Henry Louis Gates, Troy Anthony Davis, and the 21st Century Color Line

W.E.B. Du Bois' classic 1903 work "The Souls of Black Folk" opens with "The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line." Du Bois helped form the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., who directs Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, knows much about the color line -- not only from his life's work, but from life experience, including last week, when he was arrested in his own home.
Gates' lawyer, Harvard Law professor Charles Ogletree, said in a statement that the arrest occurred as Gates returned from the airport:

"Professor Gates attempted to enter his front door, but the door was damaged. Professor Gates then entered his rear door with his key, turned off his alarm, and again attempted to open the front door. With the help of his driver they were able to force the front door open, and then the driver carried Professor Gates' luggage into his home." Both Gates and his driver are African-American. According to the Cambridge [Mass.] Police report, a white woman saw the two black men attempting to enter the home and called police.

Ogletree continued: "The officer...asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and...handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver's license to the officer. Both include Professor Gates' photograph, and the license includes his address." Police officer James Crowley reported that Gates responded to his request for identification: "Why? Because I'm a black man in America?" Despite his positive identification, Gates was then arrested for disorderly conduct.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, more than 60 mostly African-American and Latino children attending the Creative Steps camp were disinvited from a suburban Valley Swim Club, which their camp had paid for pool access.

Suspicions of racism were exacerbated when Valley Swim Club President John Duesler said, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion...and the atmosphere of the club." The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation.

The Senate Judiciary hearings on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor were permeated by the race question, especially with white, male senators questioning her comments on how a "wise Latina" might rule in court. If confirmed, one of the first cases she will hear will be that of Georgia death-row prisoner Troy Anthony Davis, an African-American.

As it moves into its second century, the NAACP is, unfortunately, as relevant as ever. It is confronting the death penalty head-on, demanding Davis' claims of innocence be heard and asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the case of Pennsylvania death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Another new NAACP initiative asks people to record instances of bias, discrimination and police brutality with their cell-phone cameras, and upload them to naacp.org.

At the group's centennial, longtime board chair Julian Bond said, paraphrasing Jay Leno: "When I started, my hair was black and my president was white. Now my hair's white, and my president is black. I hold the NAACP responsible for both." While the Cambridge Police Department has dropped the charges against Gates, his charges of racial discrimination remain. W.E.B. Du Bois' color line has shifted -- but it hasn't been erased.

Denis Moynihan contributed research to this column.

Amy Goodman is the host of "Democracy Now!," a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 750 stations in North America. She is the co-author of Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times, recently released in paperback.

 

Follow Amy Goodman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/democracy_now

Comments

[ResidentPlazaPunchbowl]

Lucia Whalen"s call had sufficient indication of a "key or lock out (domestic dispute) problem." Why didn"t Sgt Crowley perform his basic job of (1) securing the site (2) questioning caller or witnesses for additional information (3) waiting arrival of back up (4) obtaining name, bona fides and phone number of resident (who is victim of alleged B&E).
Under a new modified protocol, OIC at scene, initiate call to residence, identify and verify resident bona fides, give OIC name, explain his response to B&E call, ask well being of resident and any family member, resident"s awareness of B&E. After correlating all information against reported observations OIC will determine If further investigation is required. Compare this hypothetical scenario with Sgt Crowley"s actions and Prof Gates: reactions on Jul 16, 2009. I hope this suggestion is given some thought by Cambridge PD. Aloha

[Beefcake]

Probably the most obvious sign the legal system is messed up is that the Department of Justice is blatantly lying about the racial composition of drug-related prison data:

http://www.tremblethedevil.com/my_weblog/2009/04/even-without-lies-the-damage-is-already-done.html

[ringeroo]

The Professor couldn't defuse the situation with a black cop on the scene?

[Beelzebufo]

Gates had a chip on his shoulder, thought he was somehow above suspicion. His attitude problem got him cuffed. I hope he is smart enough to drop this whole thing, because the police have long memories.

[Johnniedog]

Amy, You have your facts WRONG! When Gates was asked for his I.D. he was belligerent!! Instead of blaming the Woman that called the Police for being a Racist, he was blaming the Police Officer, a man doing his job by protecting his home. If I were the Police Officer, I too would have arrested Gates....Period!!! When are blacks going to learn that Police have a job to do and procedures to follow? These police are protecting people like Gates and their Homes and Property. Gates was the one that was in the wrong and should have to appologise to the Officer, but, we know this is not going to happen. In fact, I'll be willing to bet that Al Sharpton and all of the usual biggots come crawling out of the woodwork to milk this incident for all its worth. I'm not a biggot but it seems this kind of thing gets out of hand these days and then the real facts come to light and there is no appology from those that hype.

