I have been trying to avoid this but it's starting to bug the heck out of me. The arrest of the prominent professor by a white man. At first President Obama called the popo stupid for arresting him in his home and now he's turning his opinion around to soothe the issue because white people r getting than panties bunched up over this. Look I don't care what happened with the verbal exchange between the professor and officer all I know is that this white man did not want to be talked to in an authoritive form from a black man. When he saw a black man taking control of the situation he freaked out, got upset and wanted to show him that he is still in control and he must do what he said not the other way around.
I can't tell you the countless time's i have heard of and saw white men not only cursing, hollaring, hitting but also escaping the popo and nothing done to them or their family members, neighbors and friends. There's a video below that shows this. Now imagine you're a black man that has grown to the status of professor gates. You're financially secure, your kids are no where near the ghetto you have been given high accolades from everywhere and you are a tenured professor at a prestigious school. You are aware of what black men go through but you've reached a level that should cushion you from all of that. You return home only to find your front door jammed. You are able to enter through the back disable the alarm and now u try to get the front door unjammed. As you are talking to the managment company the popo knock on ur door and place u under the suspicion of a burgler.
As a person, black white whatever, I would be a little upset if I explained to the officer what happened and he still wanted me to produce evidence. If after I produced that evidence I asked for his name and badge number and he didn't give it to me I would probably become more upset. This is my home no alarm went off and he's going on hearsay. Now we bring in the american dynamic of race. To be friendly towards blacks does not mean that white people or black people cannot have a subconcious level of distrust or distaste for black people. I truly believe that though this officer has given cpr to black people he was set off guard by this black person demanding control over this situation. And God forbid he did it with an elevated voice. This man instantly saw him as a threat to his authority and his manhood (a white man should never be outstaged by a black man). Look at the video below and imagine this being a black man do u think he would have made it at the end?
Any wonder that when Black Folks sees white police officers coming they run? That being said, maybe the Professor was tired and cranky after his long trip and just wanted to go get some rest and here comes the Police!! The reason why it's getting so much traction is because it has happened time and time again to Black Folks. If some one has ever heard of this happening to a white person please let us know or see it. This society is still so divided. Whites thinks we are making a big deal out of nothing and blacks of course thinks it's a big deal because it continues to be a problem. Note to the professor don't talk back to a cop. He is in charge, he has the gun and at that moment the power. LET'S MOVE ON NOW, IT'S OVER!! I AM TIRED OF IT!!
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 2:19PM
Thelma Davidson
..."This never should've happened and the press should not be raising a stink about President Obama's reaction"...
So True Sister Mwannesi!! I was very livid about the incidence that occured with Prof. Gates as many other people were too both White, Black, & Brown. I want to say that I don't think that in 2009 that we are where we need to be, but I'm thankful to God that we aren't where we used to be. With that said, I think the media is partly to blame for "attempting" to trip the President up with "Race". After President Obama made his comments, there was a entire media circus over a few sentences so much so that it took all the attention off talks about Univ. Health Care Reform. As far as I know, President Obama didn't apologize although the American Press was the group of people who first started calling for the apology with their "Race Baiting" & President Obama nipped the situation in the bud which was a wise thing to do. The entire Cambridge police department needs to offer Prof. Gates an apology.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 7:43PM
Jen Fad
