The Strange Case of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
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The recent public debate spawned by the arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has proven to be a fascinating litmus test for the current state of race relations in what, after Barack Obama's improbable election, has been celebrated as a "post-racial country." This fallacy of post-racialism has been encouraged by Obama himself who insisted that he would be a post-racial president who would represent all Americans. That Obama's own loyalties were even questioned was an indication that this country still has anxieties toward powerful people of color, a point further evidenced by the furor sorrounding Sonia Sotomayor's infamous "wise Latina" comment, a comment both Sotomayor and Obama were forced to back away from as a "poor choice of words."
Apparently, much of white America finds it hard to believe that people of color can leave behind their own experiences as non-white's and be fair to white people, a question rarely leveled at any white judge or politician. Thus, to be white is the cultural norm, whereas any fealty or remembrance of one's non-white heritage is evidence of some sort of residual anti-American sentiment that should thus disqualify one from any public office. This is just one manifestation of the belief in the bankrupt notion of reverse-racism that continues to permeate conservative political circles.
When the Fox News bloviator Glenn Beck recently declared that he believes Barack Obama to be a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred of white people and white culture" because he "immediately jumps on the police," he implicitly framed the question as black (Henry Louis Gates/Obama) versus white (police)--a conflict that should be all too familiar as a dominant dynamic of historic American race relations. Obama's chastising of the Cambridge police was immediately framed as an anti-American and anti-white move, thereby exposing his own latent prejudice.
This is the same Glenn Beck who in the aftermath of Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison's historic election to Congress questioned the Ellison's loyalty due to his Muslim faith, asking the Congressman, "Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies." He added, "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." Of course, this question would never be posed to a white, Christian politician, just as Obama's own birth and qualification to be President would never be questioned were he a white American. In an ironic twist, John McCain himself was born in the Panama Canal zone but his loyalty or citizenship have never been in doubt.
This sophistic reasoning exposes the lingering, white anxiety in many corners toward the continuing diversification of America, where no longer are blue collar jobs at risk to migrant workers, but the ultimate job in America, President, has been lost to a non-white individual who, by virtue of his race, is unqualified for the position. Sonia Sotomayor, whose story should be celebrated, has been similarly maligned. Some of these same people, those who supported the nomination of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas some years ago, had no problem characterizing opposition to his nomination and the Anita Hill controversy as being racially motivated, and Thomas himself described it as a "high tech lynching."
Yet, Henry Louis Gates, regardless of his problematic relationship to the black community has been subjected to scathing and largely unfair critiques from all sides of the political spectrum. The surprising vitriol that has emerged out of this incident points to the still simmering feelings among many Americans when it comes to racial politics. Whether they be discontented African-Americans or those like Pat Buchanan who worry about the increasing prominence of non-white and non-Christian cultures in American political life, we can be sure that the issue of race has not been washed away in a sea of interracial goodwill.
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Gates-gate & Police Authority
This (so-called "white") man begs to disagree. It's unfortunate, Don Quixote (I hope you do not take offense at that) that you are denying that we do live in a post-racial America.
It would take to much space to argue that you are wrong. And besides, it's almost impossible to change people's convictions, especially political ones.
So I'll focus instead simply on the Gates-gate fiasco. Whatever struggle occurred in the privacy of Prof. Gates' home should be irrelevant - including amount Racism that existed, or appeared to exist. The only thing that matters, or should matter, is what happened to a "skipping" middle-aged (relative small and not heavy) man who walks with a cane, when he stepped out on his front porch.
Leading the hand-cuffed Gates off to jail was a black police officer of equal rank. This officer supports the arresting officer's "right" to arrest Gates 100%.
If you were an extremely smart observer as our President Obama is, you would agree that it was really "stupid" to arrest Gates at his own home when it was already known that Gates was the rightful occupant.
What you don't understand I think (with all due respect) is Politics. You fail to appreciate the fact that president Obama generally does not "play the Race card." You do not appreciate the great significance of that political move.
If you want to promote the cause of justice and equality you would follow the example of Obama as well as Prof. Gates and turn to the simpler issue of Policing. Deal with that alone. The arrest of professor Gates was illegal - and you do not need to play the Race-card to establish that.
