Bossip | Gossip for the Hardcore | Black Celebrity & Entertainment News

F*ck a Hannibal!

Ah, yeah, why didn’t he just identify himself and THEN if they continue to harass you, then get in their behinds.

Anyway, I love this man.

Did he just move in this house? Wouldn’t his neighbor know him? I never believe these stories since I wasn’t there and it doesn’t make sense to me.

This man has been a staple and pillar in that community for years. What neighbor could have called the cops on him? He has been living there for ever! what kind of man in a suit over the age of 50 is breaking into a house. I would put money on that being a white man in a suit doing the same thing…”IF” the police where called it would have been cleared up as soon as they seen his suit and asked if he lived there.

Cosign Cocoo!!!

I need someone with some legal expertise to break this down for me!

Is it illegal to ask someone for ID if they appear to be attempting to break in??

Is it obstructing justice to REFUSE to be identified and worthy of arrest??

Could they not have found out who the owner of the house was WITHOUT having to ask who he is and have avoided arresting him?? ( IF SO – - this is some racist B.S.)

Only then, can I really comment…this makes no sense. You can’t assume everybody knows who this man is (even in his own neighborhood, unfortunately) nor can you assume it’s ok to refuse providing identification and not think something is going to happen, IE. ARREST!

So he admits that he was breaking through the front door and thinks its racism the cops came up to him???

have to agree. He could have identified himself and THEN after they continued to harass/arrest him THEN he can cry racism. At night or day, if you see someone’s back trying to bust a door open in your area who you dont recognize and they are not doing it with keys YOU would want someone to call the police. He was fishing. Doesnt mean there arent racist cops or people but use common sense…it makes him look foolish.

I have never heard of a burglar parking his car in a drive way, claiming to have left his keys in the house, been in a suit, and told the cops who exactly lived at the residence. To not give this prominent scholar his respect and due is asinine. This is baffling to me…I hate victimology, but damn, I can’t turn a blind eye to blatant racism and class profiling.

cocoloco…its your mentality that will never change anything…but I also believe this whole white people have to approve of us is crazy. What other racial or ethnic group bases their whole self esteem on whether or not white people respect or like them or want to hang with them. Asians dont give a F. INdians dont give a F. Hispanics dont give a F. Why does our identity and approval of ourselves have to be based on whether an outside racial group accepts us. If we actually started focusing on improving our own communities and lives and families and children, we wouldnt care because we would be doing whats right for us and helping ourselves. Indians, asians, hispanics, dont expect a handout from whites neither should we. This is why we are so screwed as a people.

that is true rex

It seems to be two stories here. He says he showed them his id and that he was faculty–it’s the bottom paragraph. Yet he was still arrested. I believe his story honestly, the cops have to say they had probable cause–they are not going to say he was cooperative and we were racial profiling–come on yall

Good, I bet he’ll do a REAL INTERESTING PBS Special on this…

And I hope he’ll interview Oprah on it and ask her about that incident over in North Africa when they wouldn’t open the door at the Hermes Store ’cause *in their words & explanation* = them North Africans were stealing too much and they didn’t recognize her without her make-up on…

*However, in the Hermes Stores Defense = have you seen Oprah without make-up on? You know what I’ma leave that alone…

I have to co-sign everyone that sees the bullshyt in this story, I hope theres more to it and it shows he cooperated with their request to identify himself. I live in a simi wealthy suburb of Los Angeles in a multicultural neighborhood and I don’t know everyone of my neighbors personally. If one of my neighbors kids came home from school for the summer or they had in-laws staying for a bit they wouldn’t know me either. Somtimes we just wrong when we jump to racism, so if his house gets broken into and his neighbors tell him “yea I saw the person but he was black so I minded my business” would that make him feel better……

i didnt notice the parenthesis. My bad…lmao

you mean to tll me that the neighbor who called( who had to live close by to see that there was someone wedging their shoulderin the door. thats very descriptive) didnt know who he was? i know everyone that lives in my development. i know what they all look like so when something is amiss i know who to call. so please fall back with that he should have just identified himself bullshit.

He had his car parked in front and lived there! In a suit! He was over 50!
_____________________________________________

@charlieblanko

And you forgot to add he has a BIG A$$ limp cause one leg is shorter than the other from surgery and he wears one of those shoes that has a 3 inch sole… With that being said and explained = what kind “cat burglar” is gonna rob a home in that kind of condition with a suit and a tie on?

I know Black people like to steal but damn!!!

this is racial “boy who cried wolf”

you can’t say racism for every little thing. The cops see someone breaking through a door after they are called by neighbors reporting it. He can’t assume they said “lets harass a black person today”.

rexeffex>>>There’s a long, drawn out reason as to why many black folks still want the white man’s approval. All those other groups you mentioned have something in common: A language and country of origin. Even the Indians have their sovereignty. We were taken away from our homeland and indoctrinated, thus many of us are confused. It’s too long to go into. You might already know the story.

