TULIA CASE HIGHLIGHTS RACIAL DISPARITY IN PRISON

African-Americans comprise about 12 percent of the population in our
country. Black men comprise nearly 50 percent of the 2 million people
currently serving time in our federal and state prisons.

Why are so many black men in prison? As Americans, should we be asking
ourselves if our law-enforcement system is racist?

If you're Caucasian, let me posit a set of circumstances for you to consider.

Let's say that instead of abiding in your comfortable white skin, you are a
person of color. Close your eyes and imagine it. Now let's say that I come
along and place a bit of powder cocaine in a bag, then claim I bought it
from you.

Let's also say I was hired to work as an undercover cop in town, despite
references from a former employer stating that I shouldn't be working in
law enforcement. Let's add that I left the town where I previously lived
owing nearly $7,000 to local merchants and am currently facing theft
charges in that county.

Thomas R. Coleman is an undercover officer, and, based on his word, 46
people, 43 of whom are African-Americans, were arrested in Tulia. According
to research done by the ACLU, Coleman is facing theft charges and left his
previous residence in Cochran County owing local merchants nearly $7,000.

Coleman was fired from his job as deputy sheriff in Cochran County. Here is
a quote about Coleman made by his former boss, Cochran County Sheriff
Kenneth Burke:

"It is my opinion that an officer should uphold the law. Mr. Coleman should
not be in law enforcement if he is going to do people the way he did in
this town."

Be glad you aren't an African-American living in Tulia. My advice to
African-Americans living in Tulia: MOVE!

I asked local attorney Jeff Blackburn why we imprison so many
African-Americans. He told me that police work is a numbers game, a game
where lots of arrests and convictions look good to the general public. He
went on to say that African-Americans are generally less able to pay for a
good defense and often are convicted by predominantly white juries. This
combination of factors makes them an easy target in our current system.

Remember, you're not white anymore. Feeling comfy?

Racism is a problem in our legal system. The evidence is all around us, but
many still refuse to open their eyes to it. Without a doubt, many
African-Americans, suffering from the effects of poverty, feelings of anger
or simple ignorance, do commit crimes. Even so, when one out of four black
men in our country cannot vote because of past or present felony
convictions, I have to say that we all need to think about this problem and
make a change.

We have to stop imprisoning so many of our young African-American men. How
can that segment of our society ever pull itself up when so many of its
young men are in jail?

It's easy to talk about personal responsibility and place the entire
problem on the African-American community. This view does not explain the
numbers, though. It is clear that the legal system is at least partially to
blame.

The situation in Tulia is a prime example of what's wrong. The focus there
was totally on the black community, and that isn't right.

Why are so many African-Americans put into prison? Is it possible that the
system is partially to blame? The answer is yes.

Don't get mad. Deep down, you know I'm right about this.

Take a deep breath.

Swallow the truth.

We can do better.