If you asked the slave master what he thought about corporal punishment, his response might have been, "It is necessary to whip the slaves and treat them with brutal force because it teaches discipline and ensures productivity." Conversely, if you asked the slave about corporal punishment, the slave's response might have been, "Treatment in captivity is inhumane because humanity is totally disregarded."
Retrospectively speaking, both views have legitimacy; and there you have the roots of the racial reality perspective in America.
The unfortunate incident of Harvard Professor Henry Louis "Skip" Gates being arrested on the porch of his home in Cambridge, Mass., begs many questions. This occurrence has captured national attention, and the commentary of pundits demonstrates a clear, black and white racial divide about perceptions.
Was Gates a victim of racism?
Did the police officer do the right thing by arresting Gates? Was the officer just following police procedure? Why was he arrested on his porch when he had shown identification inside of his home that established him as the resident? Is this the brand of profiling that black men, in particular, experience daily from the hands of the police throughout the nation?
Is this a Rosa Parks moment, where this high-profile arrest brings about social change and a tipping point in race relations?
Will we discover the reason so many African American men are disparately sentenced to jail? Do white police officers treat black men differently from others--perhaps with preconceived notions, greater fear and with expectations about violence? Would the police have treated a white professor with the same lock-'em-up passion?
America's Taboo: The Fear of the Black Man
Gates' case could bring about a public dialogue and provide focus and a platform for an open and honest discussion about America's taboo: the fear of black men at large.
Let's be real. Sometimes men clash. First of all, let's ask why the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement did not weigh in with commentary, advice and perhaps even threatened a lawsuit?
Secondly, what is not reported on this absurdity of a clear case of racism is that Professor Gates is physically challenged and requires a custom-made shoe, built to provide him comfort and leverage while walking. He also walks with a cane for balance. This is not necessarily obvious because as he is seen on the TV, he is usually sitting. He is small in stature and probably would not be perceived as a threat by most. Many know Gates, but not all, kind of like a rock star. But what does it matter? Must you be a celebrity or an intellectual giant to be so outraged at the police's behavior that people listen to you? Must you live on Harvard grounds to attract media attention?
What happened to Gates is a daily occurrence in American ghettos. Police officers sometimes unfairly and unjustifiably stop black men while driving their cars. It's called a "DWB" incident (driving while black). Black men experience the unwarranted arrests by white officers daily.
This is the American way, no matter who occupies the White House's top spot.
President Barack Obama spoke out against the incident because he knows all too well the problem and validity of the Gates situation. For the first time since his winning pursuit of the White House, he related as a black man. Some Obama voters have been waiting for such a defining moment. Yes, the President of the United States is a black man and knows this black-man/cop dilemma. The president and his wife have friends who have had these types of experiences, so he knows it first hand.
It doesn't matter that Gates is a credentialed scholar. It doesn't matter that Gates is an author and researcher doing outstanding work at one of America's most elite universities. It doesn't matter that he had a driver delivering him to his doorstep from a recent trip to China. It doesn't matter that Gates has engaged groundbreaking research and shared it in a PBS documentary with worldwide acclaim. These social trappings are nice and speak to America's upper-echelon success. But what does matter is that Gates is a black man, and in some way, he was perceived as a threat. Thus, the arrest.
What does matter is that the Gates arrest proves that the notion of America's post-racial society is false. The Gates incident shows that America's attitude -- that is, the real attitude -- has not changed. The core of American racism still exists. Period and period. What is changing is how we perceive things. Rosa Parks sitting in the front on the bus was an illegal act. It was without apology. But Parks wasn't wrong for taking her seat; the law was wrong. Did the bus driver ever apologize to her?
Argue, if you will, whether or not it was or wasn't racial, there's a lot of gray area that only those who were present will ever know. We realize and recognize the subliminal and rawness of it all. It was racial. Black men are taught that if you are on the street or in your home and police arrest you, the best attitude is to keep it low. The best way out of it is to act humble, even when and if the officer is insulting and wrong. At the end of the day, the officer has a gun and you may not. The officer has arresting power and can cart you off to jail with fingerprints and a mug shot, no matter your "Who's Who" pedigree. Your life can be saved with humble, bowing actions.
When bad things happen to celebrity types, it brings attention, and that is the good news.
The injustice of the problem can be fairly addressed. To have the President of the United States speak to the Gates case is powerful. He was correct in saying that it was an act of stupidity; he forgot to call it a racist action. The president gave up his health bill message for a moment and made Gates center stage.
And perhaps the meeting Pres. Obama arranged between Gates and the police officer, James Crowley, will take race relations in America to yet another level. I just hope the White House meeting includes Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton so the discussion is full on. (The only problem is that the invite is to host a beer conversation. Jackson and Sharpton don't drink beer; they could be served ice-cold water.)