However, wanting handouts doesn’t solely have a black face. We are a race of millions of people, many of whom are hardworking, law-abiding citizens working hard to get theirs. There are a lot of black people doing their thing. There are blacks helping themselves and others, but the media will never show them. Maybe if we start reading more and turning off the television we would realize that black people are moving up. We have a long ways to go, but we aren’t as doomed as many think.

wow!

Chris Brown did it.

who the hell breaks into someones front door wearing a suit???

white male

this is racial “boy who cried wolf”

you can’t say racism for every little thing. The cops see someone breaking through a door after they are called by neighbors reporting it. He can’t assume they said “lets harass a black person today”.
__________________________

i agree pale male…but!

That does not mean that subconscious behaviors do not get the best of white people.

“The black guy did it” theory is deeply embedded in almost all people.

If you dont think they went extra hard on a black man being a smart ass… then i have a tank im selling on craigs list tonight…tune in.

The man cooperated to his standards.
______________________________________________

@charlieblanko

Those of us with a brain knows he did…

And plus he grew up back in the Jim Crow era = probably got bit by a dog or two, got hosed down by the police, had to sit in the Rosa Parks “section” of the bus, etc…

He’s educated and knows how to follow directions…

You see what it said up top = “police continued to question him after he showed them his license and Harvard identification”

If I’m not mistaken doesn’t your drivers license have your address on it? Mines does, and so after he showed it to them why are they continuing to ask this old man questions?

Knowing cops like I do, they know where ALL the Black people live – ESPECIALLY the wealthy and accomplished ones. SMH

We know what the deal is here…

Clearly this has been an on-going problem at Harvard..and America for that fact. I don’t know why ppl are trying to act like it does not exist it does. AND he DID identify himself showing ID and harvard ID, but you know PIGS don’t like to feel stupid, dumb, or admit they are wrong. I hope they get what they deserve really…And for the noisy neighbor–she need to find some business…PIGS smh

You think the white people at work are cool and aren’t racist… SMH

Like I tell y’all all of the time:

Let something come up missing…

There probably more to the story, but for those who keep saying why didn’t he identify himself, it’s right up there (read)————–>Counter said he spoke to Gates, who told him police continued to question him after he showed them his license and Harvard identification. “They did not believe him when he said that he was in his own home,” . The article says “a woman” it didn’t say a neighbor…could have been someone driving/ walking by and she’s not familiar with the neighborhood. No one knows how they might respond in a situation…

…just a question??? If the woman called the cops while he was “trying to wedge his shoulder into the front door”…how long did it take for the cops to show up? When they arrived, was he already in the house? Did they accuse of something while he was already inside the house? hmmmmmmm… something doesn’t sound quite right…

something needs to be done!! I hope that THE COLOR OF CHANGE.. will sign a petition and pass it around for something to be done! this is OUTRAGIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ SLIDE

you are killing me, LOL… it’s true though! sad but true!!!!!!

Just identify yourself. He brought this on himself.

he chips need to fall of the shoulder…in the end no one will owe anyone anything no matter how hurt you are by them…you only continually screw yourself over but not letting go and being done with the negative energy. Anyone who has ever achieved success does not do so by continually living in the past. Its not about believing a fake we are the world reality its about realizing life can be unfair but if you go about your business and do right eventually things sort out. My kids will not know that anger and they will be happier and achieve more because of it.

______________________________________________

Very true, but pointing out racism and stamping it out is key in moving forward. Although it may not affect everyone, what about the ones that are? We should not let it hinder our progress…and to do so we need these infidels ousted now.

1. How many criminals do you know break into a house in the middle of the afternoon without any assistance like a crow bar?

2. How many criminals do you know are a 58-year-old man I’m assuming was dressed like a scholarly 58-year-old man and not some punk who is stupid enough to break into a house in the middle of the afternoon.

3. How long does this man have to live in his own community before his own neighbour recognizes him or even has the sense to pause, PAUSE, for a second to think “Hmmm, have I seen this man around before? Is that his house? DIDN’T I SEE A BLACK MAN COMING IN AND OUT OF THAT HOUSE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?”

This is what happens to black men in America!
oh really, skip?? i give you that….and say especially if they live in a hood where they stand out and have a white wife! he better be glad he dont live in pasadena tx where neighbors will shoot first and ask questions later! the FACT of the matter is that ANYONE looks suspicious doing what he is doing if they neighbors dont know them. furthermore, why didnt this neighbor know him??

He is a tenured professor at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, so I am sure he could afford a locksmith.

