DAVIE – The issue of the arrest of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates is a milepost in how the treatment of men of color by the police in this country is concerned. On our own talk show examples are given about how police treat black men when they are encountered in neighbourhoods police believe they probably should not be in at a particular time.
In coming to work in the still dark hours each morning, in this town that has a terrible history of race relations, I have been stopped by police officers who asked me flat out “What are you doing here?” These are realities that can not be denied.
What is good is that Professor Gates can now speak on race in a completely different fashion than he has, as a specialist in the area of study, than he has in the past.
In the mean time, to all those who want to parse the events of last Thursday evening, there is no doubt the situation was handled in a stupid fashion. There was no reason whatsoever to arrest the professor except for the police to show what continues to be the most arbitrary powers exercised in this country.
If you have any doubt about that arbitrary power, exercised every day try arguing with a police officer about whether the light you went through was amber or red!
Winston Barnes
Host – “Open Mic” WAVS 1170AM
Voice your opinion on “Open Mic” with Winston Barnes daily on WAVS 1170AM or listen on-line www.wavs1170am.com
