;)
Gates Arrested in His Own Home
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 4:29AM 
Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr. (born September 16, 1950) is an American literary critic, educator, scholar, writer, editor, and public intellectual. Gates currently serves as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, where he is Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
The above was taken from his Wikipedia biography. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is also Black. Whether this fact played a role in his arrest at his own home or not is as matter of conjecture. Below is one account of what happened when police were summoned to his house, because a neighbor, identified as Lucia Whalen, thought that two Black men were trying to break in. See Video here
The President, Barack Obama, was asked at a news conference what he thought of the incidence. Obama called Gates a friend, and said he doesn't know all the facts of the case but he said:
"Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof he was in own home," Obama said.
"What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately," Obama said. "That's just a fact."
The police sergeant accused of racism after he arrested Gates insisted that he won't apologize. Police say Gates at first refused to display ID and then accused the officer of racism. Sgt. James Crowley said he followed proper procedures in arresting Gates.
Crowley said he was disappointed by the national debate triggered by the incident and insisted he followed proper procedures in arresting Gates last week in Cambridge on a charge of disorderly conduct.
"I'm outraged," Gates said in extensive comments made to TheRoot.com, a Web site he oversees.
"I can't believe that an individual policeman on the Cambridge police force would treat any African-American male this way, and I am astonished that this happened to me; and more importantly I'm astonished that it could happen to any citizen of the United States, no matter what their race.
There are 1 million black men in the prison system, and on Thursday I became one of them," he said. "I would sooner have believed the sky was going to fall from the heavens than I would have believed this could happen to me. It shouldn't have happened to me, and it shouldn't happen to anyone."
He spoke of a "terrifying and humiliating" experience at the Cambridge jail, where he was booked, fingerprinted, photographed and questioned, then locked up in a tiny cell that made him claustrophobic. He said he wants an apology from the officer, Sgt. James Crowley. He also said he planned to talk to his legal team about the next step.
Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge against Henry Louis Gates Jr. The city of Cambridge called the arrest "regrettable and unfortunate," and police and Gates agreed that dropping the charge was a just resolution.
The city of Cambridge, a Boston suburb, released a statement saying the situation "should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department."
Reader Comments (178)
I think you spelled President Obama's name wrong.
Simple solution to all this: the Cambridge police, fire, and 911 should not respond anymore to any calls from or regarding the Gates address. Obviously Gates had no sense of gratitude to public officials (one who was white) for having responded to a 911 call and putting themselves in harm's way in an attempt to protect Gates' home and possessions. Gates' automatic and inbred bristling to an interaction with a white person shows how ingrained racism is in the black community. Obama further demonstrated this racism based on his assumptions and tirade during his press conference although he admitted at the outset that he was not familiar with the actual facts of the case. It's time to ban all political organizations based on race (NAACP, La Raza, etc) and race-based affirmative action plans. They simply continue to encourage the playing of the race card and reinforce the "victim" mentality as Gates and Obama have so aptly demonstrated in this case.
Very well put- I'm thinking of coming out with a documentary called "White in America". Can you imagine that? Or what about the White Entertainment Television. It really is ridiculous if you ask me.
I agree.
Mistake #1 - The neighbor assumed a break-in, and if anyone is guilty of racial profiling, it would be her.
Mistake #2 - When Gates opened the front door without any hesitation, Sgt Crowley should have considered the possibility that it might actually be his home.
Mistake #3 - Sgt Crowley did not leave the scene after Gates showed his ID, he chose to assert his power by arresting him.
Unknown - Only the witnesses will ever know if Prof. Gates pulled the race card too quickly or if he was looking for an argument to make an issue of racial injustice. I'll never know what it's like to be black in America and have people/police harass you and treat you with suspicion... For argument's sake, let's assume he was initially NOT treated rudely by the cop - I think Prof. Gates was still very much within his right to show frustration and resentment for being harassed in his own home.
Maybe Gates was quick to call him a racist, but I think the fact that he didn't even give Gates the benefit of doubt... come on, we all want a safe neighborhood, but how would you feel being accused of breaking into your home?