[rickyjimmy]

oy! you're out of order mate.

a. you haven't the slightest what the FACTS are or are not in this case so you ought to refrain.
b. black, white, yellow, whatever you have a right not to be harassed by any justice officer that's called harassment.
c. if you think the cop is clever then surely you also think it's clever that the citizenry of cambridge will have to pay dearly in the form of a civil lawsuit the professor will surely win.

and your bigotry is on display for all to read. you and your lot are the type that bring shame to so many that do so good despite you.

[sammyscout]

We now have a black president and yet allow this kind of blatant discrimination to continue. Obama needs to send a strong message to the Police

[thebeerdoctor]

It is remarkable that Ms. Goodman includes this minor incident where the distinguished professor is outraged that someone would question his credentials, and considers it racist that he was arrested for mouthing off to the cops. As someone who has been actually beaten by the police, for no reason, and has lived in a city where black, poor or anyone considered undesirable, are given marching orders by those who actually run things, Professor Gates must live in rarefied air in Harvard. He is incensed that black people are mistreated by the police? Just go back to Cincinnati, March 19th, 1999, when Michael Carpenter, an unarmed suspect, was shot by the police in his car, in my own neighborhood. So President Obama claims the police acted stupidly? How smart is it to start yelling at the police?

[jessicadevyn]

I feel a lot of what you are saying. But a lesser wrong isn't made right just because worst wrongs do happen. I think the reason why this article is being highlighted is that it shows that even socio-economic class and education still doesn't top race. Mainstream society constantly tells blacks that if they simply work hard and get a good education everything will be peachy keen. This shows it is not.

Too many of the police are school bullies that now have a gun and badge. Too many will abuse their power whenever they can.

The only person who says that Gates yelled at Police is the Police officer himself. Gates has a lung ailment that would preclude him from yelling.

[sc92705]

I would not be upset if my neigbors called the police in similar circumstance. My neighbors are not friendly and they probably would do nothing if they heard screams from my house.

You keep a cool head dealing with the police. Looks like Gates made this a racial issue; the officer was just trying to be 100% sure.

[srg10duke]

Here is my problem with the calls to stop profiling. Consider this hypothetical: a 12 year-old girl is abducted. The criminal profile for persons who abduct young girls is no secret, they are typically middle-aged white males. So the police set up a perimeter and begin conducting traffic stops to find the aforementioned girl. If they can only selectively stop cars, should they take time to stop a busload of teenage cheerleaders? How about a bus transporting old folks? A teenage couple out for a drive? Or should cars driven by middle aged white males be the targets? I find it hard to believe that a reasonable person could say: "the police should indiscriminately stop cars despite the fact that such behavior reduces the chance of finding the girl."

[Rogan]

Your example is sort of outside the social problems "profiling" causes. Looking for a specific suspect of a specific description including race, is not the same thing, as trolling for criminals, but only looking hard at the black people. THAT's "profiling," in the sense that offends us all so much. ("Us all" meaning all we sensible folk...)

[sonshine]

Extremely well said Amy. Thanks for always being able to sum up a situation with such clarity and fairness.

[akena]

The reporting officer responded to a call from a white female. She'd reported two black males with backpacks on the porch of a nearby house: "...her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry." We now know that the woman who made the call is Lucia Whalen, a fundraiser for Harvard Magazine. The fact that this woman might not recognize her neighbor and colleague is slightly troubling at best, and she made a mistake that was almost certainly based on her own prejudices.

[Gasparilla]

He was not her neighbor, and you can turn all the back flips you want to make her out to be a villain.

[LMPE]

One important thing to address is the ethnic makeup of our prison population. African-Americans are only about 12% of the US population but make up the majority of the prison population.

[Beelzebufo]

That tells you right there who the thugs are!

[jessicadevyn]

Yes. White people who have no problems locking up black people based on half cocked evidence at best. While whites charged with the same exact crimes are given probation.

[TenThings]

You and I have a divergence of views on this incident concerning Gates. I have an issue with you making this just about color or bringing the NAACP into it. Although I agree that the NAACP is valid. However, this incident is about the civil rights of all of us.

If you want to throw in race, well yes, maybe the neighbor was ignorant or police were on a power trip. It's going to happen more, especially as minorities start to become the "majority" in society.

But this incident is about our civil rights? because over the last 9 years, a rot has trickled from the top down, from our leaders to the smallest organizations of government in our nation. A rot that has allowed people in positions of governmental power to charge people, accuse people, and/or arrest people for the most trivial of things. They charge them for minor things with the open intent and purposeful intent in frightening them.

Some people believe that this professor should have opened up his “Miss Manners book” when the police came on to his property and accused him of breaking into his own home. So if a fascist state and police officers want to seize you because you put up a fuss, in your own home, its justifiable because you were not polite.

