In our first few discussions this semester, we've talked about how "what you see depends upon the seer." This was the major point behind the exercise we did in class this week involving two adult males--one Caucasian, the other African-American--involved in what by any definition would be considered "normal" (one was even a journalist!), but was misinterpreted by an observer who thought a violent act could be taking place). Most of you have no doubt read about a recent incident involving a Harvard professor who was mistakenly arrested by police after locking himself out of his own home. The account below is taken from Boston.com, the website of the Boston Globe:
Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's pre-eminent African-American scholars, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home by Cambridge police investigating a possible break-in. The incident raised concerns among some Harvard faculty that Gates was a victim of racial profiling.
 Gates |
Police arrived at Gates’s Ware Street home near Harvard Square at 12:44 p.m. to question him. Gates, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, had trouble unlocking his door after it became jammed.
He was booked for disorderly conduct after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior,” according to a police report. Gates accused the investigating officer of being a racist and told him he had "no idea who he was messing with,'' the report said.
Gates told the officer that he was being targeted because "I'm a black man in America.''
Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said.
The police report said Gates was arrested after he yelled at the investigating officer repeatedly inside the residence then followed the officer outside, where Gates continued to upbraid him. "It was at that time that I informed Professor Gates that he was under arrest,'' the officer wrote in the report.
Ask yourself: was Henry Louis Gates a victim of the same kind of "everyday racism" (Essed's theory) as the African-American journalist who was at the center of the scenario we discussed in class?
Maybe, or maybe not. This is a difficult situation to analyze because it is a "he said, she said" sort of scenario. Without having a neutral person explain what they saw there is no way to know the truth.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we would be blind to say that racism does not exist. I think often times the police are quick to arrest and ask questions later. This may have been the case here. Or is it possible that Gates did "fly off the handle" and the officer didn't like it so he arrested him.
Or perhaps the officer arrested him simply because he was black and using a racist assumption decided that because he was black he must have been breaking into the house
This situation is more difficult when it comes to finding a definitive conclusion because without actually being there or even hearing both sides of the story in person, there are too many open ends.
I think this incedent goes back to our discussion in class. Many students felt that the scenario with the two men was completley normal. Others assumed the worst. I think location and personal background has a lot to do with these instances. Was Gates' neighborhood primarily white? Was it primarily wealthy? I think the incendent with Gates is a good example of "everyday racism." People (the neighbors, police) assumed the worst. I have to wonder if the police would have been called if an old white man was having trouble getting into his home???
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of conflicting stories about what went on inside the house when the police were questioning Gates. Officers said that he refused to give them identification and was yelling, while Gates has held that he never did anything of the sort. That's a bit blurry and witnesses have corroborated both sides of the story. Regardless of what occurred inside Gates' home, everything that transpired when the cops arrived was solely because the neighbor, just like the exercise, looked out the window, assumed that the worst was happening, and called the police. While the neighbor surely thought, at the time, that they were doing a good deed for their neighbor, they still exhibited everyday racism by assuming the worst. If it were a 75-year-old white woman, would the call still have been made? Did the neighbor know that the resident of the home was, in fact, black? If the neighbor didn't care enough to know what their neighbor looked like or even who their neighbor was, why did they suddenly care enough to make the call to police?
ReplyDeleteI do not think I can say with confidence whether this was a case of everyday racism or not since the information to base it on is speculative. What is also holding me back is the thought that someone could have genuinely been trying to help their neighbor, although Cory makes a good point noting that most people can identify their neighbor from next door or accross the street. Even his treatment by police could be misconstrewed to seem like a judgment based on race, and since it is not totally clear the events that occurred in their exchange with Gates, I don't think it will ever be clear if this was an example of Essed's theory.
