Unless That Narrative Changes

Ah, what a difference a day makes!

I enjoy reading the 'Inside Higher Ed' blogs, as they give insight into an often obscure corner of the culture, life inside the university walls. It is a different world, operating by its own rules, and affects us all.

Yesterday, an inspiring article about Dr. John Wilson, whose job is to assist historically black colleges and universities move forward and thrive.

His core message: Change the narrative that always places Black America as the victim in every transaction. Unless that narrative changes, nothing gets done.

So today, we are greeted with the story of Prof. Louis Henry Gates, arrested on his front porch in Cambridge, MA. Too long to recount here, but it seems the esteemed professor was more interested in berating the cops about being racists than offering his ID that established his identity and verified his residence.

He ends up arrested(you can see the arrest report at the article), and once all is sorted out, both sides decide it might be best to drop the matter, issue a joint statement, and move on.

(It's not hard to imagine that an attorney dispatched from Harvard had the quiet conversation with the esteemed professor, saying 'Henry, drop this. You don't want to do this, and we don't want you to do this either. There are donors who don't wish to be embarrassed by this sort of thing. And, a lawyer from the City of Cambridge probably had a similar conversation with the police and prosecutor. Notice how beautifully crafted that joint statement is. Someone spent some real coin on this one!)


But, there is always a silver lining to every cloud...

There are interviews to grant, apologies to demand, book deals to make, lectures to deliver!

HellsBells, Dr. Gates! You ought to send your arresting officer a case of single malt for Christmas!

So much for 'Changing the narrative'...

Here's hoping that:

1. While on lecture tour, his house really is burgled by black gang members, and

2. The neighbors, whose good-hearted concern prompted them to call the police, don't bother the next time.