Many of you Democracy fighters need to go beyond color and the 1960's and shift your paradigm,
because the archetype of slaves can be all of us now.

[Gasparilla]

They did not accuse him of "breaking into his own home". They were responding to a possible break in and asked questions. He was the one who made it more than it was.

[doctordawg]

Once his identity and residence was established beyond all doubt, he, and all Americans, have the right to tell the officers to go furk themselves and "get the furking h.ell out of my house NOW"!

Gates did not make it worse. Once they KNEW who he was, they should have apologized for the intrusion and LEFT, being careful not to scuff the walkway as they left.

Police DO NOT have the right to do anything they want in MY house. Good police officers are the finest people in America. Bad ones are worse than the criminals they pursue, because they can hide their crimes behind their badge.

I am horrified that this could happen to any American, but am thrilled that it is being seen for what it is.

[ringeroo]

Well done. Yet, as we all know--how we communicate with cops has a big part in how the situation will go. To not go beyond race for a moment, I've been asking how people feel the dynamic changes when the apparent senior office on the scene is black? (The professor is in the photo yelling at him)

[Simone Tackett]

This is as much a class issue as it is a race issue.
This type of thing has been going on in the inner cities
where people didn't have the title Professor in front
of their names and no one not even Professor Gates
made a big deal about it However when it happens
a little closer to home or in his home NOW something
must be done. The ELITE class of Black people
will not tolerate racism when it strikes home.

[TheFirst]

Professor Gates is now a member of a very "exclusive" club of Black men in America. The following is some of the criteria for membership:

1. Driving your own car while Black also known as DWB.
2. Being looked upon with suspicion when owning or renting a home in a very exclusive neighborhood in America.
3. Being turned down from renting a home or an apartment.
4. Being followed by store security constantly while shopping.
5. Having job interviews cut short because the interviewer expected "someone else" other than you.
6. Never being taken seriously when making proposals at work.
7. Being accused of a crime because "we all look alike."
8. Being arrested because the police are not comfortable with your "tone."

The above criteria are only a fraction of being a part of this exclusive club. Should Professor Gates ever decide to do a documentary of what it feels like for Black men in America to be a member of this club, I can assure him he will not have a problem gathering material from around the country. The material has always been there. It can now truly be exposed the way only Professor Gates can expose it. He now has first hand knowledge.

[Einstein44]

Do not underestimate Professor Gates,this is only the beginning.He will not let this matter go lightly.This incident just opened the Pandora box for him.

[Lauren Collier 1]

I totally agree with you; however, IMO, this was not an act of racism on the part of the police officer. He was doing his job. Professor Gates, initially, refused to cooperate with Officer Crowley and began to yell and scream and call him a racist. Professor Gates should have been cooperative, shown his identification, and kept his mouth shut. There was no need for the debacle he caused. He was rightfully charged with disorderly conduct because he was still yelling "racist" and "this is what happens to a black man in America!" as he was being led out of the house. Bottom line - Professor Gates thought that because of his position, he was above the law. Shame on him.

[TheFirst]

Then you obviously cannot TOTALLY agree with me. I guess being "cooperative" would have made you and the police offer comfortable.

[cave mann35]

So Lauren it's not racist to be arrested for disorderly conduct when pressing an officer for his identification? Why can't a man be indignant about being harassed in his own home. He had just come from the airport to drop off his luggage and was on his way to Martha's Vineyard to join his family. Wasn't he cooperative when he showed his id? Afterall, he was not arrested for burglarizing his own home. You are entitled to your opinion that minorities should keep their mouthes shut when confronted with erroneous police officers. I would have been just as upset and would have asked my neighbor if she had ever seen me before. How could he think himself above the law just by demanding the officer's identification and badge number. The city sure dropped the suit fast, and I'm sure administrative leave awaits Mr. Racist Officer.

[Spiritgirl2]

Far from being an "integrated society", America is still segregated there just aren't the visible signs reading "Whites Only"! If the police knock on the door of a caucasian house and the homeowner produces valid ID, if the "homeowner" is asked further questions and the "homeowner" gets righteous indignation, then the officer asks nothing else, usually apologizes, and the officer goes on his way! If that same officer knocks and a person of color answers the door and produces a valid ID - then of course there will be follow up questions to which that person of color better not get that same righteous indignation - otherwise in that white officers mind the person of color is "resisting his authority", and will therefore arrest that person!

In America there are still two Americans, in white America you can express righteous indignation when you feel you have been wronged by the police, in African-America you better hold your tongue even when you are in the right! Mr. Gates is just lucky he wasn't shot for being right, just ask Amadou Dialo!!