ReplyDeleteI think a big factor is how the police knew to be at his house. Unless I missed it in reading the article, I do not think it was identified. I think if the police were called by someone in the neighborhood, then he was a victim of "everyday racism." I can just imagine that having trouble getting in one's own house would be frusturating. It may have looked as though he was breaking in because of the amount of force he was using, or simply because of the fact that he was fidgeting with the door and it was not opening. I could understand how a passer-by might perceive this to be a break in. However, I do not believe race has much to do with it. If a passer-by saw anyone fidgeting with a jammed door they are likely to have the same reaction. This goes along with some of the ideas mentioned in class, that race is not the reason his actions were suspicious.
ReplyDeleteAs far as everyday racism with the police, it is hard to say. The information from the article seems shady. Perhaps something went on that was not mentioned. If the police were to arrive at a house and knock on the door, and a person had broken into that house, I highly doubt they would answer the door. On the other hand if the police entered without knocking on the door, I think Gates had every right to be upset and yelling. It is easy to see a confrontation occur because of this. I am not sure if this is an incident of everyday racism. In my opinion this story has too many holes for me to pick a certain side.
I think this situation is different from the one we talked about in class because this incident involved a more personal piece of property. The fact that one was outside means there were no barriers keeping the police from arresting the reporter. If they got a phone call claiming someone had a gun, I believe they would take them down without a "friendly conversation," but I do think they took it to an extreme. As for the Gates incident, it took place on his personal property, and it is hard to know what actually happened. I think it may have been more extreme for the cops to arrest Gates, seeing as he had his ID as proof. I can't imagine he did not raise his voice or get testy with them, but I do not think it had to go as far as him being arrested. Therefore, I think there may have been some everyday racism taking place. I say this because the police could have said "ok sir we see your ID," and inquire about what happened with his key. Instead I am sure they some how brought on the frustration that Gates felt because it seems unlikely that someone would raise their voice or get defensive if an officer told them it was a misunderstanding. There are large possibilities that before they even looked at the ID they were already thinking Gates was guilty so the instigating may have come before they looked at the ID. if an officer was leaving his house, why would he follow him out screaming, unless he was angry about something more than the simple accusation? This just does not add up. Also, I do not believe Gates would accuse the officer of being a racist unless something concrete compelled him to do so. I could not imagine him calling the officer a racist after the officer simply asked him about the situation.
Everyday racism does occur, but I am not so sure this is an example of it. Depending upon the actual details of the situation, it could have been more than just "everyday racism," it could have been just that, or it could have had nothing to do with race at all.
For me, this case is interesting because at some point the racial tables are turned. This is what I read from the police report: A 'white female' living in the neighborhood calls the police because she notices two 'black men' with backpacks attempting to break in a house. Police arrive and find only one 'black man'. So where did the other man go? Did the women that made the call make this up because she felt frightened? How did she not notice her own neighbor in daylight? The 'white women' who called the police poses questions for me. She did see what she thought to be a possible break in, but I wonder if she played with the facts a bit. On the other hand, with Gates and Stg. Crowley, I think Stg. Crowley was the victim of some form of 'everyday racism.' Why, because firstly, Gates refused to cooperate and told Crowley that he was being racist. Off the bat Gates got defensive and assumed that Crowley was being racist, while in reality he was just doing his job! Crowley was called to a possible break in and from my stand point performed in a professional manner. Gates was asked for proper ID, asked to lower his voice, and asked to cooperate. Gates did none of the above. However, he did throw in, "This is what happeneds to black men in America!" phrase. I would expect more from a Harvard professor, just saying.
ReplyDeleteWhen the news first broke of Gates getting arrested, I read it that day on the USA Today iPhone app. It was written in a way that made the reader believe that the police was handcuffing a guy who was breaking and entering, found that it was his house, and for whatever reason, handcuffed him and took him to the station, all the while him screaming that it was because he was black. It looked as though it was a simple misunderstanding blown out of
ReplyDeleteporportion.
Then I googled the incident a few days later and read various websites that contained the actual account of what happened. Gates had successfully entered his home through a back door when the police came. The police knocked on his front door and when he answered, they just asked for ID to make sure he was not a robber (Checking up on what they were dispatched to do. No profiling here). Gates became agitated and started in on the whole race thing, claiming that it was because he was black. The police started to leave and apparently Gates started throwing insults at the police. They arrested him for disorderly conduct.
