Why This White Guy Was Not Arrested While Trying to Break Into a House Not His Own

Last October I flew to Sarasota, Fla., and arranged to stay at the home of a friend who was traveling at the time. She mailed me keys and an address.

I landed late and took a cab. When we pulled up in front of the house, which I'd never seen before, it was very dark, so I asked the cabbie to wait while I let myself in.

The keys didn't work in the front door. Or the back door. With rising anxiety -- it was 11 p.m., after all -- I called my friend, but she wasn't answering her cell phone. We tried the keys in both doors again; no luck.

Just before heading back to the airport, where I figured I could find a hotel, I tried my friend again. This time she picked up.

I explained my problem, describing the front door -- and she started laughing. "You're in the wrong place. You'd better get out of there before someone calls the cops." We were on the wrong street.

While the driver was consulting his GPS, sure enough, a cop appeared behind us. We stopped; the cop came over; the cabbie explained; he and the cop had a chuckle; the cop returned to his car; we drove on to the right place, and the keys fit. All was well.

I thought of this story when I read about the recent arrest of Henry Louis Gates after entering his own house.

The worst thing that happened to me was that I had to feel stupid and frustrated for 15 minutes. It never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to talk my way out of any problem.

That's because my story involves four white people -- the cabbie, my friend, the cop, and me. I think now it's fair to say that there isn't a black man in America who could tell a story like mine.

Gates is probably the most famous black professor in the world, and was in his own home in one of the most liberal cities in the entire country. Of course he was furious. Still the white officer arrested him -- even after he knew it was Gates' home.

My hope is that lots of white folks will finally get what our African-American brothers and sisters have been trying to get through our thick skulls for about half a century now. It's different being black. No matter whether we think we are racists. And anyway, no person of color believes any white person who says, "I'm not a racist."

Every day, we white people benefit from being white, from white ancestry, and from acting as if we deserve the benefits of being white.

When we hunt for housing, real estate agents regard us more favorably. We don't get followed by store security. We get better deals from car salesmen, more generous treatment from juries, and -- despite myths of rampant affirmative action -- our kids rarely compete with equally qualified African-American kids because so many urban schools, where most black kids are educated, are flat-out disasters.

Racism thrives in many places -- in hospital emergency rooms, in bank loan departments, in country clubs and churches and synagogues and universities. And in police departments.

White cops treat black men as criminals all the time -- all the time. And the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) everywhere defends every white officer who gets caught out -- even on video.

In Cambridge, the city and police department dropped the charges, calling the incident "regrettable and unfortunate" -- not the PBA, which gave its "full and unqualified support" to the officer's actions.

The incident even provoked President Obama, who's stayed pretty far away from race issues since being elected, into saying that the police acted "stupidly." He's since backtracked and invited both Gates and the officer who arrested him, Sgt. James Crowley, to the White House for a beer. It's a great start on what needs to happen.

But it's only a start. We need to transform police training top to bottom on the subject of race. The fact that the Cambridge cop taught the class about racial profiling suggests there's a good bit more work to do on the subject. Then we can start on banks, credit card companies, churches, synagogues and universities.

Gates has always had flair -- for figuring out new ideas and new trends, and for generating publicity. I don't wish upon him the fear he must have felt in his doorway, treated like a criminal in his own home. But he may have given white Americans one of the best teaching moments about race that we've ever had. If only we pay attention to it.

This piece originally appeared on the website of Minnesota Public Radio.

Comments

[BMW999]

I liked this article. It reminded me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ3dk6KAvQM

[Telop]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Beer_summit_cheers.jpg

Caption: Some times beer IS the solution.

[BonesAK]

Well said and believe quite accurate.

[dhinds]

Officer Crowley's report states he was the first to arrive, driving an unmarked car.

Does anyone here know whether he was or wasn't in uniform?

If not, that would explain Professor Gates insistence that Crowley identify himself and refusal to step outside, initially.

[Telop]

I found this photo of the arrest.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/Arrest_of_Henry_Louis_Gates.jpg

It appears all of the officers were in uniform.

[dhinds]

The ones visable are, and the one to Professor Gates' left looks like Crowley.

Of course, being in uniform doesn't give him the right to enter Gates' home w/o permission, refuse to identify himself, lure Gates outside with the intent to arrest him for a crime he couldn't have committed in doors - which is where he was.

[ggmome]

When a Cop admitted that there was a 'known' person who was 'asked' to leave an apartment complex
because he was vandalizing cars of change and other items left in cars. I asked him, ...'and you didn't arrest him'? His response was 'he was a white kid'! Now tell me that doesn't speak volumns!.

[darker]

RACE, yes, race.
NOW how about a "CLASS BREAK"? ?

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090728_america_the_great_police_state/

[Malkin71]

I think the idea that ALL blacks think ALL white people are racist....

"And anyway, no person of color believes any white person who says, "I'm not a racist.""

...is, for one, terribly racist....­and two, insanely unhelpful. I don't think justifying it helps anyone either.

