Acting White: Harvard Prof. H.L. "Skip" Gates Arrested in Cambridge

Here is what the NYT had to say about an incident where noted Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested at his home (and later released) by Cambridge Police who seem to have mistaken him for an intruder (here).

Of course, if we read between the lines, it seems that what Gates was really arrested for was giving the officer a healthy 'piece' of his mind, as the officer was leaving the Gates premises, exclusive campus housing provided by Harvard only to top professors.

No doubt that Gates thought the officer was derelict in his job performance, and we may never know exactly what transpired. However, I'm pretty sure that this was not a simple 'profiling' event. Anyone forcing open a door is reasonably suspect and should expect scrutiny. More to the issue, I can imagine a Cambridge officer in 'that' neighborhood, who does not recognize Gates, treating him poorly even after the no-crime is established.

Gates, who may have looked 'out of place' to the officer, deserves the same treatment as his similarly wealthy/scholarly white neighbors, and not getting this is probably the reason for his umbrage. That presumable white officer is learning a valuable lesson about the lottery for poorly choosing a black man to disrespect. It is rare, but it happens. And when it does, well, there goes the career.

Finally, it is good to take a moment to think about all the undeserving people who get mishandled or treated poorly by the authorities simply because the event is not going to end up on the front pages of the news.

James C. Collier

READ MOST RECENT POSTS AT ACTING WHITE...

Technorati Tags: Acting White: Harvard Prof. H.L. "Skip" Gates Arrested in Cambridge, Harvard, Profiling, Henry Louis Gates, African-American Lives, Acting White