If it weren’t for the firestorm last week that was the Imus controversy, I think we would have seen more media attention surrounding the conclusion to the Duke Lacrosse team allegations.

It turns out that there was no case for rape and in fact the real issue boiled down to a District Attorney hoping to rally some votes by accusing the unusual suspects without properly verifying evidence. The preppy Duke lacrosse players made perfect villains in the very public story of a Black female accuser named Crystal Gail Mangum. It turns out that she was a liar and Mike Nifong, the District Attorney, a perpetuator of unethical practices.

Nifong should be dis-barred and run out of town. Instead, he has apologized publicly and it will likely be swept under the proverbial carpet. But maybe the tides of American justice are changing. Maybe “White Man’s Burden” was more than a movie. John Travolta could have easily played a stick yielding yuppie in a modern day version of the bizzaro world drama (well he’s a little old now).

Al Sharpton and his troops demanded the heads of the entire Duke Lacrosse team when the allegations were first released last year. Yet, in the wake of what has become one of the more publicized legal goofs, there is barely a whisper of forgiveness.

It is true that some of the accusers were relying on what should have been credible information from an accountable authority figure. However, America has seen firsthand the slander and libel that has made a mockery of our justice system for sometime now. While the truth was finally revealed in this case, those poor student athletes have had their reputations soiled if not flat out ruined.

Sad as it is, let’s not turn a blind eye to the reality of our justice system. Black men in America are still warehoused in the penal system. Unfortunately not everyone is afforded a day of redemption in front of hordes of reporters and camera crews. The National Urban League has reported for years in their State of Black America that Black men receive longer sentences for the very same convictions as their White counterparts. There is also a long history in this country of racial profiling and false imprisonment in an effort to circumvent otherwise socially unacceptable hate crimes.

This is not to say that this ordeal was fair or that it was a dose of medicine fitting of a dark history. Rather I share this to point out that in the end, understanding the historical struggles of the Black community should make us more sensitive to all civil injustices - regardless of race, religion or class. The Duke case would be a good place to start.

American Africans led the civil rights charge in the 60’s but they were certainly joined by other freedom fighters. We may be witnessing an episode that will lead to a new movement - A movement that holds officials responsible and holds fast to the guiding principals of American democracy and justice…All are presumed innocent until proven guilty…that would be something!

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