Why didn’t he just show his ID. Sure it’s a hassle, he’s probably pissed because he can’t open the door, etc. But this could have been over in a matter of minutes if he had not let his ego get in the way for a second and just whipped out his wallet. Not everyone is SUPPOSED to know who he is. Sorry, I know I’m gonna get beat up for this but that’s how I feel.

Of course its racial profiling. He DID show his ID you dumbass! I had purchased his VHS tapes on Egypt about 10 years ago and learned SO MUCH ABOUT MY PEOPLE.. THANK YOU MR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.!!!

Here is the link to read a statement on behalf of Henry Louis Gates by Charles Ogletree, which gives his side of the whole story.

http://www.theroot.com/views/lawyers-statement-arrest-henry-louis-gates-jr

Here is the link to read a statement on behalf of Henry Louis Gates by Charles Ogletree, which gives his side of the whole story.

http://www.theroot.com/views/lawyers-statement-arrest-henry-louis-gates-jr

You can read a statement on behalf of Henry Louis Gates by Charles Ogletree, which gives his side of the whole story, on The Roots website right now.

well, I’d like my white neighbors to call the police if they saw a black dude ramming his shoulder into the door as well……..AS LONG AS IT WASN’T ME. I would like to blame this all on the white folks, but he should have just said who he was. “I’m so and so, I own this house, I’m locked out, etc….” . I don’t wanna talk to the cops either, but sometimes, it’s not worth the hassle.

White people are very insecure when it comes to well-educated, rich and established black people, this incident is ridiculous. I bet they have seen him on TV or even heard about him, but they just want to embarrass him.

And please, you mean to tell me he was out there long enough for someone to see him, call the cops AND the cops hd time to show up nd still spot him going in to the apt? I dont believe there was a call– the officers spotted him and approached him. Just think about it, A BLACK MAN MOVES IN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD- EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT IT BEFORE THE INK ON THE MORTGAGE DRIES!!! So if a neighbor saw him- they knew exactly who he was, wasnt no damn 911 call!!

These posts reflect how dumb folks are. Mr. Gates showed the cops two forms of ID. Seems to me he complied with the cops request. Next time try reading the entire post.

I graduated from an Ivy League school and I’m not surprised by this at all. It’s an on-going problem at top universities around the country.

I look at it this way. . .these White cops feel like if you’re Black you don’t belong there. They feel like since their careers have topped out, that Black people shouldn’t be getting a world-class education. It’s all about jealousy and, yes, racism.

Anyone who has gone to a top level university knows this.

Excuse the typo. That should be “someone assaults,” not “someone has assaults.”

Below is a statement from Dr. Gates’ lawyer on theroot.com (Gates is editor-in-chief of the site):

Statement on Behalf of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. — by Charles Ogletree

This brief statement is being submitted on behalf of my client, friend, and colleague, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This is a statement concerning the arrest of Professor Gates. On July 16th, 2009, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 58, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor of Harvard University, was headed from Logan airport to his home [in] Cambridge after spending a week in China, where he was filming his new PBS documentary entitled “Faces of America”. Professor Gates was driven to his home by a driver for a local car company. Professor Gates attempted to enter his front door, but the door was damaged. Professor Gates then entered his rear door with his key, turned off his alarm, and again attempted to open the front door. With the help of his driver they were able to force the front door open, and then the driver carried Professor Gates’s luggage into his home.

Professor Gates immediately called the Harvard Real Estate office to report the damage to his door and requested that it be repaired immediately. As he was talking to the Harvard Real Estate office on his portable phone in his house, he observed a uniformed officer on his front porch. When Professor Gates opened the door, the officer immediately asked him to step outside. Professor Gates remained inside his home and asked the officer why he was there. The officer indicated that he was responding to a 911 call about a breaking and entering in progress at this address. Professor Gates informed the officer that he lived there and was a faculty member at Harvard University. The officer then asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and turned to walk into his kitchen, where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver’s license to the officer. Both include Professor Gates’s photograph, and the license includes his address.

He did identify himself
See fourth paragraph
*******
Counter said he spoke to Gates, who told him police continued to question him after he showed them his license and Harvard identification. “They did not believe him when he said that he was in his own home,” Counter said. “He was totally mistreated in this incident.”
********

I HATE WHITE PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“If the woman that called them did it because shes racist thats on her but being that this brotha is so intelligent why didn’t he handle it in a more composed manner than he did…sounds like he got some a little Sharpton in his ass”

Dr. Gates sounded composed enough for me. I would be livid — the man was arrested in his own house. And, yes, the woman who called the police was probably racist. He had someone carrying his bags.

Look for this incident to be profiled in Dr. Gates’ next documentary.

They need to get a clue. How sad. Still in 2009 people are so close-minded & crazy. Just like those kids who they wouldn’t let swim in that pool in PA.

