Black Scholars Get Arrested Too
Harvard Professor Henry “Skip” Louis Gates Jr. was arrested last week at his home for “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior.” I’m trying to approach thiswithout bias but that’s easier said than done. I can’t help but carry these stories with me. Granted we only have one side of the story (peep the police report here) but after reading that side my bullshit radar is bubbling to the surface.
First off, I’m not one to feign surprise that it’s 2009 and a Black man can a) be suspected of breaking into his own home and b) get arrested in front of his home for yelling at a police officer. While it’s troubling that this is still happening, I’m not shocked at any instance of racism because the idea of a post-racial, or post [insert any -ism] in America has always been a load of crap to me. Regardless of the progress that has been made, it will take a hell of a lot more than time to erase the history that causes a 50-something year old Black man to question if he’s being targeted by the police because of the color of his skin.
Of course the circumstances involving Gates and the officer is complicated, sensitive, and relevant only because Gates is black and the officer, I’m assuming, is not Black. Still, I hope people are able to recognize that this whole scenario would still be ridiculous if Gates was a purple martian from Mars.
I can’t seem to wrap my brain around the idea that anyone in Gates’ position that afternoon should have been arrested. The idea that we should hold our tongues to appease the ego of an officer is absurd. Since when is it illegal or disruptive for people to question a cops’ intention or to accuse an officer of being racially biased? Police officers get yelled at all of the time. Imagine if they arrested everyone who offended them. There would be a whole of lot of people in jail – brown, black, and white.
I’m always weary of the idea that the public should have to change their unlawful behavior in order to not piss off “the law”. No one should have to tip-toe, or stay in “ones place” around law enforcement unless they are doing something illegal, and I get the overwhelming feeling that Gates was arrested simply because the officer felt he stepped out of line, in public.
And if we must examine race, which will clearly be the focus of Gates arrest, I find it odd that people are surprised that someone of Gates caliber could in fact be arrested. Tons of books, degrees, and famous friends don’t make a persons’ race and the baggage that comes with skin color in America disappear. Gates learned that the hard way, but at 58, I’m sure it was not his first lesson.
Lucky for Gates he has access to the media – hell, he is the media – and the title of “pre-eminent Black scholar” attached to his name. Unfortunately for the hundreds of poor black and brown men being profiled, right now, none of the same reporters clawing to get a comment from Gates’ camp, give a damn about their circumstances.
Update: Looks like the charges against Gates have been dropped.
Tags: Blacks, Boston Police, Harvard, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Henry Louis Gates Jr. Arrested, Police, Racial Profiling
July 21st, 2009 at 10:20
Face the facts. First, the police responded to a report of someone possibly breaking into a house, not a report of the homeowner trying to get into his own home. The police officer was doing his job, properly, by the book, by asking Gates for ID to prove it was him at his residence. A police officer can not take someone at their word, it could have been anyone. Just because Gates is known among some people doesn’t mean that he is known among all or even most people. There is no excuse for Gates initially acting the way he did. I guess he just has some emotional problems. A real disappointment for a scholar of any race. Would Gate have reacted the same way if a black officer initially responded? It seems like Gates is the racist in this case. Second, the officer was within his right to arrest or give a citation to Gates for disorderly conduct. Gates refused to show ID, it was the officer who restrained himself in giving Gates multiple opportunities to prove his identity. The officer did not have to do that. For a scholar, Gates is ignorant and his behavior is inexcusable.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:25
Chad– I find it funny that the only time certain people comment on this site is to defend possibly racist behavior (Oscar Grant, racist republican antics, etc). The police department has dropped all charges, probably because the idea of someone being arrested in his home for no real reason is absurd. If you read the post or any other articles about the incident you’d know that Gates did indeed show ID to the officer and the officer was convinced that Gates lived at the address. If you’d like to have a serious dialogue about race, the police or whatever else, this is definitely the space, but if you just want to defend racist or questionable behavior, this isn’t the blog for you.
August 7th, 2009 at 01:48
The police dept(s) nationwide need to have a system of checks & balances implemented by some force other than their own. They’re watching us but who’s watching them? Us, thats who-which only leads to a cycle of miscommunication & fear/anger/impetuous decision making & everyone loses.
This situation could’ve been avoided on several levels, & I think it’s going to take more than Obama & Biden getting buzzed with a couple of cats to make a dent that took hundreds of years to create.
I see you on DP’s site, & Culture (bbcult), so hey, check out another Black Man with something to say. I’m official (one of DP’s “Nukkas” blogs- “Reading & Writing Is For Dumb People”. Click the link…..tell me what you think. Good drop, btw. Easy.
http://tonygrands.blogspot.com
August 11th, 2009 at 01:09
Tony- good point on the cycle of miscommunication. I think it’s part of the reason there is distrust on both sides. But there’s also institutionalized racism throughout our penal and justice system. Until we take a hard look at why there are so many more blacks and latinos getting pulled over/in jail beers solve nothing.
Thanks for visiting! Looking forward to reading your stuff, too.