Harvard Scholar Plans Documentary After Arrest for Trying to Break Into Own Home

Posted Jul 22, 2009 7:15 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Corrected: Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. says his arrest for trying to break into his own home is leading him on a new path: He is planning a documentary on the treatment of blacks by the criminal justice system.

"I want to be a figure for prison reform,” he told the Washington Post. “I think that the criminal justice system is rotten."

The arrest surprised Gates, one of the nation's foremost African-American scholars, even though he is well aware of the history of racism. "I haven't even come close to being arrested. I would have said it was impossible," Gates told the Post. He was arrested for disorderly conduct based on his "loud and tumultuous" behavior during the incident, according to a police report. The charge has since been dropped.

Gates said he found himself locked out of his home and tried to push the door open along with the help of his taxi driver, prompting a police call from a neighbor. Gates had just returned from a trip to China to research the genealogy of cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Gates doesn’t blame the neighbor for placing the call, but he is upset because, in his view, the white police officer presumed he was guilty.

He told the Post his documentary will ask: "How are people treated when they are arrested? How does the criminal justice system work? How many black and brown men and poor white men are the victims of police officers who are carrying racist thoughts?"

Correction: An earlier version of this post misidentified Gates as a law professor. He is not. Gates heads the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.

Comments

B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 7:30 AM CST

I would guess there is also a statistical age differential among arrestees.

Flag this comment

Anon
Jul 22, 2009 8:33 AM CST

Of course the police and justice system (still) treat people differently based on their race. But that’s why Prof. Gates’ reaction here seems so counterproductive and wrong.

We’ll probably never know for sure what did actually happen, but if Prof. Gates really did refuse to provide ID, accuse the police officer of racism for even requesting it (as the Globe continues to report), and basically pitch a fit, then by crying racism this way, he cheapens it and does a real disservice to its genuine victims out there.

Even if he did not do all of those things, is this really the case he wants to take to the Supreme Court?

Flag this comment

Alexander
Jul 22, 2009 9:00 AM CST

Yes this case does have to go to the Supreme Court, though if you have read what he wants i n other news, its basically an apology, Read more learn more.

That said, if a person can’t be safe inside their home then do we all now have to live like the rich behind gated fences where no one can see anything that is going on. Considering the area where the police work, I can’t see much crime but I also can’t see many people that are not pasty white either.

The only mistake here was he was not an attorney, and yes I have been witness to attorney shouting at cops not for long but normal human interactions when strange things happen, not one word from the cops, they now better, my take is the cop figure this guy was a no one and though it will be another routine trump up charge of my skin is to sensitive for a old man who raised his voice to me.

Cops are not machines they are humans and many carry lots of issues with them, and other went in for the wrong reasons.

Flag this comment

AndytheLawyer
Jul 22, 2009 9:19 AM CST

I look forward to Prof. Gates’ complaints the next time the cops respond to a report about a break-in at his house with: “Oh, it’s just the owner. He really needs a keychain linked to his belt.”

Flag this comment

Anon
Jul 22, 2009 10:13 AM CST

And Prof. Gates doesn’t have issues himself?

I am glad they dropped the charges. The cops should never have arrested what seems to have been a tired frustrated old guy with issues just for mouthing off at them while they were responding to a legitimate call. People get tense when cops show up. They should know how to defuse situations like these.

But that being said, provoking the cops into arresting you by calling them racist (among probably other things) makes for a poor test case.

Flag this comment

J.D.
Jul 22, 2009 12:20 PM CST

What is this, Day 3 of media coverage for a non-event? Anytime a black person claims racism, the media falls over itself to cover it.

But when a large group of blacks beat up a white family watching a fireworks show, all while yelling, “This is our world! This is a black world!”.....the media is silent.

The father had to watch his family kicked and punched from his wheelchair. Medical bills are over $17,000….. and the media is silent.

Civil Rights

Harvard Scholar Plans Documentary After Arrest for Trying to Break Into Own Home

Comments

Add a Comment

Sponsored Links

Civil Rights

Harvard Scholar Plans Documentary After Arrest for Trying to Break Into Own Home

Related Topics

Comments

Add a Comment

Sponsored Links