If white people are going to be told that they are racist NO MATTER what they think, say or do...

Then I suspect white people will get a LOT more racist.

[taitafalcon]

justifiably so,... I'm black; don't paint me with your self-conceived notions before you even know my name... and I won't do it to you....

[Malkin71]

Exactly.

I do have to say, my eyes were opened way more to the "subtle" racism of white people by the Skip Gates incident. I really don't know how to justify arresting a guy in his own home for something that is not illegal, but I have seen so many do it.

While the incident itself may have been racial to one or both of them men involved, the debate should be focused, not on race, but on the issue of whether cops get to give orders to citizens AFTER they are no longer suspects and then arrest them for failing to comply...e­specially in their own homes.

I cannot think of any reason to justify such a thing.

[Telop]

"I think the idea that ALL blacks think ALL white people are racist..."

I couldn't agree more, we are all equally effected my the human disposition.

[Sheria Reid]

I think that Mr. Goldstein's point was that when a white person gets to that moment in a conversation of feeling the need to assert that he or she is not a racist, that the statement is generally not received as credible. If you feel the need to say, "I'm not a racist," chances are that you are really trying to reassure yourself that you don't have any bias based on skin color. At least, that's how this black woman reads it. When discussions of race take place, the last thing that I'm interested in is reassuring some white person that I don't think that they are a racist. I just don't see it as my job to make white people feel better about themselves.
I also find it scarily amusing to assert that if white people are "told that they are racist no matter what they think, say or do...(they­) will get a lot more racist." I find that to be a racist statement, to assume that white people will become sheet wearing sons and daughters of the KKK because their feelings are hurt. I have much more faith in the majority of white people to get beyond their personal issues and see the broader reality of the impact of race on the lives of black Americans. I appreciate Mr. Goldstein's efforts to add to the dialogue about race and his frank discussion of white privelege.

[Telop]

I have a few things to say about the comparison of your encounter with the police with that of Prof Gate's encounter. These accounts are not comparable because several things were different between your situation and his.

1) You were not in the home when the police came by, Gates was. Gates was in the house as the police showed up. You were at the taxi having never attempted to forcefully enter the home. There were no scratch marks on the door you tried to enter, and while I cannot say for sure what the door Prof Gates broke open looked like, I can say it was clear that a forceful entry had occurred. This would give the police ground to suspect forced entry in Gate's case. In your case there was no forced entry what so ever, and you were not even at the door.

[CessnaDriver]

The problems in the Gates case occurred after Gates showed two valid forms of I.D. and had proven that he belonged in the house.

[Telop]

The ID proved only that he was Prof Gates and did not identify him as the owner or occupant of the house. While Gates is well known among Harvard's students and staff, officer Crowley can not be held responsible for not knowing him on sight and being able to confirm that he was the legal occupant of the home.

Gates is also not at fault for failing to find some form of proof that he was the legal occupant; retrieving the deed to the house would have been impractical and he would not have had it in the house anyway because he does not own the property.

The argument over the IDs does not benefit either party, but it does show that Gates could not possibly have shown Crowley any form of "ID" or other legal document that would have proved he was the legal occupant.

[Telop]

2) The fact that you were with a taxi is an indication that you were not going to rob the house. Who would ever take a taxi to rob a house, while the taxi driver waits out in the street? It makes no sense that a cop would ever suspect two people in a taxi in front of some ones house of robbery.

[CessnaDriver]

If you think taxis are never used in crimes, you need to wise up.

[Telop]

3) You did not verbally argue with the police officer, Gate's did. While this alone is not grounds for arrest, it is a remarkably poor curse of action, especially for a Harvard professor. Gates was obviously furious at the situation: he arrives home and can not get into his house, and while he struggles to get in a police officer shows up - not to offer assistance but wanting to make sure this man is not a robber. He had good reason to be angry, but the way he responded was a mistake. The police offices does not base his decision to arrest on how the subject feels inside; he has no way of knowing that, instead his decision is based entirely on how the subject behaves. Gate’s angry ranting was not a reflection of the man's law abiding nature. I can not say that what he said warranted his arrest, but it did not help the situation. When ever someone acts defensive, it is almost always interpreted as a sign of wrong doing. That’s not something they teach you at police academy, its something every one instinctively knows. And that is another reason why the police were easily accepting of your story; you were nothing but nice to them and demonstrated cordiality, unlike Gates who acted defensive.

[CessnaDriver]

So, in your world, it's a crime to argue with a police officer, even when the officer is wrong?

[Telop]

I did not say it was a crime to argue with a police officer. Your citation is wrong.

This is what I said, and no where in it did I way it was a crime to argue with a police officer. To the contrary I stated specifically that "I can not say that what he said warranted his arrest, but it did not help the situation.­"

"...the way he responded was a mistake. The police offices does not base his decision to arrest on how the subject feels inside; he has no way of knowing that, instead his decision is based entirely on how the subject behaves. Gate"s angry ranting was not a reflection of the man's law abiding nature. I can not say that what he said warranted his arrest, but it did not help the situation. When ever someone acts defensive, it is almost always interpreted as a sign of wrong doing. That"s not something they teach you at police academy, its something every one instinctively knows."