Sharpton could talk of the New York incident where policemen killed a young man, Amadou Diallo, when he reached for his wallet in his hallway. He was trying to show the police his identification. Jackson could talk about the dog bites and fire hoses that shaped the nation Walter Cronkite reported. The marchers clearly broke the law, and a president spoke up. And America changed.
Fess up, media commentators. It was a racial incident, and we should be ashamed. But we should also keep the conversation real -- or shut up.
I guess one thing has been proven: Post Racial USA is a figment of someone's imagination.
Stay strong, Mr. President. Speak up.
After reading at least two thousand comments re Gates/Crowley, i found Peter Y Sussman's Gatesgate: a Lesson Plan, the most cogent and purposeful analysis of the Gates/Crowley incident. He expressed much of what I instinctively felt but I was unable to reduce to writing. I'll like to ask Mr Sussman to examine the events starting from L Whalen's 911 call, dispatcher's broadcast and Sgt Crowley's actions as reflected in his police report. Please examine the standard protocol for first arriving officer to a crime scene, his duties to secure safety of witnesses,bystanders and residents, need to prevent evidence contamination, plan approach to target site, and wait for back-up to do so. . Please also examine what data base and information technology/systems may have assisted Sgt Crowley in his B&E investigation. Could having Prof Gates;s ID in hand before approaching Gates;s home made the difference? Thank you. Hope to read your comments soon.
Continuing - (3) indications that resident returned or going on trip (again requiring vehicle. Town car was actually in plain view of Whalen and other lady and failure of dispatcher to ask meant lost opportunity to get description of the getaway car) 4. Resident could have misplaced/lost key during trip.
Strange, no further mention of the car service, vehicle or the driver. Is the B&E case actually closed? Thanks HP for letting me blog away.
1. Professor Gates did not take steps to prove he was resident and a faculty member of Harvard since Sgt Crowley was busily calling for collaborating evidence despite Gates's 2 valid ID cards. He could have easily produced such items as plane ticket, passport, medical certificate obtained in Beijing, unpacked suit cases, damaged font door lock and door, Harvard album, or demonstrate knowledge of burglar alarm code.?
I ALSO WONDER WHY
2. Crowley did not check point of entry (front door), suit cases or back packs and above mentioned items and did not believe the contents of two valid ID cards? Why he did not provide full name and badge number when it was his legal obligation to do so?
The mutual failure of both parties in helping to resolve a simple identity situation leads one to believe that the confrontation had reached such high degree of acrimony very early that both had decided on their own agenda . That is, Crowley deliberately disbelieving Gates's residency and Harvard affiliation causing Gates's anguish to rise, and Gates's deliberate challenge and insult of Crowley causing him to react unprofessionally thereby supporting Gates's future complaints about Crowley.
Seems like a battle of wits and will with Crowley achieving a partial victory by humiliating Gates through his arrest powers. Is there a teachable moment here?
Prof Henry Gates lives in a Harvard U-owned house, one of many in Harvard Square on HU property. It is a heavily white, upscale neighborhood, with most occupants connected to Harvard.. Gates is a twenty year faculty member of national and international repute. married to a white woman and active member of his community.
1. Doesn't Cambridge or Harvard PD have a list of its occupants and tel numbers?
2. Why wasn't Sgt Crowley knowledgeable of Gates, having taught racial profiling for 5 yrs.?
3. Why didn't anyone in Cambridge or Harvard PD respond to Crowley's call for help in IDing Gates?
4.. Is it routine for Cambridge PD to arrest a prominent citizens for disorderly conduct ? If not, why wasn't a higher ranking officer aware of Gates's imminent arrest? Was it officer #17 who knew? If yes, what action did he take?
5.. Would a new data base of all prominent Cambridge citizens and new procedures for B&E and similar investigations help prevent what occurred at Ware St?
time in the house attempting to verify Gates identity despite having two apparently valid ID cards in his hands. Didn;t he consider the possibility that Gates was the man observed by the neighbor and he had a key problem? Crowley mentions nothing about the broken door found earlier by Gates and his driver when he returned from China.. The official police report show a deliberate and methodical set up for arresting Gates from very early in their contentious encounter. It is extremely difficult to believe that a trained/experience police officer would take such precipitous actions alone and still claim he conducted everything in accordance with protocol.? The real irony is that his seasoned superiors back him completely without any reservation.
1. Crowley violated the basic crime scene investigator"s protocol, which calls for first ofc on scene to ensure safety of live witnesses and bystanders, secure area, preserve evidence, and wait for back up, knowing that B&E in progress was the situation and two black man had been observed entering site. .
2. Crowley should have spent his waiting time, contacting ECC to obtain name and telephone number of resident with ID (transmitted electronically from police data base).