Granted, this information was from several websites, so I'm sure there's more to both sides of it. But basically, it sounds like the police were initially doing their job, Gates got rowdy and insulting, and the cops had had enough with this guy. Maybe they put up with less because he was black. Maybe not. Who knows.
Either way, he did deserve to be arrested in the end in my opinion, because he was being disrespectful and uncooperative (from what I've read) and you just don't do that with police officers. I don't care if he was black, white, or purple. Just watch that show Cops. People get arrested all the time just for mouthing off to the police. Just because you're a Harvard Prof doesn't mean you're above the law.
I don't think that this is a case of "everyday racism" at all. Gates' reputation is to stir up the racial pot any chance he gets. He was asking for it.
Overlooked with the Gates case are the invisible layers of surveillance evident throughout the US police state. As much as this country pretends to be comprised of a freedom loving and rights-respecting bunch of individualists, instead it is filled with eyes, cameras, neighborhood watches and snitches.
ReplyDeleteThough racism may have engendered the fear of the 911 caller by proxy, it is only part of the entire industry of ratting out neighbors or eliminating "things that are out of the ordinary." It is just part of the top-down power scheme to foster paranoia and division amongst the lower ranks and classes.
The neighborhood watch program is used to promote a common front against deviancy, This attitude prevails amongst "safe neighborhoods" where little happens. It is also supported by a healthy police response regardless of the infraction.
Therefore, it pays to "take a bite out of crime" and inform on your neighbors: you know the cops will show up and sort things out. It also pays to stay within the bounds of the neighborhood rules, even the unwritten ones too, because you never know who is watching you.
Ironically enough, employing the neighborhood watch attitude in areas where it is needed the most (like in high crime areas) can bring swift criminal reprisals. There is little done for witness protection so residents tend to not have seen or heard anything.
It was funny that Bob Dylan was mistaken only a few weeks later as a derelict and the police were called on him, Dylan is far more famous and iconic looking than Gates in popular culture. But when he goes into his street clothes (an inconspicuous hoodie and scraggly beard) he looks like a vagrant loitering around a house. That set off alarms in the mind of that particular 911 caller too. If it looks weird, call the cops.
It's all about appearances. The "safe neighborhood" is built upon the concept that as long as the streets are clear and crime-free then peace of mind is shared by all. However, not much attention is payed to the crime that goes on behind closed doors (domestic abuse). Often it is ignored or played off.
As particularly for the Gates case: the cop was a jerk and acted like most cops do whenever they are met with snide comments or questioned. They assert their authority without regard to rationality or patience. They hate it when people talk back and do not comply exactly to their whims and ego trips.
But as the person above mentioned the show "Cops" any person who has seen it knows when the police say to jump, you have to say how high. And you better get down on the ground as soon as they tell you to.
Gates should have calmed himself down and presented his ID. It was no time for a lecture or a flabbergasted assault on the policeman's motives. He could have saved his vitriol for an op-ed piece for the New York Times.
As soon as the cop read the ID he should have said "Sorry Mr. Gates, I'll let you on your way."
I also like most other students did, looked at the police report and other reports reguarding this situation, and I too can not say that this is a case of " everyday racism" with confidence.
ReplyDeleteBut what I do know is that Gates hit it on the head when he told the officer that " you don't know who I am" because if he did, this situation would have been handled a lot different.
For instance, according to the police report, the officer arrived in an unmarked car, which suggest that the officer was wearing pedestrian clothes. So when the cop walked to the door, he should have identified his self first, before asking Gates to come out of his house.
In saying that I don't believe that this is a case of "everyday racism", but I do believe race was a factor.
Nothing is more humiliating to a black person, than to be hand cuffed and arrested for no apparent reason. I can re-count many times seeing cops randomly stop people in my old neighborhood who " fit an description" of a criminal.
With that being said, imagine how Gates felt when he was identified as a possible suspect in a crime. He probably became very defensive, and instead of saying " Yes Sir" and making the situation easy for the cop, he called him out.