Now notice that although you appreciate the position of Clarence Thomas as a Black justice on the bench of the Supreme Court, you seem to ignore the role of Anita Hill as the central figure in the lynching of Thomas. For those who do not know, Anita Hill is a Black woman lawyer who alleged that Thomas questioned her about the pubic hair on his Pepsi can.
Similarly, you now conveniently overlook the role of Sergeant James Crowley's equal in this unfolding saga: (Black) Sergent Leon Lashley, who led the two white cops with Gates hand-cuffed between them. Black Officer Lashley continues to maintain that he supports his colleague's arrest of Gates 100%.
If you are smart (which I think you are, judging by your writing), and not "stupid," and want to advance the cause of the American dream, I strongly plead with you that you drop the Race-card, as Obama and now Gates, have done.
The struggle now should be how can we improve policing in post-racial America. If America is not post-racial its because YOU refuse to make it so. Think also about Michael Jackson, Richard Prior, Eddie Murphy, not just our black politicians and intellectuals. Thing of Rap, and Hip-Hop.
If you want to truly (split infinitive) make America more post-racial then don't play the Race-card in the Obama Age.
And look and listen to this (the Black equal of James Crowley): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxM8cwosjew
“Power will demonstrate the
“Power will demonstrate the man”. Ancient Greek quote
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Lincoln
The fault is on Gates and Obama.
Yes maybe Crowley made some error (surely not racist kind). So what?. In Greece we say” “Everyone who works makes errors”.
The shocking is the words of Gates “You do not know who you are messing with” (in front of many witnesses) and he phoned in order to use his political power against a working public servant. And then we had the involvement of Obama in favor of his friend. That is unbelievable. That is the distinguished professor of Harvard?????!!!!
When someone has political power, must use it in favor of public good and not to threaten public servants, even they are wrong. Gates in not an poor and uneducated man, and he could handle the situation without his political friends.
Some people said that they have met him and he is a cool man. But ancient Greeks said: “Power will demonstrate the man”. Now Gates has power and this revealed the man.
Right on point. You do good
Right on point. You do good work.
not race... but power
the fact that the media has primarily played the race card without providing any evidence, while simultaneously ignoring the glaring fact that there was no need to arrest gates (and truly should be considered and enforced as unlawful), is appalling.
its high time we demand some change. why has obama called attention to this case without attempting to shift the focus of the debate to what has been shown to have transpired?
how much time has obama spent talking about police abuse and accountability?
proper clarification of the situation and ignorance of the facts has allowed this story to be politicized in a fashion that is not conducive to justice.
and furthermore, i wholeheartedly resent the conflation of the separate issues laid-out in this article.
if racism is anything, its defining somebody by a pre-concieved notion of who that person is instead of looking at them as an individual. racism is just plain stupid. it is a form of collectivist mindset.
if one is supposedly anti-racist, then please be consistent and honest. both logically and as a matter of integrity don't conflate issues in order to satisfy your own political bias and argument.
"Though, unlike many victims
"Though, unlike many victims of racial profiling, Gates will survive with his liberty intact, this episode will have a largely incalculable backlash in the public sphere of opinion and feeling."
I like how you leave out any recognition that Gates' racist tirades directed towards the Sgt. during and after the arrest have negatively affect the officer's life. He was doing his job and the temper tantrum throwing racist deserved to be arrested.
no.
Gates liberty was stripped, if only for a short duration.
Even if Gates was/is racist, that is still no cause for arrest.
Brave man, Clarke...
...trying to talk about racism in Maine. Good luck with trying to get people to think about what it must have been like for a second in Gates' shoes during the arrest.
I suggest framing it in a Red Sox vs. Yankees, underdog vs. topdog metaphor. That might do the trick.
I agree with those who made the astute observation that this is a case where a police officer abused his power. But, to reduce it as nothing but a policing power trip, free of racial profiling, is just wishful thinking that's out-of-touch with reality.
In Maine, it's easy to pretend racism doesn't exist when there's been only one race -- until maybe a decade ago.
Be still my heart....
