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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009

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|NEXT STORY »

Gates' Real Offense? 'Speaking Truth to Power'

By John Johnson| Posted Jul 21, 09 7:44 PM CDT|

(Newser) – So much for our post-racial society, writes Carol Rose in the Boston Globe. If we needed any evidence that "racism is alive and well," look no further than the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. The Harvard professor was charged with disorderly conduct not because police mistook him for a burglar but because he had the nerve to accuse police of racism. "That’s not disorderly conduct; that’s speaking truth to power—which still isn’t a crime in America."

Massachusetts has a black governor, and the US has a black president. Big deal. These kinds of incidents happen every day, refuting the notion that "race no longer matters," writes Rose. What to do? Here's a start, at least in Massachusetts: Require police to follow the the law themselves and track the race and gender of all people stopped for traffic offenses. About half of the state's police departments "have simply disregarded" that requirement. It's a start toward ending the long practice of considering all black men "suspicious."

In this photo taken by a neighbor Thursday, Henry Louis Gates Jr. is arrested. (AP Photo/Demotix Images, B. Carter)

Henry Louis Gates Jr., in 2008. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

The booking photos of Henry Louis Gates Jr. (AP Photo/Cambridge Police Dept.)

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27 comments

VIEWING:

Toon
Jul 21, 09 8:49 PM CDT

The real problem is that Black = poor is less and less true so we will see more of these reports of the cops treating middle class and upper middle class Blacks like they were poor. Eventually the cops will get use to judging Blacks by clothing and speech patterns like they do Whites. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
Jul 21, 09 10:23 PM CDT

The real problem is that when a white man sees or hears or reads about a non-Asian minority, he automatically thinks that minority must be guilty of something--whether that be a crime, or getting where he or she is solely because of affirmative action, or playing "the race card," or being a "reverse racist," or "whining," or not being a citizen, or corruption, or something of the kind. The real problem is that white Americans have committed infinitely more crimes, benefited infinitely more from affirmative action, engaged in infinitely greater racism, whined infinitely more about everything from black slaves not picking enough cotton for them to "anti-white racism" (an utter laugher), have never been citizens themselves (just ask an Indian), and have been infinitely more corrupt than all minorities put together. The real problem is that minorities have been the victims of all of the above. And the real problem is that whites refuse to recognize that any of the above. Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

Alexandria
Jul 21, 09 11:40 PM CDT

I'm white, but I disagree. When I see, hear or read about any minority I don't automatically think that person is guilty. The problem with what you're saying is that you're making a generalization about every white person. I'm well aware of the race issues that still exist in the country. I find it interesting how you go on and on about how white people don't recognize race issues or are still racist, when you put all the blame of racism on white people themselves. Seriously.

IN RESPONSE:

Alexandria
Jul 21, 09 11:44 PM CDT

Also white people DO commit more crimes than all minorities put together. The amount of minorities in the US? 34%. You expect that 34 percent to commit enough crimes to outshine the 66%? Give me a break

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 22, 09 12:11 AM CDT

there you go call every white person you meet a racist who doesn't understand what you have had to go through or something like that right? tragic and it seems to be your argument for everything.

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 12:39 AM CDT

Who's worse, the unabashed bigot, or the self-deluding racist who tries to fool others as he tries to fool himself? The former, you might think, as he's the one who's more likely to do physical harm to a minority. But the latter's the one who'll stand back and do nothing while the former drags a black man behind his truck, and the latter's the one who'll let all kinds of more subtle harms affect minorities without lifting a finger. You, godawgs, may not have ever lynched a black person, but every time, for instance, you accuse a black victim of "playing the race card" (the clumsiest, most effete metaphor I've ever heard, incidentally), you're displaying your bigotry. Not because the black person is necessarily right that he or she is the victim of racism, but because you're (a) not even willing to entertain the possibility that he or she is the victim of racism, (b) not even willing to try seeing things through the eyes of someone who has, without any doubt, suffered racism at some point in, if not every day of, his or her life, (c) all too quick to question his or her sense, integrity, fortitude, &c., and (d) all too quick to dismiss the whole of U.S. history up to the point that the black person was victimized, which history more than amply justifies his or her feeling that race had something to do with his or her victimization. In short, just because you don't assault minorities or use racial slurs in public doesn't mean you're not a racist.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Fiskebolle
Jul 22, 09 7:21 AM CDT

