Virtually Ignoring a Much Greater Injustice
Terry L. Mitchell
April 16, 2007
While everyone seemed to be flipping out this past week over the racist and sexist remark radio talk show host Don Imus made about the Rutgers women's basketball team, the climax of a much greater injustice went almost unnoticed.
Three Duke University lacrosse players were finally exonerated after more than a year of having to fight false charges of rape, kidnapping, and assault. These three young men had been indicted, arrested, booked, and forced to put up huge amounts of bail to maintain their freedom. Why? Because some district attorney, in a tight primary election battle to maintain his job in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, pandered to citizens of that district who demanded "justice."
Instead, he should have looked at the facts and the evidence, which would have clearly indicated he had no case against these Duke students. The fact that the female accuser is black and the three males who were accused are white was completely irrelevant to the facts of this case. However, as it all too often does in our culture, racism reared its ugly head and proved to be devastating to its victims.
Obviously, the members of the Rutgers basketball team were also victims of racism. They did nothing to Don Imus and in no way deserved the hurtful remark he made about them. However, other than getting their feelings hurt and having to endure some unjustified shame and humiliation, they suffered no real damage. In fact, the dignified way in which these fine ladies and their coach handled the situation will likely work to their advantage in the long run. There is little doubt that they will now have opportunities, like those for book-writing and speaking engagements, they otherwise might not have had.
Now, compare this to the situation of the three Duke lacrosse players. Yes, they can now get on with their lives and might even have similar opportunities to those of the Rutgers women. However, everyone can now see that those women are far from being any "nappy-headed ho's." On the hand, there will be lingering doubts, especially among those in the African-American community, as to the innocence of the gentlemen from Duke.
Once someone is accused of a serious crime like rape or kidnapping, many will continue to believe their guilt no matter how much evidence is presented to the contrary. It's just human nature, I guess. These young men will likely continue to be persona non grata in many places and face various forms of discrimination for the rest of their lives. The bottom line is that they will never be able to have their good names completely restored. And this is on top of the harrowing ordeal and legal wringer they've already been put through.
Will they eventually file some lawsuits? I have no idea. What I do know is that no amount of money will compensate for what they have gone through and will continue to have to endure. Now, do you still think the bulk of last week's media attention should have gone to the ignorant remark of some two-bit commentator, as it did? If so, I have a proposition for you. I'll volunteer to allow someone to make an unfair, disparaging remark about me if you'll agree for someone to formally accuse you of a serious crime like rape or kidnapping. Deal?
Three Duke University lacrosse players were finally exonerated after more than a year of having to fight false charges of rape, kidnapping, and assault. These three young men had been indicted, arrested, booked, and forced to put up huge amounts of bail to maintain their freedom. Why? Because some district attorney, in a tight primary election battle to maintain his job in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, pandered to citizens of that district who demanded "justice."
Instead, he should have looked at the facts and the evidence, which would have clearly indicated he had no case against these Duke students. The fact that the female accuser is black and the three males who were accused are white was completely irrelevant to the facts of this case. However, as it all too often does in our culture, racism reared its ugly head and proved to be devastating to its victims.
Obviously, the members of the Rutgers basketball team were also victims of racism. They did nothing to Don Imus and in no way deserved the hurtful remark he made about them. However, other than getting their feelings hurt and having to endure some unjustified shame and humiliation, they suffered no real damage. In fact, the dignified way in which these fine ladies and their coach handled the situation will likely work to their advantage in the long run. There is little doubt that they will now have opportunities, like those for book-writing and speaking engagements, they otherwise might not have had.
Now, compare this to the situation of the three Duke lacrosse players. Yes, they can now get on with their lives and might even have similar opportunities to those of the Rutgers women. However, everyone can now see that those women are far from being any "nappy-headed ho's." On the hand, there will be lingering doubts, especially among those in the African-American community, as to the innocence of the gentlemen from Duke.
Once someone is accused of a serious crime like rape or kidnapping, many will continue to believe their guilt no matter how much evidence is presented to the contrary. It's just human nature, I guess. These young men will likely continue to be persona non grata in many places and face various forms of discrimination for the rest of their lives. The bottom line is that they will never be able to have their good names completely restored. And this is on top of the harrowing ordeal and legal wringer they've already been put through.
Will they eventually file some lawsuits? I have no idea. What I do know is that no amount of money will compensate for what they have gone through and will continue to have to endure. Now, do you still think the bulk of last week's media attention should have gone to the ignorant remark of some two-bit commentator, as it did? If so, I have a proposition for you. I'll volunteer to allow someone to make an unfair, disparaging remark about me if you'll agree for someone to formally accuse you of a serious crime like rape or kidnapping. Deal?
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