Does scholar’s arrest at Harvard illustrate racial profiling?
AN UPDATE:
Cambridge police have now dropped the charge against the Harvard scholar, calling the incident, “regrettable and unfortunate.”
For some of our readers who think St. Louis is alone when it comes to tension between the races, here’s a story from Cambridge, Mass., as food for thought.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a prominent black scholar at Harvard University — and he was arrested at his own home last week after reports of a break-in. His lawyer says he was the victim of racial profiling; police aren’t saying anything past what was in the written report about the incident.
Henry Louis Gates
Supporters of Gates, including other prominent African-Americans, have come forward with some of their own tales of racial profiling around Harvard. Al Sharpton has put his two cents in, saying he’d heard of driving while black but “going to your own home while black is a new low” in policing.
Gates and his attorney said he showed ID to the police officer, who continued questioning him. The police statement said Gates grew loud and tumultuous, which is why he was charged with disorderly conduct.
After you read the account, do you think police overreacted? Did Gates? Or is this just another example of tension between blacks and whites that crops up too often for comfort?
I can’t understand why they would have arrested him if he was able to prove it was his home. I also can’t understand why he was so aggitated that the police showed up in an effort to protect his house and belongings. Sounds like he would benefit from anger management training. As for the racial thing, I just don’t see it. But then again, I’m not looking for a fight.
Had he been polite, he wouldn’t have been arrested. Simple as that.
Play the race card? Next is a plea. No other defense? See ya!
As long as a note worthy number blacks of caused crime and mayhem than all blacks will be burdened with this kind of profiling.That just the way it is!
Lunatic Fringe said “had he been polite” yeah Lunatic us Negroes we just dont know how to show respect to da law! jfmoyn says “I can’t understand why he was so agitated…sounds like he would benefit from anger management” Agitated? You show a cop two picture ID’s one with the address of the house the cop stands foot in and he still don’t trust you, we all in trouble. Anger no,if black people in this country were really angry, about how they are treated differently by police, a cop couldn’t walk the street safely. Its total disappointment, disgust and plain ole tired of being tired of the same cultural bias that some continue to perpetuate. “That’s the way it is” Steve M.
No matter how the deck is shuffled, someone will always play the race card.
People like JerryW are what give these discussions a bad taste. Just what does that mean he played the race card? What it means is had that been a white professor with a Harvard ID and a driver’s license with an address that matched the home in which he stood, the cop would not have arrested him plain and simple. The race card is labeling black people with being disrespectful to the law and needing anger management simply because they stood up for their constitutional right to be free and safe in their own home. Something I am sure JerryW supports. But when a black man stands up for that and proves he belongs in the home, somehow that is playing the race card. The race card is played by those who are wrong and have no other excuse. That is not the case here.
stldaniels, Had the professor been white or even asian or hispanic, it wouldn’t have made national news. By time Al Sharpton is involved, you know that there’s going to be a shakedown based on race. BTW: You should read the book Shakedown: Exposing The Real Jesse Jackson by Ken Timmerman. Did the police over react? Possibly but we don’t know the entire story - just what was reported in a few words. Are there still racists in the USA? Yes. Many of them are black.
Well JerryW I will agree with you that when I read about Rev. Al getting involved, I said to myself, the professor can handle this without him getting involved. I don’t really think you understand the term “racist” but what does that have to do with this particular story. It seems people like you have an agenda and will tag it to any fact situation whether it applies or not. Are you suggesting the professor is a racist? I dont even think he is suggesting the cop is a racist per se. I think what is important is to understand cultural bias and how that impacts communication, understanding and even handed measure of enforcing the law. One last thing, why the great focus on Jesse Jackson, unless you have a bias. Do you actually believe he is the only person on this earth who has by one method or another shook down a corporation or a business. Ever heard of the mafia, the Serbian gangs in St. Louis, dirty cops. Broaden your scope of thinking JerryW.
Sounds to me like the whole thing would have happened if Gates was white. If someone saw me what looked like breaking into my home and called the police I’m sure the same thing would have happened. You can’t expect the police to just let someone tell them it’s their house and walk away after a break in was reported. In reality, Gates could have been a robber who had picked up the owners credentials from the bedroom dresser while the real owner was in the shower not knowing anyone was in the house. If Gates would have been a robber and the police walked away it could have been a bigger mess. I’m white with several black friends. I do understand that blacks are sometimes targets as I have also been a target by being with them. We have been stopped, searched and bothered just because it was a mix in the car. Fact is we were all teachers that worked together. I think everyone is a subject to profiling sometime. Race, length of hair, tattoos, age & even dress habits, The bottom line is that Gates should have understood the questions involved being that he is an educated man. sometimes being pushed into a corner caused us all to lose it a little.