I normally don't leave a comment just to give an opinion on a commenter, but in this case the previous repliers have failed to recognize the sheer scale of the hypocrisy and racial hatred of Anchower's post. I've read comments here for a couple months and this is easily the most vile one among them. I have doubts that you lead a happy and stable life, Anchower, but I hope you can work things out eventually.

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Jul 22, 09 7:32 AM CDT

Oh I've called angstower on it before fiske. But it doesn't stop the victim mentality

-1

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:10 PM CDT

I'm terribly sorry you equate telling the truth with hypocrisy and racial hatred, Fiskebolle. I'm perhaps even more sorry that you equate firing off nasty conclusory allegations that fail to address any of my arguments with civil debate. Alas.

IN RESPONSE:

Fiskebolle
Jul 22, 09 6:29 PM CDT

Is there a single sentence in your post that wouldn't be labelled the most extreme form of hate speech if you were talking about any other race? "I'm perhaps even more sorry that you equate firing off nasty conclusory allegations that fail to address any of my arguments with civil debate" "nasty conclusory allegations" "conclusory allegations" Interesting statement considering what you just did in the post we are discussing. I can't recheck this article another time, but I must say I leave this with the feeling that you are some kind of left wing parody created by a right winger. Expertly done, regardless, sir.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Jul 22, 09 4:56 AM CDT

That's right godawgs. ONLY. White people are rascist. That why we had BET NAACP EBONY UNCF BLACK PANTHERS oh wait. That is not white groups. Oooops. Sorry skanckower. You continued assumption that all white people are rascist is your own rascism. Shining through. Remember that little history lesson about how us evil whiteys utilized a slave system already in place in Africa and well developed to boot. YOUR fellow man over there was already In The. Game. So get over it. Rascism is wrong wrong wrong and so is using it as a crutch to make excuses for a shitty life and suffering the consequences of poor decisions. I do not and will not practice rascism. And despise any that do Reply

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:11 PM CDT

riffran doth protest too much, methinks.

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:15 PM CDT

Oh, and permit me to quote myself once again: "It's impossible for an out-of-power minority to be racist against an in-power majority. Or, more precisely, it's impossible for any bias of an out-of-power minority against an in-power majority to have any deleterious effect on that in-power majority. However, an in-power majority's bias against an out-of-power minority can do nothing but harm that out-of-power minority. See the distinction?"

-1

| 0 minutes ago

beatmastermcfly
Jul 22, 09 9:13 AM CDT

wait more importantly theres a black cop standing right there. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:12 PM CDT

And he's going to overrule his white sergeant how?

-1

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 22, 09 2:12 PM CDT

There is one very simple truth to all of this, if the man would of given the officer proprer ID none of this had to occur. Just because you are a harvard scholar and black does not give you the right to disobey police. Sorry all you angry black people and those who are quick to assume racism. It is just simple, follow the law and there wont be a problem. When a cop ask me for ID guess what I do...... I give him my ID. Looking at it from the point of view of the cops, there is a guy trying to break into a house. Lets be honest with ourselves, if you or I saw anyone (white or black) creeping around someones house we would most likely become a llittle worried. The cops don't know that it is the guys house. Even beyond that, without ID they can't verify that either. I am sick and tired of the same old arguments when things like this occur. Racism is a horrible, terrible thing. Hands down sould not be tolerated. However, and this is a big however. When you use it as a tool to say... Oh look what the bad white cops are doing. Look, look everyone. It is another Rodney King...... Well, you are no better than the most backwards, redneck, bigot, bastard. That is what you have reduced yourself to you hypocrits. You are all worthy of the ridicule that you receive for you comments. Go ahead and post your mindless comebacks. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:23 PM CDT

