I have a lot of respect for Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr and it is sad that this kind of foolishness still goes on in America. But, I have to admit, I'm getting a kick out of it.
Just think, of all people to mess with, the cops selected one of the nation's pre-eminent African America scholar. And, when people want a statement from him, he directs them to his boy, Dr. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law Professor. Oh Lord, it doesn't get any better than this! The Po-Po is gonna have to be more careful these days and watch who they pick fights with. Black folks have come a long way and you never know who you're messing with. I hope this incident gets back to the boys in the hood - they can celebrate because Gates and Ogletree are the two best people to show that the "post-racial/Obama era" people keep referring to is a figment of someone's imagination.
When I initially heard about this incident I hoped that it was just the police protecting the neighborhood. If there were two men of any race kicking or appearing to force a door in at my home I would hope someone would call 911. Too bad people are no longer neighborly - back in the day my neighbors would have looked out the window and known who it was if they lived in the area.
But nowadays they would call 911.
The problem with this incident seems to be the fact that they arrested Dr. Gates even after they found out who he was and had a problem with him being "loud and tumultuous."
The man was home. He had a right to be as loud as he wanted to be after showing proof that he was not a robber on a cane. I suspect Dr. Gates used words the police couldn't even spell and it got them mad. Perhaps that's what the tumultuous means.
We can't jump to conclusions and think this was racist - although I doubt that a frail white man using a cane would have been treated this way. I believe it's something I often talk about with police - white, black or otherwise - they have a power problem and tend to abuse the power they were given. If someone does not give police the respect they think they deserve because they carry a gun, some police feel like they can arrest you for disrespect. Any, police often arrest people because they feel they were disrespected. In addition to being ignorant, that is abuse of power but it happens every day with these insecure police officers trying to find their manhood (or womanhood) in a badge.Black scholar's arrest raises racism claims
BOSTON - Police responding to a call about "two black males" breaking into a home near Harvard University ended up arresting the man who lives there — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the pre-eminent African-American studies scholar.
Gates had forced his way through the front door because it was jammed, his lawyer said. Colleagues call the arrest last Thursday afternoon a clear case of racial profiling.
Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry." Other stories:
MSNBC - Black scholar's arrest raises racism claims
NY Times - Harvard Professor Jailed; Officer Is Accused of Bias
Chicago Tribune - Esteemed Harvard professor nabbed while trying to enter his own home
Los Angeles Times Blog - Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrested. Seriously, Cambridge?
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