Racism or Male Ego: Which Was More At Fault in the Skip Gates Case?
So I guess the cop that arrested Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates had a distinguished record, and even taught racial tolerance classes. 
Apparently, he was even hand picked by a black police commissioner. It sorta seems like this guy might have not been that bad of dude.
Of course, his stellar track record doesn’t prevent him from being a bigot, but it seems like there is more to this story than racial profiling. It’s not like I’m a prognosticator, but I am wiling to bet that both of these celebrated dudes’ male egos got in the way. And I’m sure that race shaped their interaction, because race influences everything we do, but I am willing to bet that neither one of these guys had enough sense to let cooler heads prevail.
And I know that I will prolly take some flack for this, but I am of the opinion that you really just shouldn’t go popping off at cops. (And this is more of a “do as I say and not as do” statement because in the past I’ve had many heated interactions with cops while being profiled.) Typically, all that ever happens when you go off on the boys in blue (especially racist cops) is that you put yourself one step closer to getting got like Oscar Grant. (And I am not saying that Oscar Grant deserved to get shot, because apparently he was trying to cool his friends down that fateful night.) Yes, Professor Gates is one of the 21st century’s greatest minds, but that doesn’t mean that he is immune to catching a ‘tude when he is being racially profiled.
Of course, I don’t really know what happened, so I should just mind my own business, but I am willing to bet that Gates was extra salty when he was stopped at his front door; I know that I would be! He prolly just kept it too real when the officer approached him, and then quickly escalated to being pissed off when he realized that the cop didn’t care that he was a famous professor.
And I am sure that the more heated Gates got, the more intolerant the officer got.
But I could be wrong. I don’t really know what happened. I am just willing to bet that neither of these guys could be the bigger person and just chill out.
If you would like to learn more about how to interact with angry police officers check out the Ella Baker Center. Word to Van Jones, they have some excellent tips on how to deal with ‘the po po.”
Yeah…i heard that dude was a first class a.hole!!
I’ll concur that all the facts aren’t out in this particular case to say much about what actually went down, but I think that, overall, it’s always a good thing to highlight the problems with our system of of “law and order”. Even if race wasn’t the primary factor behind the arrest, it is almost certainly an example of an abuse of police power. Even if we had two stubborn egos butting heads here, the onus should be on the po to be professional and simply walk away from the situation. A response to a report which is determined to be erroneous should never end up in the arrest of an innocent man.
It’s nice to see an objective analysis of this story. Not even the national news can do that. Did you see the picture of him being cuffed? The cop standing in the front was blatantly of African ancestry, and apparently so was the neighbor who called the cops on the Prof. when she mistook him and his cab driver for burglars.
Alfonsa wrote: “I’ll concur that all the facts aren’t out in this particular case to say much about what actually went down,” Period! Just stop there Alfonsa cuz we don’t know the facts yet. So how can you say that; “it is almost certainly an example of an abuse of police power.”? As far as we all know the arrest was warranted due to the Prof.’s actions – but I’ll reserve judgment until the facts are out (can’t wait to hear the 911 tapes and the tapes of the police radios)
Racism or Male Ego?, neither. I say it was arrogance and elitisms on behalf of the Prof.
Racism and Male Ego are why the Prof. (and the President) will not apologize for their words.
Men are babies and will always have a character that represents that of an alcoholic, the way AA defines one; “Ego-maniac with a inferiority complex”.
I think it was a combination of things that got blown way out of proportion way too fast. I do believe that it was a slight bit of racism with the first notion of the woman who called the police in the first place. I do not know too many 60 year old burglars with a chauffer and living in Cambridge. Second, I do believe that the officer should have diffused the situation once he realized that Skip Gates was in his own home. Thirdly, yes professor Gates a well known scholar on race probably did wield a little bit of influential power at the officer by saying things like I am gonna call your boss and “do you know who I am”? It worked both ways in my opinion. Now that calmer heads have prevailed, the question still remains; does racial profiling still exist? YES it does, but most importantly what can and are we willing to do about it. The best thing for race relations in America was electing Obama because now race is an American issue. Its not a black white latino issue. Its not a southern thing. There are people that truly feel that racism does not exist in the North. WHAT!!! Racism in America exists in all walks of life. It is natural and its necessary for America to thrive. Is the foundation on which America was founded. So yes the color and the Ego of Professor Gates lead to his arrest. The first racist act which no one is talking about is the caller. Just because two black men are on a porch forcing a door open does not mean that they are burglars. The officer did not appreciate being talked to in that manner especially by Professor Gates. Thats why he asked him to step outside of the house…he could not arrest him in his home for disorderly conduct…it had to be in public…so yeah thats when I believe it became a racialized incident. It became even more racilaized when the media started looking for white and black supporters for each group. That widens the divide. They asked the black officer, they find out the cop was a racial profiling expert who has taught the class. It became even more racialized by focusing on the things that made it racial. RACE!!! So in sum, yeah they both were to blame for this incident. It would not have gotten this much attention had not Lynn Sweet asked that dumb ass question in the HEALTH CARE session. So she too was “playing the race card” No one is asking her why would you ask a question like that when all the other reporters asked health care questions….she was trying to stir the pot….did he walk into it…yes…but i bet she wont get anymore press passes….
The fact is this kind of question is only a debate when White Folks weigh in. As a Black Man I’ve had Helicopters over head, Even Police have stopped me walking down the street.
In his house he gets arrested. Yes this is America…..
When you hear White Folks say he was uppity to the Police or didn’t know his place, Yes this is still America….
What do folks think now that the buzz has gone done. Have race relations in America really changed because of the beer summit.
Male or female, it doesn’t make a difference, we have a media and judicial system that creates an environment that is conducive for both parties to be wrong on many levels. As a black male, I would be angry in this situation and as an authoritative figure, I would be angry in this situation. My home is my home so I am biased toward Dr. Gates. I guess that’s why it’s important when you are a Black person to be educated about our history and the practices that have been used to perpetuate oppression. Sometimes, Shut Up and Live but sometimes Speak Up. Some lessons were learned; it was a teachable moment for many.