But I also don't think the cop was as calm as he tried to appear to be in the report. Cops don't like to be threatend, and the report says that Gates made many threats and even talked about his " mama". I can imagine the cop saying to himself, " do he know who I am?" So do I believe that the cop kept his cool the whole time? No I don't.
It's clear that race relations between blacks and cops have been an issue for years, and it looks like it will stay that way... or worsen.
I also forgot to address the issue of his neighbor calling the police. In this case I do not see a problem with the lady calling because Gate was in China for a period of time, and if she's the nosey neighbor I think she is, she knew that. So when Gates' driver assisted him in opening the door, she did not recognize the two, and she was caught off guard.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say if this is a case of "everyday racism" or not just by looking at the story and the police report. There are three sides to every story: One for each of the people involved and one that's the truth. It does seem sketch that his neighbor, Lucia Whalen, called the police on him and said there are "two black males with backpacks" trying to gain entry into Gates' residence. She doesn't know her neighbor is black? It is also interesting that Gates is the one that pulled the "race card," essentially saying that the police were arresting him because he is black ("This is what happens to black men in America"). I do question, like many others, that if it were a white man or woman would this have happened?
ReplyDeleteOfficer Crowley identified himself, but Gates refused to identify himself.
ReplyDeleteGates responded by using reverse discrimination by accusing Crowley of arresting him because he was black. The report filed by the Cambridge police department http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html (we all know police reports are one-hundred percent factual) Officer Crowley identified himself, but Gates refused to identify himself. stated that upon investigation Gates was asked to step outside to speak with Crowley, and Gates responded “No I will not,” then yelled “This is what happens to black men in America.” Gates continued to yell that Crowley and the police were racist even after officer Crowley stepped off the front porch.
ReplyDeleteAfter three attempts to identify himself, Crowley arrested Gates after Gates was asked to respond to Ms. Whalen, and Gates yelled, “ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside.” Gates then continued yelling racial epithets at officers Crowley and Carlos Figueroa. There were several witnesses that were neighbors and Harvard and Cambridge University Police.
Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct at that point. He complained that the handcuffs were too tight. And that he was disabled. The cuffs were adjusted to a frontal handcuffing, and he was given his cane to accommodate his disability. Gates continued to state that the officers “did not know who they were messing with.”
After his arrest, Gates was identified by a Harvard maintenance man who was familiar with him.
Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct, which he was obviously guilty of, and due to the identification by the maintenance man, he was not arrested for burglary.
He was a victim of misidenty, and location. This was an upscale neighborhood, where black people usually fulfill the maintenance and hospitality roles. I feel that if Gates had calmly identified himself, and explained the circumstances, he would have been totally exonerated.
Ms. Whalen was justified by seeing two men (of whatever color) forcing entry into a residence. If the use of cell phones or citizen's watch groups is a "big brother" effect, law enforcement agencies are limited to only using governmental tactics (such as surveilance). This would only mean increased taxes and limited responses.
ReplyDeleteMoe's comment sums up the "nosey neighbor" response.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this situation is too far from the one we discussed in class. A neighbor called the police because she thought that two black men were breaking into someone's home. The neighbor assumed the worst, and acted because of what she thought was happening. I wonder, though, how you wouldn't recognize your own neighbor in broad daylight. Someone else mentioned that if Gates was an older white man trying to get into his home, would the neighbor have still called the police?
ReplyDeleteWhen the police finally arrived at Gates' home and asked for his identification, he showed two forms, but was still handcuffed. The article says he was arrested for disorderly conduct. In my opinion, the police should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. But that would never happen so easily. I can understand how you would already be frustrated from not being able to get in to your house and then even more frustrated for being accused of breaking and entering your own house. The police should have understood that, too. But we're talking about the cops here and you just can't talk to them that way.
To some, it may not seem like everyday racism, but you can easily see how Gates would believe it to be.
