(Community Matters) The International Brotherhood of Police Officers and KLBJ listeners are responding forcefully and defensively within their perceptions of unfairness. In the first case against one of their own, Cambridge Sargent James Crowley; in the the second case protesting the cancellation of the Todd and Don Show.
African American Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested at his home after having to bust through (with the help of a black cab driver) a stuck front door. Neighbors called the police, who responded and demanded identification of the home owner. What transpired, after, is a matter of dispute. Prof Gates states Sgt. Crowley was disrespectful and racial profiling. Cambridge police officers say Prof. Gates was out of control, yelling and uncooperative while they were just doing their job. President Obama – asked about the incident during Wednesday’s press conference – said the police “acted stupidly” when it had already been proven someone was in their own home, and the President admitted he didn’t have all the facts.
KLBJ responding to US Hispanic Contractors Association pressure canceled the Todd & Don Show. Don Pryor had repeatedly used the term “wetback” to describe illegal aliens. The contractors’ protested and were not satisfied with public apologies and a two-week suspension, threatening the radio station’s parent with an advertiser boycott. Now, the AAS reports some listeners are boycotting existing KLBJ advertisers in their own, reverse boycott.
A quick blogosphere search confirms both incidents – especially the former – are tearing at the seams of barely hidden racial tempers.
President Obama in clarifying statements is backing off his unscripted remarks during Wednesday’s press conference. Should he have answered the question while admitting he didn’t have all the facts? I suspect many in the majority would answer no. I suspect many Black and Brown Americans, based on decades of discrimination and racial profiling at the hands of law enforcement, think otherwise.
Did the Hispanic Contractors Association overreach? Did KLBJ management respond appropriately? I’m not sure these are the questions.
I’ve been struck by the ferocity of the Hispanic contractors’ youngest leaders. Now appears their dawn of time for remediating the past sins of discrimination and racial profiling. And, I’m informed by my own recent reflections of personally being too judgmental, too quick to respond without empathy and compassion. Some of my political blog posts just a few examples.
If the question is how do we prevent hurtful racial slurs, discrimination and racial profiling in the future . . . or how do we avoid a boiling over of racial tensions now simmering and – imo – threatening to erupt physically all around this country, then perhaps there are different answers in the broader context. I don’t know. I’m still figuring out the questions.
Community Matters 