Why do you think Gates didn't produce an ID? Because he most certainly did--two IDs, in fact. And he was in no way "creeping around" anything. Furthermore, identifying blacks who speak out about racism with racist "redneck[s]"--your word, not mine--is both absurd and wrong. Given the history of this country, a black man who's arrested in his own home after proving his identity as the homeowner has every reason to believe that racism is the motivation behind the arrest. To tweak your suggestion, try "[l]ooking at it from the point of view of [Gates], there is a guy trying to" arrest you for entering your own home. As I say above, the failure to even be willing to empathize with minorities is a form of racism.

IN RESPONSE:

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 22, 09 7:49 PM CDT

Oh boy, my foot sure does taste bad! I am not going to change my stance of race in america but I will admit my flawed attempts to vent about it. This is simply a hot topic.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Jul 25, 09 11:30 PM CDT

Actually FoxholeAtheist Gates did provide identificvation during the incident within the house, which the Officer listed in his report. It was not produced upon the first request, but upon the second request two forms of identification were given, along with verification from harvard security. Using Rodney King isn't a good example of proving your point, considering the incident wa caught on camera and the officers in question were still found not guitly. By no means and I giving King his dues, but no man or woman, regardless of their color deserves that treatment, much less having to sit by and watch the Officers who beat you get off.

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
Jul 22, 09 2:30 PM CDT

Lastly, I have NEVER SAID that the arresting officer was racist. No, NEVER. All I have been saying is that given the history of THIS country, particularly its history of police abuse of blacks, Prof. Gates was amply justified in BELIEVING that the officer was only arresting him because he is black. I don't believe there's anything very controversial about that. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

westonism
Jul 22, 09 6:38 PM CDT

Check out the expression on his face. He just won the "poor little me" lottery. He's going to be milking this for the rest of his life. God help any white people that have an opinion that doesn't jibe with his ranting, because if you disagree you must be a racist. Personally, I don't care what color you are. I hate all stupid people equally. Grow up and get on with your life. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 22, 09 6:54 PM CDT

You must really hate yourself, then.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 22, 09 7:35 PM CDT

Alright,you got me. He did provide ID, my bad. I could still care less about those who cry racist wolf. Your point about racism in america is tired and overdone. Blah, Blah, Blah same old ploy. Get a new line. Not every white cop in america is a racist. At most they are guilty of not wanting to deal with an asshole. Shame on them. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

AmericaPrevails
Jul 30, 09 11:23 AM CDT

Carol Rose is a twisted moron. Truth to power? FOOL There were no charges palced.. ugh..he was not being held for charges until he started making racist accusations and calling the cops mom a prostitute...etc... etc.. out load.. un public...in the middle of the day... unprovoked... I can't even reply to this. Amazing what kind of junk passes for journalism these days. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

AmericaPrevails
Jul 30, 09 11:23 AM CDT

loud* Reply

| 0 minutes ago

radnip
Jul 31, 09 3:55 AM CDT

Why aren't more conservatives outraged that a man was arrested for yelling in his own house, after producing proof that it was his home? So does that mean conservatives like people's homes being entered? Police can knock on people's doors and ask for ID all day long? You can call the police about your hated neighbor and ask them to "check" on him? Um, hello, conservatives? Remember, fascism, police state, etc. you keep screaming about...? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

AmericaPrevails
Aug 1, 09 2:42 PM CDT

@Radnip, it was a possible breaking and entering call that the cop reported to, he was simply making sure that the man in the house was indeed the owner of the house seeing as there were signs of forced entry.. Did you even read the story? no one called the police because they disliked the neighbor. She called because it looked like someone was breaking into the house. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 27 comments »

police • Massachusetts • racial profiling • racial tension • racial discrimination • Henry Louis Gates Jr

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