I whole heartedly agree with Matthew's comment about police and their fragile egos. Not to make this a blanket statement, but one would easily believe that a snide remark from Gates about racism towards the officer probably put him on the defenssive and caused to to react in order to protect his ego.
ReplyDeleteThe officer should have instead taken Gates perspective into account and ignored the comments and continued to walk off the premises.
I would have expected a little better composure on Gates part, but he just could have been having one of those days (we all do).
All of this though could have been settled without a trip to the station and rational explanation and attentive listening from both parties.
My brother lives in a gated community, and he does not know all his neighbors. Gates showed identification after he was arrested.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested in the Cambridge police report, I have it as an attachment on student email.
ReplyDeleteSomething that comes into play with this scenario is the idea of what you see depends on where you are sitting. From the neighbor's vantage point, it appeared that her neighbor's home was being broken into. From Gates' perspective, he was just trying to enter his home. The job of the police is to act as mediators and to look at the situation from different angles and reach a fair conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of the controversy could have been avoided if Gates had been more compliant with the police officers who were there to do their job and investigate a 911 call. Arguing with police officers does not typically result in an amicable situation.
I don't think this is an example of everyday racism. I think it became a race issue when Gates made it a race issue.
Also, Gates' status as a Harvard professor does not mean that he is above the law, and he should have complied with the requests of the officers. Police officers are required to read Miranda rights to anyone they place under arrest. There is a reason why that procedure exists: is it to protect the rights of the person arrested. Laws are in place that declare a person innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If Gates had an issue with what took place (and I agree that most people put in the same situation would have a problem with it), he should have taken it through the proper legal channels.
I am having a difficult time deciding whether or not this case should be considered a type of "everyday racism". I do wonder why the neighbor would call the police if she knew her neighbor was black, but without hearing her account, I can't know whether or not she had met him or not, and whether she was the nosey neighbor type or just honestly thought that someone was breaking in.
ReplyDeleteAs for Gates and the police officers, from what I have heard it seems like they all may have been a bit out of line. The cops should have given Gates an opportunity to show identification, but if Gates was quick to accuse them of being racist and was arguing with the officers, then maybe the officers were justified when they became defensive. Whether an arrest was necessary, I think I would have had to been there to determine.
I really feel like this is a case of "he said" "she said", that was only augmented by the fact that the police officer was white and Gates was black. Seeing that both Gates and the officer were professionals, you would expect that they could have dealt with the situation in a more civil manner.
Although I do not believe Gates was involved in "everyday racism" it seems unprecedented that he was accused of breaking into his own home. Gates may have been offended based on the accusations made by police, but any citizen who verbally attacks an officer is subject to dicipline. With several accounts contributing to the story, a valid conclusion as to what really happened seems unattainable.as well. The question also remains as to whether this scenario would have taken place if Gates was a white man.
ReplyDeleteI think this could go either way. In one aspect Gates could definetly be a victim of "everyday racism" because it was a black guy trying to break into his house. On the other hand, if it was his house then his neighbors should know him and that he lives there. I think whoever the person was that called the police in the first place jumped to conclusions and assumed the worst because of the situation. As far as the police go, I find it a little confusing as to why they still arrested him considering they saw his drivers lisence and his Harvard ID card. After looking at the whole situation and the events that had taken place-- Yes, I do think he was a victim of "everyday racism."
ReplyDeleteI know I'm posting way late Dr. Sylvia....
ReplyDeleteWhat it all comes down to is this, I'd be angry if I couldn't get into my house and my neighbor didn't have enough common sense to realize that I lived in the house next door.
I don't think Gates should have yelled at the officer because that really won't get you anywhere. But I do understand why he'd be angry. Especially if he gave them ID to prove he was at his own home.
I do know, and have witnessed, if you start screaming at a cop, even if you are in the right, they're going to put you through hell. You will get arrested for "disorderly conduct."
Gates could have been having a bad day. All of the events in his day could have let up to that moment. I don't think it was everyday racism either. I know if I got in a cops face and was yelling at them, I'd probably get arrested too.