram & Gazette, Saturday, July 25, 2009, "Obama playing racial peacemaker" by Nancy Benac, p.A1
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090725/NEWS/907250534/1116

The Boston Globe, Saturday, July 25, 2009, "Obama moves to quell Gates furor" by Jonathan Saltzman and Brian MacQuarrie, p.A1
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/25/obama_moves_to_quell_gates_furor/

The Boston Globe, Saturday, July 25, 2009, "All right, everybody, let's all cool off" by Derrick Z. Jackson, Opinion page A13
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/07/25/all_right_everybody_lets_cool_off/


Boston Sunday Globe, July 26, 2009, "No surprise in Cambridge" editorial, p.C8, Ideas section
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/07/26/no_surprise_in_cambridge/


Boston Sunday Globe, July 26, 2009, "Gates case strikes nerve, stirs racial debate" by Peter Schworm and Jazmine Ulloa, Metro Section, p.B1
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/26/gatess_arrest_stirs_discussion_of_race_and_class/


The Boston Globe, Saturday, July 26, 2009, "In risky field, suspicion is key tool, officers say" by Maria Cramer, p.A1
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/25/in_risky_field_suspicion_is_key_tool_officers_say/


Telegram & Gazette, Sunday, July 26, 2009, "Officer, prof confrontation is a guy thing" by Dianne Williamson, Local & Regional news, p.B1
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090726/COLUMN01/907260445