@abielle

“I look at it this way. . .these White cops feel like if you’re Black you don’t belong there. They feel like since their careers have topped out, that Black people shouldn’t be getting a world-class education. It’s all about jealousy and, yes, racism.”

I know it is a source of contention at Columbia that the school refuses to acknowledge that it is located in Harlem. I believe there is still an undercurrent of tension between the university and the surrounding community.

@Sydney-

You are absolutely correct. It’s the same for many top tier schools. I find that a lot of these schools are at odds with the community around them. I visited the University of Chicago and it seems to me that that university does everything that it can to alienate students from the community surrounding it. And, again, students told me stories of university police brutality against Black professors and students.

To all the dummies who keep saying he should have identified himself-STFU. It is his house. You have noisy crackers sticking their long a** noses in everything. How would you feel when trying to get into your house that you pay the note for and someone is harassing you. White folks are constantly sticking their hawks where they don’t belong and tries to cry foul when people get tired of them. That area is very racist. My aunt lives there and they are constantly doing racial profiles.

Mr. Gates, I am so very sorry that happened to you

Let this be lesson to all of you who insist that we’ve progressed past racism! This man is as “Progressive” as it gets..but all some people will forever see, is the color of our skin no matter what we say or do.

@abeille

Yes, Columbia was/is dead-set on marketing itself as being located in “Morningside Heights” — Meanwhile, 125th Street is just north of the campus.

Regarding racism on campuses, It wasn’t that long ago that a noose was found on a Columbia professor’s door. And, if I’m not mistaken, Harvard recently refused to allow two young black women to graduate after a controversial shooting occurred on campus. To my knowledge, neither woman has been arrested nor charged with having any connection to the crime.

I don’t even live in his neighborhood, and I know what Skip Gates looks like. A teachable moment, indeed.

Why won’t people just read the freaking article?! He did comply with the officer’s request to see his identification! Ignorant people, both black and white really get on my nerves when they put their two cents in a conversation without knowing both sides of the story.

He’s a swirler, so maybe he should have let his wife open the door.

@ yvonnjanae …

My thoughts exactly lol !!! When I read that he said: “This is what happens 2 black men in America” my initial thought was “So says Bill Gates who is married 2 a fat white chick.” Oh well . . . 2 each his/her own.

Sounds like a bitter old man looking for a way claim VICTIM STATUS.Just tell the cop who you are…that it’s your house.The end.

In defense of the cops, how r they supposed to know that was his house. They responded to a B&E and observe someone breaking into a house. It appears they acted appropriate considering they were protecting his house. HLG II need to chill on this one.

If true, he should’ve cooperated with the police by revealing his name, thus quashing the whole ordeal. Him not volunteering his name only shows that he had a hidden agenda also. Sounds like he was gettin’ his “RABBLE-ROWSER” on.

None of us was there…but I bet Dr.Gates probably baited the cop to some extent.I’ve heard/read some of his work.He’s got plenty of VICTICRAT in him.

Well his wife is white so maybe she should have vouched for him.

And to be married to a white woman is too damn hypocritical.

I’m amazed at how naive some people are. Allow me to break it down for you. We have conflicting statements here:

‘An officer ordered the man to identify himself, and Gates refused, according to the [police] report.
vs.
‘[Harvard instructor Allen] Counter said he spoke to Gates, who told him police continued to question him after he showed them his license and Harvard identification.’

Many of you have asked: Why didn’t HLG just tell the officers who he was and show his ID? Exactly.
DON’T YOU THINK THAT’S WHAT HE DID? HELLO, PEOPLE! Police lie ALL THE TIME. Especially when they realize they have screwed up big time and they are trying to do damage control. I’m a journalist and have dealt with cases like this all the time when cops lie and try to cover up their mistakes.

What probably happened is this: Cops roll up, question HLG (maybe even pull a gun on him). He identifies himself and tells them he is locked out of his own house. They ask for ID; he shows his license and Harvard ID. At that point, he is annoyed that the cops don’t recognize him (HLG is one of the most prominent people (not just black people but ALL people) at Harvard; some might even argue he is THE most university’s prominent person). Hell, the cops should know where HLG lives. He’s also annoyed because he knows that if he were white, as soon as he said “I’m a Harvard professor; this is my house” the cops would have immediately offered their assistance in opening the door.

Even after he shows the IDs, the cops continue to question him. He, understandably so, gets irate and belligerent. The cops decide to haul the belligerent, uppity Negro down to the station to teach him a lesson.

I’ve visited friends and relatives at Harvard many times. Cambridge is a very racist city — even worse than nearby Boston. Every black person I know who has lived in Cambridge has several stories to tell.

People, you gotta read between the lines; and don’t believe everything you read!

