Dr. Henry Louis Gates: Interviewed Discussing Racial Profiling

by Karen Hatter | July 22, 2009 at 06:47 am

641 views | 20 Recommendations | 9 comments

Last week, after returning home from an overseas trip to China, world renowned African American Harvard scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, was arrested in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Cambridge police who were investigating a possible case of breaking and entering at Dr. Gates' home. He was arrested on the porch of his home and charged with disorderly conduct. Charges have since been dropped.

Upon arriving at his home, unable to enter by the front door, which was jammed, Dr. Gates, using a key, entered the residence through the back door. He rejoined the driver, also a Black male, at the front door. The two were successful in forcing the door open.

Dr. Gates' home is owned by Harvard University, who would be responsible for repairing the lock damaged when he and the driver forced the door. Dr. Gates was on the phone reporting the broken lock when an officer arrived.

Two accounts of the night's events have emerged since the story of the arrest of Dr. Henry Louis Gates has made news in recent days, which has been characterized by many as a need for re-assessing the perception that with the election of President Barack Obama, all of the complex issues involving race have some how been eradicated, a concept that had previously been dismissed by Dr. Gates.

This article contains an interview with Dr. Gates and a synopsis of the events, provided by Dr. Gates' attorney, Charles Ogletree, that occurred on the night of the arrest.

Click here to read the interview conducted by Dayo Olopade of TheRoot.com.

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Guy Bauman (not verified)

at 09:37 on July 22nd, 2009

As someone whose lived in Cambridge, I can tell you that the police here are not racist but know that most crimes are done by black people. So why shoudent they question him?

Karen Hatter

at 15:08 on July 22nd, 2009

Discounting your blanket statement that tends to indict African Americans, Dr. Gates' objection centered around the officer's demeanor when he came upon him in his home and the subsequent dismissal of Dr. Gates' request for the officer to identify himself, which was not an unreasonable request.

Rory Cripps

at 14:40 on July 23rd, 2009

I was under the impression that most crimes, in America, where committed by white people!

Sharon oates (not verified)

at 02:28 on July 31st, 2009

You Americans are ALL racist Black and White, i can't understand why the colour of your skin makes any difference.

Rory Cripps

at 14:34 on July 23rd, 2009

Karen: I don't know all the details of the story, and I don't know the sequence of events. However I'm going to put myself in the shoes of the police officer and play devil's advocate: If I were dispatched to a home break-in, saw clear evidence of a break-in, entered the home (without back-up) and came across someone that fit the description of the perp, I wouldn't take any initial lip white, black, red, green or yellow. My focus would be on self-preservation first and gathering the facts second. In order to do that, I would have to be in control of the situation and have no second guesses about anything. If someone, that fit the description of the perp, produced a photo ID, I would do a double and triple take comparison of the picture on the ID with the face of the person that presented the ID to me. Hopefully all the facts of this story will come out. I'll say this though: If I forgot my keys and as a result broke in to my own home, I'd be pretty ticked off too if the police continued to question me after I provided them with proof-positive that I was indeed in my own home.

Katy-nan (not verified)

at 07:21 on July 24th, 2009

Facts are--the man produced his ID and the address of the home was on it. He OBVIOUSLY was NOT a burgular. Stick tot he facts!

Police should have kept their distance without constant threats and demands (step outside etc), verified the information and left without causing a fuss. Mr Gates deserves an apology. It is too bad he chose to follow the officer outside because with the information that the man was IN HIS OWN HOME the police should not have been able to enter to arrest him without a warrent. Looks like the police were overstepping their bounds to protect and serve.

Karen Hatter

at 03:58 on July 25th, 2009

As I commented elsewhere:

It seems Dr. Gates forgot the first rule most African American males learn at a very early age regarding dealing with the police, that being to avoid giving the police a reason to arrest you if you are confronted by them.

After establishing that Dr. Gates belonged in the house, that should have been the end of it.

No matter what Dr. Gates' dialog/statements may have been as he headed to the porch, whether as he stated, he continued to request the officer's name and badge number or the account given by the police, that he was loud and abusive, the officer arrested Dr. Gates to save face in front of his fellow officers who were now gathered on the professor's porch.

It has been the experience for many in the African American community, no matter where you may find yourself, low or middle class or high society, that the police behave differently in our community and with us. I speak from personal experience.

The police do not act and react as portrayed in those episodes of 'Cops' and other law enforcement shows where they always follow the rules and go by the book, never losing their cool.

Those officers filmed for television are aware the cameras are rolling.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 04:04 on July 25th, 2009

Karen, do you really believe "...the officer arrested Dr. Gates to save face in front of his fellow officers who were now gathered on the professor's porch."

Subculture Arts

at 22:25 on August 8th, 2009

The sad part I have noticed, is that a lot of people I have talked with and in the posts that I have read, speak in absolutes. Either the police are all bad or the blacks commit most crimes. Whites have a easier time with the police or blacks do not trust the police. All American are racists. I do not care who you are, you can not speak for everyone of a certain group. Nothing is text book and not everyone fits into a certain group. When people look at things in absolutes, are we not condoning the actions in which we condemn?

With Dr. Gates and the Officer; both have valid points, and I can justify what each one did depending on whos side I want to take.

What I ask of people who will listen to my opinion, is to go over the posts that they have made. Replay the conversations that you have had. If you speak in absolutes or have a tendency to have a preconcieved notion based on race, gender, citizenship, education level, occupation ect. Look at both sides, and truely see why certain actions were taken, you may fine that all things are not just black and white. There are gray areas sometimes that our own blinders just do not let us see.