Good letter, Julia. While I'm not from Maine, I'm from another predominately white demographic---Orange County, California. I didn't think you were over-simplifying the issue so much as trying to frame it properly.
julia. you're telling me that
julia. you're telling me that the reason the police officer showed up to the scene of a possible crime was race-based?
what facts do you have to support that?
besides, profiling exists on several levels. it isn't reduced to race only.
what about the war on drugs?! how about US troops in the middle east or elsewhere around the world? why not focus on race and religion in these instances? where's the outcry? we've been bombing brown people for decades but it's not fundamentally because of racism. or maybe i'm wrong. but i really don't think that's the case.
too often these discussions are used as a distraction so that the fundamental system itself is not harmed.
obama is not confronting police abuse. he is not reducing america's military imprint in the world or attacking the war on drugs, but will continue to fund and expand them.
racism divides people. why would we want to focus on that?
the problem with slavery wasn't racism! the problem was the denial of allowing people their freedom!
Re:"problem with slavery wasn't racism" Really wanna go there?
Jesse, do you know what 'subjugation' means? I looked it up to give you the precise definition: "the act of bringing under domination or control, esp. by conquest." The example the dictionary provided is this: "The invaders had soon subjugated most of the native population." The example sentence gives insight into who does the subjugating, and whom is subjugated.
I'm explaining this so that we're on the same page.
Many Africans were subjugated by Europeans, Americans, and even more powerful Africans, and made into slaves. What is key to subjugating someone is seeing that a person as different and inferior. This is how human beings subjugate other human beings -- they find those who look, act or seem different and then they don't feel so bad about treating them badly, as in the horrific experiences of slaves.
Part of why whites felt comfortable subjugating blacks had to do with backwards, racist thinking which assumed that having darker skin and non-European features meant inferiority, and therefore treating blacks like sub-humans was justified in their ignorant minds. But you and I realize how wrong this thinking was and still is, right Jesse?
You're right that slaves were denied their freedom but you are wrong to think that slavery was divorced of racism. Racist thinking was how whites justified treating black slaves with so much cruelty and horrific injustice.
I realize you feel uncomfortable talking about race and racism, as many people do. But pretending that it doesn't exist will not make it go away. And putting the blame on Gates, or anybody else, for being angry about racism, or being angry about consistent racist patterns by the police won't make it go away either.
Good Piece
People need to knock this "post-racial America" garbage off. Only those in homogeneous environments could believe that such a thing exists.
Gates/Crowley
Where do some of you get off that just because Gates showed his I.D. he should not have been arrested. He was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Sorry folks, you can be arrested for disorderly conduct from your house. If you act like an ASS, and just because you're at your home, doesn't give you the right to ACT like an ASS.
Example, If I'm yelling and screaming on my front porch and drawing a crowd just like Gates was, and the police tell you to knock it off.. a SMART person would quit..And don't bother with the he just got home from China b.s. either. I'm a black police officer and I would have locked the S.O.B up too. There is no "home base" for allowing people to just do whatever they want. So quit with the, "he was at his home" crap. People are arrested everyday for acting like jerks from their own home when they draw a crowd.
im not saying people aren't
im not saying people aren't racist and that it doesn't exist. im just saying that it doesn't cover the whole scope of the issue.
i can't believe you want to make a claim about me AS AN INDIVIDUAL when you don't even know me and outright ignore everything i just wrote and asked.
"blackofficer" - its exactly the type of thinking that you express that should be prohibited by law.
and guess what folks, it may or may not have anything to do with racism.
sorry "blackofficer", i don't
sorry "blackofficer", i don't mean to say a certain "type of thinking" should be prohibited by law, thats impossible. i mean to say the action itself should be prohibited.
let's put "blackofficer" logic to the test
People are arrested everyday for acting like jerks : therefore its ok to do it
people are killed everyday for (put whatever you want here) : therefore its ok to do it
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Sorry folks, you can be arrested for disorderly conduct from your house. If you act like an ASS, and just because you're at your home, doesn't give you the right to ACT like an ASS.
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That Obama's own loyalties were even questioned was an indication that this country still has anxieties toward powerful people of color - that is a bit harsh isn't it? I am sure Obama must have broken his Drum kits after reading this post.
Right?
The guy was acting like a pratt in his own home, you can still be arrested for doing this kind of thing, I have no sympathy for the guy.
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