@ LoisLane i am a black girl living in Boston and cambridge is not a racist city…What that Policeman said was totally wrong but the professor should have showed him his damn ID.The woman who saw him break the door was right to call the police(whether she would have called the police if it were a caucasian man is what we do not know now)..she thought she saw an intruder and she called 911…lets see how it goes..peace

People get your information together first the man was already in his house when the police rolled up on him. This is the police side of the story that they are reporting now Gates have yet to make a statement. Besides Gates show them all the correct identification and yet they still didn’t believe him maybe it’s because of his tan skin. Screw those pigs and any of you UNCLE TOMS that isn’t supporting your brother Gates.

Since no complete account of this appears here, I can only say’
There one more side to this story than there were people on the scene, and I’m sure some of them will change or be altered.
At times, actual & substantiated incidents occurred across the river at the other University.
Admittedly, a few were erroneous.
I’ll wait til the dust settles, and maybe then accurate accounts may take place, though I’m sure their will be contradictions.

so much for light skin privilege lmao

Li

He is a tenured professor at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, so I am sure he could afford a locksmith.

____________

thats what im saying. and he is educated, common sense would tell him to get help or something…

im not buying the “he showed his id” line. He would know how police work.

and for your information. I was locked out my house, but went to my neighbors and called the locksmith, not foolishly try to break open the door. the professor was an idiot

This fool thought that since he had married Becky he was afforded the right to talk to the police like white folks do and caught some cuffs…..

[...] Black Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. Ar&#114&#101&#115ted at Own House: Racial Profiling Suspected - B&#111&#115&#115ip.com [...]

I don’t get many of these comments. Are you telling me that if some of you suddenly found a police officer on your doorstep because you were suspected of breaking into your own house (mind you, how many burglars would open the door to the police?), that you wouldn’t feel a twinge of anger? Of offense?

And what does the race of Dr. Gates’ wife have to do with the case at hand? I fail to see the correlation.

Are we so accustomed to racism that we’re willing to put the blinders on when this is a clear incident in which race was a factor? How disturbing.

BTW, Rev. Sharpton says he will attend the arraignment in August, according to the Harvard Crimson and the AP:

The Rev. Al Sharpton is vowing to attend Gates’ arraignment.

“This arrest is indicative of at best police abuse of power or at worst the highest example of racial profiling I have seen,” Sharpton said. “I have heard of driving while black and even shopping while black but now even going to your own home while black is a new low in police community affairs.”

In addition to the comments about Professor Gates’ inability to walk without a cane, I would like to insert that he is nearly 60 YEARS OLD. Imagine your father/grandfather being arrested in his own home.

Amazing. SMH.

WHATS NEW/ the pigs are always pigs.

maybe it was the fact that it looked like he was trying to break into the house? and not his sking color? couldn’t be that, no way!

“maybe it was the fact that it looked like he was trying to break into the house? and not his sking color? couldn’t be that, no way!”

Oh, yes, a 60-year-old man with a cane with a driver carrying his luggage signals a looming criminal threat.

Again, SMH.

Henry Louis Gates is an ass. I know this from personal experience. He thinks he’s better than everyone. I’m glad this incident put him back in his place. No matter what you achieve…you’re still…
Hoped this knocked him down a few pegs.

Is it true that the arresting officer was black???

If that is true, than Gates race baiting seems entirely illogical.

Its seems like there is a lot missing in this story. While I agree that we as blacks get a bad deal in regards to the police it is possible that Mr. Gates overreacted on this one.

You guys who said he should have identify himself need to read the article again…If It was a white person, when they showed ID, the story would have ended…

HE DID SHOW ID. STOP SKIMMING AND TAKE A MINUTE TO READ PEOPLE!!–

“…POLICE CONTINUED TO QUESTION HIM AFTER HE SHOWED THEM HIS LICENSE AND HARVARD IDENTIFICATION. “They did not believe him when he said that he was in his own home,” Counter said. “He was totally mistreated in this incident.””

If you gonna skim over the article, you really shouldn’t comment. You just spew bad information…

see…

I say go arrest the owners of the swim club who publicly humiliated a bunch of young minorities. I just hope this begins to open the eyes of Blacks around the world. Let’s raise up for real and begin seeking positions of power and really change this world once and for all.

For the most part cops/pigs/popo/fiveO/jakes whatever you want to call them are the most corrupt mofo’s on this planet. Why should any black man trust that they are going to do what’s right? He has a right to be upset when cops are accusing him of breaking into his own home. For all of you who agree with the cops side, one day when you become a victom you may then understand what it’s like to be profiled for no reason whatsoever.

Actually a lot of you have the story twisted.

Professor Gates came home from a trip and his door was jammed and he was trying to pry it open. His neighbor call the cops and said “A black man is breaking in the house next door.”

