Blackface returns to Hollywood
The Washington Post writes about the use of white actors to play black characters in Hollywood. While it is very different from the blackface of old it is apparently still controversial.
It reminded me of the first guy I was appointed to represent in Austin, Texas after graduating from law school. The DA was attempting to revoke the probation of a young black man who was accused of a new burglary offense. The theory of the case was "recent unexplained possession of stolen property." When I interviewed the guy he actually had an explanation. He had bought the boom box from a fellow whose nick name was Little Dog, who happened to be the younger brother of, you guessed it, Big dog.
When I asked my client to describe Little Dog he described him as "bright." I did not think that was all that helpful until he told me it meant he was a light skinned black person. He went on to explain the lighter skinned shades as "light, bright, and near white."
One of my black neighbors here in Washington was part of the Whiting family said they had gotten the name because many of the members where very light skinned blacks.
It is a part of the culture that you don't hear about much in these hypersensitive times.
BTW, I found Little Dog and he confirmed my clients story, but wound up not having to use him because the arresting officer, on cross examination, also confirmed that my client had told him he bought the boom box. Since it was clear he had an explanation, when the state rested its case the judge shouted, "You what? You can't rest, you haven't made your case."
The Assistant DA mutter something about recent unexplained possession, and the judged thundered again, "Didn't you hear what your witness said? Case dismissed."
There was stunned silence in the busy court room for a minute then a loud shuffling of papers from the prosecution table. As I was leaving the first assistant DA said some angry words to me. He did not realize how prepared I was though. Not only did I have the testimony of the "bright" Little Dog, but I had alibi witnesses lined up for the entire day of the burglary.
While probation revocation cases are usually a quick ticket to Huntsville, Texas in this case it was not.
It reminded me of the first guy I was appointed to represent in Austin, Texas after graduating from law school. The DA was attempting to revoke the probation of a young black man who was accused of a new burglary offense. The theory of the case was "recent unexplained possession of stolen property." When I interviewed the guy he actually had an explanation. He had bought the boom box from a fellow whose nick name was Little Dog, who happened to be the younger brother of, you guessed it, Big dog.
When I asked my client to describe Little Dog he described him as "bright." I did not think that was all that helpful until he told me it meant he was a light skinned black person. He went on to explain the lighter skinned shades as "light, bright, and near white."
One of my black neighbors here in Washington was part of the Whiting family said they had gotten the name because many of the members where very light skinned blacks.
It is a part of the culture that you don't hear about much in these hypersensitive times.
BTW, I found Little Dog and he confirmed my clients story, but wound up not having to use him because the arresting officer, on cross examination, also confirmed that my client had told him he bought the boom box. Since it was clear he had an explanation, when the state rested its case the judge shouted, "You what? You can't rest, you haven't made your case."
The Assistant DA mutter something about recent unexplained possession, and the judged thundered again, "Didn't you hear what your witness said? Case dismissed."
There was stunned silence in the busy court room for a minute then a loud shuffling of papers from the prosecution table. As I was leaving the first assistant DA said some angry words to me. He did not realize how prepared I was though. Not only did I have the testimony of the "bright" Little Dog, but I had alibi witnesses lined up for the entire day of the burglary.
While probation revocation cases are usually a quick ticket to Huntsville, Texas in this case it was not.
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