Lagos — We should not be deceived about the fact that events in God's Own Country in the past few weeks have shown that the racial divide is still as wide as ever. That we saw blacks, whites and Hispanics mourn side by side over the death of global pop star Michael Jackson did not mean that it was all one big happy family. That an African-American family now occupies the White House has also in no way welded the racial lines together. President Obama was sworn in on 20th January 2009, the events a few months from then have in no way made much of a change in race relations.

In one southern State, it was reported that some white parents withdrew their children from the swimming pool of a town's country club because of the presence of African-American and Hispanic children in the same pool. Other reports say that young white men feel alienated and are angry. Particular perspectives have being given vibrancy by a few of the right wing talk show hosts. Their utterances leave no one in doubt as to their thoughts on the Obamas. Perhaps one of the most notorious is Rush Limbaugh who at every opportunity does not hesitate to hide his disdain for President Obama and has openly stated that he "hopes President Obama fails".

An article titled "America's white men are back and raging" notes that "the angry white men, whose voices were largely silenced by the excitement and pride that greeted Obama's election last January are back with a vengeance". This line of thinking is been given a life line through the ultra conservative political commentators. Obama's supporters deny this citing the appointment of several white men to key posts.

In his grumblings over the nomination of a Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court, former conservative presidential candidate Pat Buchanan said: "white men were 100% of the people who wrote the constitution, 100% of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence, probably close to 100% of the people who died at Normandy. This has been country basically built by white folks". He clearly negated to say that America was basically built by white folks using black labour; he also negated to say that thousands of African -Americans and African soldiers from the colonies who gave their lives for the liberation of Europe during both world wars and the American Civil War for which they were not given much credit. Said to have worked as a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, Buchanan has a lot of experiences up his sleeve and cannot in all honesty say he is not aware of the contributions of

African-Americans to the building of America. Whether he chooses to disregard the truth is quite another thing!

During the live broadcast of the inauguration of President Obama on the major news networks, commentator after commentator told viewers that the White House was built by black labour.

The history books record the great exploits of African-Americans such as that the son of former slaves, Garrett Augustus Morgan who is recorded as the father of modern version and first patent of traffic stopping invention.

There are probably many other ugly incidents similar to that of the country club that may have gone unreported. However the latest incident of racial tension that has been brought to the notice of the world was played out last week through the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jnr.

Much has been said on the matter and the bottom line being that the incident speaks volumes about race relations in present day America. The African-American scholar had locked himself out of his house. Having been questioned and asked to identify himself on his own doorstep, Professor Gates was reported to have been "abusive and disorderly". Who wouldn't? The local police force has been accused of racial profiling; a charge which though does not sit down well with majority of Americans is an all too familiar social disease. The police stood by their man and have vigourously denied accusation. Neither is an apology to Professor Gates Jnr likely to be tendered any time soon.

Racial profiling has long been a problem associated with multi-ethnic, racially-diversified societies. In the United Kingdom it is one of the issues that the Police have had to deal with decisively. They have had to adopt strategies such as basing their decisions on intelligence information as opposed to racial profiling in their stop and search of motorists and commuters. This is now more pronounced with the fight against terrorists.

President Obama has all along distanced himself from discussing race issues. But how could he possibly have kept mute on an incident of this nature? Though he is not a racial firebrand, his comments were to cause consternation in some quarters. He jumped into the fray in a way that was to see him spend time at a press conference apologizing for his "hasty" comments. Some say his intervention made the situation worse and exposed him as being politically naïve on that particular issue. Others opined that a person holding such an esteemed office should not be quick to react. Indeed his comment did not go down well with the white arresting officer at the centre of the fray to the extent that President Obama's offer of a beer at the White House to smoothen things over, was turned down.

Sadly even the President has not either by his presence in the White House or his comments on the incident being able to offer any solutions to this potentially explosive issue of race.

What will it take to bridge the racial divide in the US or is it even naïve to hope for a permanent change in the first place!

Could a national dialogue to help to thrash out race relations? Or has the great superpower reached the point of no return on this matter?