By the time the cops arrived, Mr. Gates was already in his house. He wasn’t still trying to get in. He was inside.

The cops asked for ID and he produced his Harvard ID.

Now what happened after that is questionable. But along the way things went left.

I don’t know how racist Cambridge is, but I know Boston is exceedingly a racist hotbed.

Maybe the cop didn’t believe Professor Gates was who his ID said he was and kept asking… And of course that would piss anyone off.

The man was arrested inside his home. How crazy is that?

And you want to say what he SHOULD have done? I guess Emmitt Till shouldn’t have whistled at that white woman… *rolling my eyes*

There’s always three sides to a story (his side, the other side, and the truth)

Love the people that say that there has to be more to the story, but refuse to READ the whole story.

@Um-

I’ve met him as well and he was nothing but personable and down to earth. I’ve never understood why Prof. Gates and Prof. West get so much hate from other Black people. I’ve met both and they are very friendly.

I read an account where he DID show his Harvard ID and the city cops STILL dispatched the Harvard PD.

After he showed this pink racist pig his ID, he still insisted that he come out of the house, for what, any sane person will get angry esp. when you are in your own and you being asked to come out when you’ve shown your ID, and what annoys me the woman who called 911 lives in the neighbourhood, so she hasn’t seen him b4, these pink people everytime they smile in your face you have to wonder if its genuine smile.

he showed his harvard i.d. and his drivers license…are there any colored people in cambridge??
i had a similar incident in durham but i pulled out my history book and whooped their asses…

I pray for the hoodwinked.

If you are in your own home and the police asked you to identify yourself, I think most people will get in a huff.

This is SO TYPICAL!!!! How many upstanding black men (as well as people of all backgrounds) have been arrested for DISORDERLY CONDUCT??? This is a standard charge they place on individuals who are doing nothing wrong, but the cops are trying to cover themselves. First of all, the cop had no business even entering the home after Gates came to the door. He obviously wasn’t going to run. They knew he was not a thief because what robber answers the door? The cops could have also called the owner of the home (Harvard). This is police misconduct and racial profiling, plain and simple. He is an older gentleman who walks with a cane!!! For those of you who say that he should have “cooperated”- interesting….you believe the “official story” of the police that he did not cooperate? The police version is RARELY a truthful accounting of events.

from CNN’s website:

African-American scholar and Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested last week on a charge of disorderly conduct after a confrontation with an officer at his home, according to a Cambridge, Massachusetts, police report.

Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested last week on a charge of disorderly conduct.

According to the report, officers responded to a call Thursday from a woman who said she saw “a man wedging his shoulder into the front door” at Gates’ house near the university. The report, obtained by CNN affiliate WCVB-TV, indicates Gates refused to identify himself to a police officer, claiming the officer was a racist.

Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department stated in the report that he told Gates he was investigating a report of a break-in at the residence. According to the report, Gates “opened the front door and exclaimed, ‘Why, because I’m a black man in America?’ ”

Crowley wrote in the report that he warned Gates two times he was becoming disorderly. After Gates continued to yell and accuse him of racial bias, Crowley wrote he arrested Gates for “loud and tumultuous behavior in a public space.”

A statement by Gates’ lawyer and fellow Harvard professor Charles Ogletree said that the incident occurred when Gates returned to his home after a trip to China.

Gates, accompanied by a driver, found the front door damaged.

He entered the house with his key through the rear door. Then, he and and driver were able to force the front door open, Ogletree said in his statement.

Don’t Miss
WCVB: Police report of incident
The statement was published on the Web site The Root, of which Gates is editor-in-chief.

An officer arrived and told Gates he was investigating a call about a breaking-and-entering at the residence, Ogletree wrote.

Gates identified himself at the officer’s request, according to Ogletree.

“He [Gates] turned to walk into the kitchen where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver’s license to the officer,” Ogletree wrote on The Root.

Ogletree’s statement also said that Gates asked Crowley for his name and badge number several times without success.

Then, when Gates followed Crowley to the front door, Crowley said, “Thank you for accommodating my earlier request, and then placed him [Gates] under arrest,” Ogletree said.

The Cambridge Police Department would not release any information regarding the incident.

Gates has one of 20 prestigious “university professors” positions at Harvard University, according to WCVB, and joined the faculty in 1991. He is considered one of the nation’s pre-eminent scholars of African-American studies. In 1997, Time magazine placed him on its list of the 25 most influential Americans.

the problem is the SAME way you CANNOT BELIEVE everything a police officer says – you CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT GATES said either until ALL the FACTS are known. All you guys are doing is quoting what GATES said. I want to hear the police version AND the TAXI driver version. Somewhere in that mess is the truth. Ive been around too many people who intrepret ANY action by a white person as RACIST when it involves US.