3. With ID available to him and standby, he could have telephoned resident , ascertain awareness, and circumstances of B&E or "key-lock out /domestic problem, or even by loud speaker with stand by units in position.
4. Crowley"s impatience and singular actions was the primary catalyst resulting in
When a police dispatcher determines that a 911 caller imparts sufficient indications of B&E key/lock out/domestic dispute problems, the call will be transfered to a female officer trained specifically to determine whether rapid response is necessary and the make up of the units. She may also decide to call the resident(s) by telephone to ascertain the need or priority for further investigations. She will have the authority to close the case if complaint was a key and/or domestic problems. A female officer is recommended because I believe a female handles these matters with a lighter touch and is less confrontational then a male officer. Sorry guys. Would this have worked for the better than in the Gates/Crowley affair of Jul 16? You Betcha!
of 911 complaint. Dispatch sends OIC the name, photo,DOB, SSN, resident phone number and any other pertinent data of principal resident including family data. OIC"s first priority at scene is to identify 911 caller and ensure his/her safety. He then determines entry/exit routes, potential defensive and sniper positions and await arrival of back up units. Once area is secured OIC initiates his telephone call to the resident. (This call is transmitted only to standby units and ECC). He determines resident"s bona fides against data available to him, informs resident of PD response to neighbors 911 call and inquires about the well being of resident and/or family. He then questions resident whether there was a "key or lock out" situation. Once OIC learns to his satisfaction that 911 caller's observations match resident"s explanations with respect to time, actions and persons involved, he thanks resident for his cooperation. and withdraws from area. Compare this hypothetical with the actual actions and taken by Sgt Crowley and Prof Gate"s reactions.
**Sunday, December 14, 2008, afternoon Gary and his life partner are detained and questioned by a police officer while bike-riding near NE 13th Street and NE 4th Avenue in Wilton Manors. Stated reason for detaining: “There is a lot of crime in the neighborhood.”
**June 2008, about 10pm Gary is walking for exercise, when a police car pulls in front of him, blocking his path. The officer inside the vehicle asks, “May I help you?” Gary replies, “Yes, I’m trying to get through,” while indicating his intent to cross the driveway in the northerly direction toward Broward Blvd.
**December 2007, about 9pm Gary is walking for exercise. A very young man wearing a black top reading “POLICE” in bold white letters questions Gary about what he is holding in each of his hands. Reason for questioning: Alleged “officer” believed the flashlight Gary was carrying was a gun.
**Friday, July 24, 2009, about 3:30pm Gary is detained while bike-riding on NE 12th Street near Middle River Drive by 2 police officers in 2 cars. Officer notes that Gary’s bike is a registered bike and requests Gary’s ID. Officer’s stated reason for detaining: recent area bike theft. Gary later learns the theft occurred 3 blocks away and 5 days prior to his being detained.
**Saturday, May 30, 2009, about 9:30pm Gary is detained while driving, by 2 unidentified police officers in 2 cars. Stated reasons for detaining: the officer had (for no apparent legal reason) run a check on Gary’s UNexpired and still valid license plate and could find no record of it in his computer system.
**Tuesday, December 23, 2008, about 10:30am Gary is detained twice by Detective Charles T. Sierra (Badge No. 354). The second time, Gary is handcuffed and placed in the back seat of Sierra’s police car (No. 9523) for 30 minutes. Officer Sierra pokes fun at Gary’s name and seems incredulous that Gary has no prior criminal history and is not a convicted sex offender. Stated reasons for detaining: Gary was walking on the wrong side of the street, carrying a backpack, walking during the day in a neighborhood where daytime burglaries had occurred, Gary has no surname, and a Detroit-issued sex offender warrant contains the name “Gary.”
*google Sherrice Iverson, (1997)
**Brenda Lane Richardson & Dr. Brenda Wade "Healing the Emotional Legacy of Racism by Celebrating Our light."
Your argument might -- MIGHT -- have been valid several days ago, before we learned all the information that has come to light in the past few days. But now that we've heard the 9-1-1 call, and we know that Crowley 1 ied in his police report, and we've learned about the inconsistencies in Crowley's statement vs. Lucia Whalen's, its more than obvious that this was a r-@cially-charged incident. The fact that whts want to keep denying it only diminishes your credibility and, frankly, makes the racial divide wider. When whts continue to deny that race is a factor in the face of irrefutable evidence, it speaks to your unwillingness to work toward resolving r@. cial tensions.
The other Boston cop, Justin Barrett, who made a clearly, undeniably r-cist comment about Professor Gates, sat on Larry King's show this evening and actually said, " I am not a r-cist." How a person can say what Barrett said, then fix his mouth to say, "I am not a r-cist" is just r!d!culous!! And its THAT kind of insincerity and disingenuity that keeps the an!mosity between the races alive.