[Telop]

Lets review the differences between your case and Prof Gate's case. In Gate's case, he was in the house having forced the front door open at the time the police showed up, and unlike you he had no taxi who could attest to his morality of purpose at the scene (The airport transit person had left). He began to argue with the police and acted defensively from the beginning. He was uncooperative with police. In your case, you were not at the front door but were at the street with a taxi, in fact you stated that you were pulled over, which makes it seem like you had left the scene and were no longer even in front of the house. Obviously the police have no grounds to suspect attempted robbery what so ever if you are down the block from a house. Even if the 911 caller had stated that you were trying to rob a house, there would be no evidence. You acted politely and cooperated with the police who - as in Gate’s case - were willing to leave if they had an explanation that "checks out" with the facts and came from a cooperating, non defensive apologetic subject.

[CessnaDriver]

Yes, remember always to bow and scrape before authority. Because they are far better people than you, and you should worship them. Fail to show proper deference and pay the consequences!

[Telop]

There is no need to "bow and scrape before authority" as you point out in your gross exaggeration of what I didn't say, but the best out come to a situation in which police are involved can best be achieved by being non defensive. That is not just my opinion of how to best handle such a situation, it is what every practical person would tell you.

[Telop]

For all of the above reasons, the two stories are incompatible and can not be compared. It’s not fair to ask the question: why did one person stopped by the police get arrested while another in a totally different situation, who acted in a totally different manor get let go? And then attribute the difference in measures taken by the police to race alone. Comparing the two stories is wrong and can only be done by glossing over the facts of the two cases.

[Telop]

My view of Prof Gates has been positive aside from this incident. He did an excellent documentary on Abraham Lincoln a few months ago and is often on TV being asked to give his opinion on historical subjects. He is a well respected Harvard intellect and this incident belies he real sense of fairness and understanding. I hope his reputation is not effected by this incident in the long run. I was very happy to see an article on this site that is titled "Gates sends flowers to woman who called 911", which shows that he has moved past this event. He understands that he made mistakes in how he handled the arrival of the police and that the police were not acting with malicious intent when they arrested him. I hope others will come to see what Gates has.

I also hope people will stop praising this article. It is thoughtfully laid out in a way that is intended to make people ignore the massive disparity in facts between the two cases and look at the incident only in terms of how race effected the situation.

Thank you for reading, Telop

[StillIRise]

What about Officer Crowley? Did he not have ANY responsibility for this incident? Or is the burden entirely Professor Gates?

Gates has accepted responsibility for his part in this incident, but that does not mean that he was the only one to be held accountable. Officer Crowley has quite a bit to be held accountable for as well, as he himself partially acknowledged.

Your tunnel-visioned perspective of this situation, placing culpability only on Professor Gates, and coming up with all kinds of excuses to defend Office Crowley, reveals quite a bit about YOUR worldview.

[Telop]

There is no question that officer Crowley was wrong to arrest Prof gates because obviously Gates was not acting maliciously, but that is something we know today, not something Crowley knew at the time. That Gates is purely responsible for the incident is not something that I believe, and making excuses for Crowley was not at all my intention in writing my article.

The main point of my article is that the situation described by the author (Goldstein) is vastly different from the one he was comparing it to and the comparison is therefore unfair. The facts of the two cases are quite different and the fact that the person in his story was not arrested while Gates was arrested is a difference caused by race alone is not a just conclusion and is done only by ignoring the many differences between the two cases.

"Officer Crowley has quite a bit to be held accountable for as well, as he himself partially acknowledg­ed."

Please give specific examples of what Crowley did wrong, for my knowledge.

[Nipperdoodle]

Now try the same experiment but this time start screaming at the cop before anything has been said. Was the cop overzealous in arresting Gates? Yes. But Gates was being a jerk.

[Anonani]

"Yes. But...."

[CessnaDriver]

If a person who wants to be a police officer can't deal with a small problem like this without arresting a person on a charge he knows is going to be dropped, he shouldn't be a police officer.

I don't want to hear, "you don't know how hard it is to be a police officer!" Yes, I do, and I know that it's an occupational hazard that you have to put up with. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"-remember that one?

It's "Protect and Serve" not "Go forth and be worshipped!"

[Jack Straw]

Sorry, can you cite the legal code where it lists being a "jerk" as against the law?

Thanks in advance

[PunKinPai]

So much racism takes place behind the scenes. About 15 years ago, when I was working in an aerospace company with military contracts, one of the managers was seeking a new marketing person. A friend of mine was standing in his office as he was going through a short stack of resumes. He came across one, didn't read it, and threw it straight into the trash. My friend asked why and was told, "She had a 'black' name." I'm so white I'm blue, but I was tempted to scratch his eyes out.