Just because there is a problem with white cops does not mean they are all CROOKED and RACIST. The same way that there is a problem with YOUNG BLACK MEN and DRUGS does not mean ALL YOUNG BLACK MEN are dealers. Get it?

You are all presupposing the story after only hearing ONE SIDE. IM reserving judgment until I hear ALL SIDES.

Have fun with your lynching…cuz thats all you doing. No different then he 1950′s and all a white woman had to say was that a black man looked at her funny.

For those who don’t find fault in the police response, I have this to say. It is sad that you have lived in this country so long as to be numb when your civil rights are violated. You are so used to bowing before “authority” that you’ve lost your inclination toward indignation. Undoubtedly there is more to this story. But a man should not be arrested on his own property when he is clearly minding his own business. I’m sure HLG would have been more amenable if the cop had approached him with respect rather than as “another black male criminal”. The neighbor should have known what HLG looked like anyway. It seems people all around were f*cking with the brotha on this one.

FIGHT DA POWER!!!!!

He was forcibly wedging his shoulder into his front door…???

Um, regardless of race, he looks like he’s breaking into the place! When the cops confronted him, he should have said, this is my house and presented ID.

I bet this would have happened to a white person too.

You don’t know who you’re messing with? …That statement was BEGGING for trouble.

The cops were only doing thier job. If Mr. Gates did what was asked of him this could have been avoided. To cry racism when the cops are coming to protect your property is ridiculous. Mr. Gates is wrong.

Here’s the police reportscribd.com/doc/17512830/Gates-Police-Report

The lady that reported a suspected robbery don’t have any idea what a robbery looks like. Robbers don’t park there car in front of house they are robbing, they don’t wear suits to a robbery and they don’t use canes (meaning he needed assitance walking). She needs to mind on her F??INg business. Busybody!!!

Let’s see if I’ve got this right. You are seen breaking into your front door in the middle of the night, and when the police arrive you decide to be an a-hole. Well guess what? You get what you deserve no matter what color your skin is.
Read my take on it and stick around for more good content.
http://libertarianhumor.com/2009/07/21/gates/

You people can’t read? It said even after he showed Harvard ID they still questioned him.

“How can I think Outside of the box if they won’t let me Out of the box?”

This might be hard to belive but when the cop’s roll up on you and ask you questions they want you to answer them and not give them sht, this story has said he was arrested even after he proved who he was, well I guess the dammage was already done when he was asked to provide identification, Gates allegedly snapped, “No, I will not,” that right there is disorderly conduct, he did not say “Sry I don’t have it” he said NO, I will not,he then said This is what happens to black men in America! so he was the one that started the racial thing, Five O just did what they had to do to control the problem.
You start mouthing off to thepolice and I don’t care what color you are, your going to jail… Been there Done That !!!

BlackMind- I totally agree. Some of these responses are enough to make my stomach turn. I really don’t understand the mentality of “bow down to the cops at every turn”.

@enlight- Posters keep telling people to read the article because there are a million people asking why he didn’t show ID when the article clearly states that he showed both his Harvard ID and license.

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. . .TV networks should start airing that PSA again.

@ Enlight
Um the damn police report agrees that he showed his id. At that point the officer was no longer “responding to a distress call” and was trespassing. The officer, and any other officer, is required to give his name and badge number upon request- he did not. THe officer was thinking “who is this N***er to yell at me I’ll show him” and then he arrested Dr. Gates. Well now you are about to find out just who he is. This would not have happened to a white person first off the police never would have been called in the first place and they wouldn’t have been treated in the skeptical guilty until proven innocent manner. As soon as the ID was shown that was the policemans cue. Instead he put Dr Gates through the embarassment of calling Harvard police (the white folks) to verify what his ID already said and mind you the drivers licence has the address right on it. This was intentional humiliation and we are not going to stand for it.

I believe Mr. Gates owes an apology to the Cambridge Police Department. He should be ashamed of himself for viewing a rational question of identifying himself, so the Police could be sure he was the home owner, as racist. It sounds like Mr. Gates is a racist. Racism is not isolated to one race Mr. Gates. I believe Mr. Gates deserves a disorderly conduct charge.

@Ayesha-

You lost me when you threw the word “elite” out there. “Elite” is just a stupid buzzword created by angry conservatives who don’t like to see Black people in positions of power and don’t like to see us educated. If “elite” means that I have sense and I’m educated, then you can call me, Soladad, Dr. Gates, and every other educated Black person “elite” all day. Since when did having an education equal elite? The real elite are the people that have the majority of Black folks stuck on stupid. . .the people who have convinced us, as a people, that education and having scruples is wrong.