While it is certainly apparent that racial profiling still does play a role in numerous arrests throughout the country, this case does not merit such an epithet. Given Professor Gates' association with the W.E.B. Du Bois department at Harvard, one would expect him to act with better judgement. Du Bois preached to black folk in his series of essays that it was imperative for both blacks and whites to achieve an understanding that the past, while devastating to blacks throughout America in terms of their attempts at progress following Emancipation, is in the past and that both parties have to work cooperatively in the present and in the future to ensure deserved attempts at economic and social prosperity. Though there are obviously issues regarding the progression of events in Gates' case, it would be unfair to categorize the officer's approach as racial profiling. We cannot forget that he was merely doing his job and that Gates, as a human being, acted disrespectfully and out of line. Check your local police blotter. There are a number of instances in every locality where people of all ages and colors are arrested for causing an uproar over a misunderstanding. Who are we to pass judgement on a situation that got out of control simply because an officer is asked to perform his duty. Understandably, Gates was upset. However, a MAN of his status should be able to act more responsibly and calmly. It is not as if this has happened to him on multiple occasions. We cannot forget or ignore the atrocities committed in the past with respect to black Americans. At the same time, we cannot bring it into every aspect of our lives. In such a world, black Americans will only progress gradually, as history will play into all relationships and situations. This would be the greatest sin of all.
Let's learn from our mistakes rather than dwell on them. Let's form prescriptions of history rather than relentlessly back track and blame our actions on bias, especially when there is no obvious history in this particular officer's case.
Jesus Christ. How do we know anything anymore? Even as a white male, I have been in this same situation before as a Marine stationed in California. I thought I had rights and that the cop was over-reacting and all that stuff. Well, I soon found out that I was in the wrong. Just shut your mouth and let them do their job- it doesn't matter who you are.
I'm glad the officer is safe also but he also could have defuse the situation by leaving after Gate produced his ID.
In the first place why were blacks made to work as slaves. It boggles the mind to see there are some people who still believe black people are second class citizens. Racism is endemic in Massachussettes and this incident is simply a tip of the iceberg. I was racially profiled on June 23 by the Lowell police and given a ticket for a dark tint for a Jeep that i bought from the manufacturer as is. its high time white people have shame
As always- but don't talk complain about it too much or you are a racist.
You need a free lecture on racism. You dont understand it.
I understand enough. I don't like it and it goes both ways. It's just annoying hearing about it all the time.
Well get the tint fixed- ITS A LAW!! Doesn't matter what color you are, you still have to follow it.
I've been reading quite a few responses to this incident. Nearly all of the people that support gates do so based solely on his character, and don't have much to say about the actions that happened that night. Nobody is questioning Professor Gates' character. It's his attitude and his actions that became a problem.
Professor gates knew damn well, even before the officer arrived, that he had just had his driver help him force his front door open. It's not unreasonable that somebody might interpret that to be "forced entry", (which, technically speaking, it actually was). When the police showed up to investigate, Gates already knew the police had probable cause to be there. I fail to see why this is being painted as "racial profiling".
Being such a brilliant black man, I would have thought Gates could have understood the situation, happily explained what was going on to officer Crowley, shown him his ID, and thanked the officer for responding.
Instead, Gates was apparently immediately non-cooperative, escalating toward belligerant, insulting, and combative. He decided to engineer a racially motivated incident by crying "RACISM!" and "profiling!" and is trying to lay blame for his own bad behavior on that of the police, officer Crowley in particular.
Number one, I don't think Professor Gates is doing anything to help his own cause in this battle.
Number two, I wonder if anyone will be willing to call police the next time they see somebody trying to force their way into Professor Gates' house?
The ironic thing is that nobody in Gates' frame of mind sees their own inappropriate and misdirected outpouring of anger and frustration at people such as officer Crowley as being "racist". In their mind, "racism" is something they are a victim of and by virtue of being black, not something they could possibly be engaged in.
Make no mistake - I understand there are some good reasons for blacks to be angry, I fully acknowledge there have been gross injustices, and continue to be. I simply believe this wasn't one of them. Gates being black, and Gates being an intellectual can't simply justify his racist reaction to a legitimate police inquiry.
