Opinions?

[LesHug]

BOSTON – Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge Tuesday against prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested at his home near Harvard University after a report of a break-in.

The city of Cambridge issued a statement saying the arrest "was regrettable and unfortunate" and police and Gates agreed that dropping the charge was a just resolution.

"This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department," the statement said.

Supporters say Gates — the director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research — was the victim of racial profiling.

Officers responded to the home Gates rents from Harvard after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry," according to a police report.

Gates' lawyer, fellow Harvard scholar Charles Ogletree, said the professor had returned from a trip overseas with a driver, found his front-door jammed and had to force it open. He was already inside, calling the company that manages the property, when police arrived.

Police said the 58-year-old Gates was arrested after he yelled at an officer, accused him of racial bias and refused to calm down after the officer demanded Gates show him identification to prove he lived in the home.

Ogletree said Gates showed his driver's license and Harvard ID — both with his photos — and repeatedly asked for the name and badge number of the officer, who refused. He followed the officer as he left his house onto his front porch, where he was arrested.

Gates declined immediate comment Tuesday, and Ogletree did not immediately return a request to comment on the charge being dropped.

Gates joined the Harvard faculty in 1991 and holds one of 20 prestigious "university professors" positions at the school. He also was host of "African American Lives," a PBS show about the family histories of prominent U.S. blacks, and was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997.

Do you think this began as an issue of racial profiling that just got worse, or did Gates just make something out of nothing?

Should Gates have been arrested? Should the lady have called the police in the first place?

Do you feel that racial profiling is still an issue in our country today?

[countryfiedmama]

I think racial profiling is still existent in some areas. We will probably always have closed minded people in the world, and as long as we do, we will have issues. As for this particular situation, without being there, and seeing how these individuals were behaving, it's very hard to say. I also know there are people out there who are over defensive about racial issues and can easily turn something into nothing. There are also cases of people letting money and status boost their ego so much, that they feel superior and feel like the world "owes" them something. So, I really have mixed feelings about this story.

[arthistmom]

Quoting countryfiedmama:

. . . There are also cases of people letting money and status boost their ego so much, that they feel superior and feel like the world "owes" them something. . . .

Do you believe that this is the case with Gates? I'm not certain about his wealth, but he certainly has status as an intellectual and scholar. Just wondering.

[countryfiedmama]

The thought did cross my mind, but I don't want to say yes that's what I believe because that would be unfair judgement to assume that without knowing his personality. I also think it's a possibility that the officer went too far. I'm not really sure what to make of this story.

Quoting arthistmom:

 

Quoting countryfiedmama:

. . . There are also cases of people letting money and status boost their ego so much, that they feel superior and feel like the world "owes" them something. . . .

Do you believe that this is the case with Gates? I'm not certain about his wealth, but he certainly has status as an intellectual and scholar. Just wondering.

[ealexh]

 

Quoting LesHug:

This is a very unfortunate case.

Do you think this began as an issue of racial profiling that just got worse, or did Gates just make something out of nothing?

I don't know if this was racial profiling or not.  I mean, I would be suspicious if someone looked like they were "breaking in" whether or not they were black.  I don't know what the woman who called it in was thinking of at the time... perhaps she was racial profiling.  I don't really know how the police acted.  It is possible that they acted injustly as much as Gates could have overreacted.  It's really hard to say in cases were there are no witnesses.

Should Gates have been arrested? Should the lady have called the police in the first place?

No, Gates should not have been arrested because he apparently showed his picture ID.  However, I can understand why the police would arrest him IF he was acting out of control.

Do you feel that racial profiling is still an issue in our country today?

Of course, profiling in general is an issue today (and always will in some sense.

[BigMommaJesca]

I've been looking into this a little more...watching the news, and such, and I have to declare "Not racism" here.

There was a guy on the Daily Show today that I think nailed it.  This guy (Gates) teaches African American studies all day, but as an Ivy-League-educated well-respected professor, has to teach about oppression from a detached point of view.  When that white cop came in his house, it must have MADE HIS DAY.

Was the woman who called the cops being racist?  MAYBE.  I mean, if I saw someone trying to break into a house, I would probably think something was up, too.  Maybe the fact that he was black was what made her cross that line into calling the cops.  I don't know.  I'm not sure it would have mattered.

The big controversy is whether or not he should have been arrested after he'd shown proof that he lived in the house.  All of what I've seen on the story indicates (without outright saying) that he yanked out that race card faster than you can say boo, and was out of control.  Personally, based on the stories I've seen, I believe it.  I don't care WHAT color you are, or WHERE you teach, or HOW many letters come after your name.  If you get in a cop's face, you need to be ready to face the consequences.

Too many people think they're "above" respecting the law.  Them's my 2 cents.

[arthistmom]

Quoting BigMommaJesca:

Was the woman who called the cops being racist?  MAYBE.  I mean, if I saw someone trying to break into a house, I would probably think something was up, too.  Maybe the fact that he was black was what made her cross that line into calling the cops.  I don't know.  I'm not sure it would have mattered.

But who breaks into a house with luggage--and a key?

[ealexh]

Actually, the lady that called didn't give a race.  I don't think she meant harm.

Quoting BigMommaJesca:

Was the woman who called the cops being racist?  MAYBE.  I mean, if I saw someone trying to break into a house, I would probably think something was up, too.  Maybe the fact that he was black was what made her cross that line into calling the cops.  I don't know.  I'm not sure it would have mattered.

[BigMommaJesca]

Quoting arthistmom:

 

Quoting BigMommaJesca:

Was the woman who called the cops being racist?  MAYBE.  I mean, if I saw someone trying to break into a house, I would probably think something was up, too.  Maybe the fact that he was black was what made her cross that line into calling the cops.  I don't know.  I'm not sure it would have mattered.

But who breaks into a house with luggage--and a key?

From what I heard of the police report, his "luggage" was a backpack.  Or at least looked like it from across the street.  Also, from across the street, she probably couldn't tell that he had a key in his hand.  He was ramming the door open with his shoulder..that's what she saw.

[LesHug]

I gotta admit that when I first saw this I was intrigued, but as time went on and it turned into a political type thing I lost most interest and didn't really work to keep up with it.

I feel that it all just got blown way outta proportion on all sides,and once the prez got involved I was irritated.

[BigMommaJesca]

Quoting LesHug:

I gotta admit that when I first saw this I was intrigued, but as time went on and it turned into a political type thing I lost most interest and didn't really work to keep up with it.

I feel that it all just got blown way outta proportion on all sides,and once the prez got involved I was irritated.

You know Obama's my boy, but I have to agree with you here.  "Note to Obama...there are HUGE issues to be taken care of.  This one will take care of itself.  Move along."