“you don’t know who you’re messing with”

seriously? Dude, you are NOBODY. Get over yourself and be thankful that the police were protecting your property.

Act like a fool and get treated like one.

for the record, henry louis gates did say who he was. even pulled out two forms of ID, one in which included his address. however, the feds proceeded to arrest him. please know the full story before assuming. much of what you’ll read in the news is part fact and completely skewed. get it right black folk. research.

C’mon peeps, this racial crap has got to stop! #1- If someone is going to give research info, please give Bibliogray. So much crap is given on hearsay and second,third hand verbage it’s ludicrous!!
Hey, for real, anytime a Black man is stopped there is a cry “RACSIM”.
Our society has become a society of Laws, as much as I dislike the route we’re going (SOCIALISTIC,COMMUNISTIC IDEALS) be pepared to follow the laws, if you don’t, give it up! accept the consequences. Oh,yeah, one more thing to all concerned,how about using the english language uh?using the “colorful” MF,SOB, on and on etc. just shows ignorance.

Listen up people, eminent scholar or not, once your skin is black that is ALL that is seen by white America – so get with the program. That gentleman should be wise to that fact by now.

Apparently, many of the people commenting here either can’t read or struggle with comprehension. The post clearly states that Mr. Gates DID show his ID! Quote:
“Counter said he spoke to Gates, who told him police continued to question him after he showed them his license and Harvard identification. “They did not believe him when he said that he was in his own home,” Counter said. “

Wanting an apology, and having an expectation of getting one are two different things. It’s interesting how quickly the CPD dropped the charges and backtracked to try and put this thing behind them.

He was not wearing a suit. he was coming from vacation wearing a polo t-shirt and pants and the door was jammed so he and his black driver tried to push it in. the person supposedly then made the report of two black men with knap sacks breaking down the door.

When the police arrived, he was already inside. I suspect there is some race element here but the professor seemed to have that “do you know who i am” attitude. HE should have just showed them the ID and out them later. The police should have left him alone after they realised that he was the resident. there was no need for any arrest or charges of disorderly conduct. I would have been annoyed if police were in my house asking me to prove that i live there.

How ever the story went i think both parties are a lil to blame. and we all know boston is and will mostlikley be the home of undercover racisim.

SMH @ this whole situation.

I am amazed at how most in the black community are pulling that “RACE” card once again. This had absolutely nothing to do with race. Apparently, a concerned neighbor saw someone who appeared to be breaking into a house and they did what any concerned neighbor would do,call the police.

You see, blacks in this country really need to stop whining about race. First they whined about not having a black president and they got that. Now, I guess new laws need to be drawn whenever a police officer runs with the black people. How ridiculous is this ?

Prof. Gates should have identified himself with proper identification. Period. Things did not need to escalate to such a point he ended up being arrested. It is clear he was an influential person both at Harvard and in the African American community. But, I will tell you, I never knew who this man was until this incident.

People are running around talking about his accomplishments, well, one’s accomplishment does not exclude one’s ability to commit a crime. Doctors, even people like Madoff were “upright” citizens, until we found out they too are capable of committing crimes.

So this had nothing to do with racism. I also believe the PD dropped the disturbance of peace charges to appease the situation. So there.

But please Black People, if you cry racism when a neighbor blindly felt they were being good citizens when your home looked like it was being broken into, I guess from now on, when you see a black person in an emergency situation, it’s best not to call 911. Because “Racist” accusation will come right after.

Race is not everything. And black people need to get over it.

This event is manufactured– by Dr. Gates. It is only logical to arrest someone, of any race, who appears to be breaking into a home and refuses to identify themself. Dr Gates however, only reflects a larger misconception unfortunately spawned by the equal rights movement– the idea that all negative things that happen to all blacks under all conditions in all places and times are are always due to racism. Talk about racism!

Gates is a presumptuous racist. He didn’t determine the cop was racist, he presumed the cop was racist.
That is the essence of bigotry and racism, and Prof. Gates demonstrated it admirably.

[...] officer who used the old “disorderly conduct” charge to arrest Harvard African American Studies Henry Louis Gates went hard on Obama today and then our President [...]

also, I think many of you are missing the point. Gates was not arrested for being black. He was arrested for yelling at cops and causing a scene. It doesn’t matter what his job description is or the color of his skin. I’ve almost been arrested numerous times for simply trying to speak to officers during our encounters. Think about this : Race was only mentioned by Gates. If anyone could be considered Racist in this situation it would be Gates. He assumed that he was being arrested because he was a black man. The more and more I encounter these type situations the more I realize that many black men have this preconcieved notion in their mind that they are/or will be treated differently due to the color of their skin. I think the most important step towards racial equality at this point would be for minorities to get out of this mindset. Do you not agree that this mindset only henders true progress?