Phil until you are willing to admit that there are still racial issues you will never be a part of the solution this Gates story is just a symtomn of the issue that we have to face as Americans, boths sides had a chance to defuse the issue and neither to that oppertunity.
Hey there, Ms. Boyd, you are so correct again! Assuming you were a MALE retired police officer was without basis. 'Sorry 'bout that!
Too bad no one has picked up on my "Block Party" idea. After walking the family dog for over 12 years, I know MY neighborhood. I know the people and the cars they drive--even some of their license plates. (And its not that I'm nosey, but our Yellow Lab is not much of a conversationalist!)If a see a strange person or unfamiliar car my "homeland security" antenna go up. It's called watching out for one another.
What's interesting is that the military doesn't really have the racism problem that the civilian sector does. Sure, there are racist military members, but color kind of goes out the window when you are getting shot at. Being a Marine now for 8 years, I haven't really had to deal with these issues, just shed my own blood along side a great number of races for a common goal.
Blacks have completely flipped racism in America. They can use the card at free will and our tax dollars are spent in court cases defending ourselves. But because our "white forefathers" brought ships full of blacks in chains we will pay for the rest of our lives. Sorry, cant do much about that. I'm down, I will definatly back a White in America film. How about 80% of athletes in Pro sports are black, and blacks still complain there arnt enough black coaches. It goes on and on.
Quite the contrary, GODSMACK; I have read EVERY article I could get my hands on about this case. I like to have all the facts before I comment. I'm surprised no one has responded to mine about the Heart Bill. Perhaps YOU need to read all of our comments completely prior to responding. Nowhere did I even mention racism or skin color - the cop is an idiot - pure and simple. If he were in any other profession, he'd still be an idiot.
You're ABSOLUTELY right. My mom (of all people) was arrested and put in handcuffs for not obeying a hand signal and showing a police officer her driver's license quickly enough. Mind you, this was an off-duty rent-a-cop directing traffic in the driveway of a private girls school, and my 8 yr old sister was in the passenger seat.
Little did she know my mom has a brain tumor and can't bend down (to where her license was) very quickly.
The officer gave her about 5 seconds, and then asked her to step out of the car. She was so disturbed that as she stepped out of the car, she fell to the street with seizures. The police officer grabbed her arm to arrest her and fractured it. She arrested my mom for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, disobeying an officer, and about 5 other bogus things.
My mom spent 2 days in the hospital and had to spend thousands on lawyers to get the charges dropped, eventually the officer went on 'administrative' leave. Unfortunately, suing would have required suing the school, and if my mom couldn't have afforded a good lawyer, she would have been a criminal for no other reason than EGO.
THIS STUFF DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN TO BLACK PEOPLE! Although my sympathies are with them if this is how they are always treated.
He had no other reason to arrest him!You want to talk about what good he does well....hes not too good he forgot one of the basic rules of being a cop is to DIFFUSE THE SITUATION. The cop was not in the wrong by going into the house but what he was wrong letting Mr Gates get him. You can say any thing you want to a cop. They surely can say anything freedom of speech if you have never heard of it. If this cop is so smart he should walked out and asked one of his fellow officers to diffuse the situation. You keep talking about all of this groups NAACP and all the race based groups don't forget not to long ago cops could spray blacks with water hoses,use attack dogs on black protesters Cops beat young black men and women for standing up for their rights in this country so don't preach about having black groups in this country.
The po po black folk. Always the victim.
Wow- that's all over now. We can all start acting like we are human. If everyone deserves to be treated equal, START DOING IT! It's 2009, get over it. Move on, live in the now. He diffused the situation by cuffing him.
You people supporting this smug idiot (Gates) are even more ignorant than he is. For someone that is so "educated" he can't understand the logic of someone reporting a breakin and himself being questioned about it? Everyone is supposed to know this smug moron?
Yeah I hear you. It's just getting ridiculous.
High time white people have shame???? Seriously. I've been pulled over for dark tint, guess what I'm white. Do you think the officer has a folder listing car model tint %? Wow. Is it white americas fault more crimes are committed by blacks? Our fault more blacks are on walfare? Our fault more than half of black children grow up in a single parent home? I dont think so. Whitty is no longer to blame.