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Conservatives and the Gates Affair
I work part time as a pastor at a church near downtown Minneapolis. A few months ago, I went to the church one Saturday evening to do some work. The church has an alarm system and I tried to disarm it with my code only to realize that the code did not work. After some time, I was able to use another person’s code to shut the alarm off. Unfortunately, I was not able to prevent the police from coming to the church.
I came out of my office to see a white cop looking into the church. I came forward and explained the situation to him. He took my ID and went to his squad car for a few minutes. Everything checked out and he joked about not trying to set the alarm and went on his way.
In the back of my mind, I had feared such a situation because I am a black man. I don’t know why I felt that way, but I did. I feared the police would assume that I was breaking into the building. The church has had a history of break-ins and I was worried that the policeman would think I was another thief.
Fortunately, that did not happen. Maybe the cop noticed I casually came out of the office, or that I wasn’t dressed like I was stealing something from a building. Whatever it was, he “profiled” me and judged that I wasn’t a threat.
I share this experience because I think that every black man has had that fear running in the back of their head when they encounter a white policeman. I think it comes from a dark history between the police and the black community. The police have not always been a friend to black males and so I think our antennas go up.
It has been interesting to see how white conservatives have reacted to the whole affair with Henry Louis Gates. For many, he is just one more in a long line of liberal race baiters. Here is what Jules Crittenden had to say on the matter:
It’s getting a little awkward. It turns out Crowley might not be some lunkheaded Irish bigot cop after all. It’s looking like he might be the kind of white cop … if it is actually permissible for white men to be cops in post-racial America … that Gates, Obama, etal, might consider a paragon, an example for all.
I hate to moralize, but this is the kind of thing that happens when you make snap judgments and start busting heads and taking names based on nothing more that racial prejudice. Turns out that when you judge people by the color of their skin, great injustices can result.
Crittenden then goes into a long spiel about the struggles that white men must face because of affirmative action. He talks about the past history of racism, but like a lot of white conservatives, seems to think that it is just something in the past. If a black man complains about how they were treated, well they surely must be lying.
Now, I think what happened between Mr. Gates and Sgt. Crowley is not clear cut as I thought it once was. Crowley isn’t some bigoted cop. But I also know that, like Professor Gates, I would also be a bit apprehensive around a white cop because I don’t know how things will transpire. It’s an automatic reflex based on history. Yes, it might be the result of an overactive imagination, but it has its basis in a reality where black men have been mistreated simply because they were black.
I may disagree with President Obama on many things, but I can understand why his first reaction concerning the whole incident was one of saying the policy “acted stupidly.” He was responding from a visceral feeling that I think is in the hearts of many of black man: that some policeman is going go overboard on them because of their race.
Maybe it was the wrong thing to say. But I can understand why he said it.
But all that has been lost on some conservatives and policemen. Here is what retired NYPD cop Bob Weir had to say:
If anyone is a racist in this confrontation, it is this obstreperous professor who evidently feels that his lofty academic status and his friendship with Obama not only put him above the law, but give him a platform to inject “color” into every situation. Make no mistake about it, if Crowley were black and followed the same protocol, Gates would have recognized that there was no opportunity for a public spectacle, so he would have behaved properly.
Speaking of behavior, President Obama showed his own lack of class and judgment when he said the Cambridge PD “acted stupidly.” To make such a sweeping statement of condemnation after admitting that he didn’t “know all the facts,” is beneath the dignity of his high office.
What is disturbing here is that not only is Gates tagged as a racist, but the President is accused of not having all the facts when, in fact, Mr. Weir as well as Mr. Crittenden and others also don’t have the facts. We have two stories about the incident and both sides rush to believe that their side is the true one.
But in reality we don’t know the facts at all. That will come in time, but people are rushing to fill in the blanks.
I have long believed that liberals tend to be too sensitive on racial issues, to the point that no one can talk about them or they become excuses for people of color to indulge in victimhood. But I also think that conservatives tend to be too dull to the experience of blacks in America and the scars that we still carry with us concerning the legacy of racism. White conservatives want to believe that this was all done a long time ago and that we African Americans should just move on. But the fact is, those scars take a long time to heal.
In short, white conservatives want us to “get over it.” Maybe in time we will, but it isn’t that easy. You can’t just undo 400 years of history in a few decades.
My fellow conservatives might think I’m just whining when I share my fears concerning white cops, but they are real for me just as they might have been for Mr. Gates and millions of other African American men. I wish for a moment that they could understand that.
Crossposted at the Progressive Republican
19 Responses to “Conservatives and the Gates Affair”
And while Obama was quick to rush to the assumption the police were racially profiling Gates, this also showed Obama had profiled the police. At least he came out and did the right thing by saying he shouldn't have said what he did. I will give him credit for that.
So far in his presidency he has done three things I agree with: Getting rid of 3 pirates, buying a dog and apologizing for his initial comment about the Cambridge Police Dept.
Are progressive Republicans calling themselves 'conservatives' now?
In short white conservatives want us to “get over it.” Maybe in time we will, but it isn’t that easy. You can’t just undo 400 years of history in a few decades.
This is exactly the idea I was trying to express in my posts and comments — that this is not just about Yes or No, did this one white cop racially profile this one black man — it's about the screwed-up history of encounters between black men and women, and white law enforcement authorities. This history is real, and it affects almost every encounter between blacks and white police officers even today.
Thank you for writing this post, Dennis. You've written it in such a clear, reasonable way, I don't see how anyone can fail to understand if they read it in good faith.
So what are white folks supposed to do? Understand, sympathise even, but excuse improper behavior? I don't think that helps. What do we do after we understand? Because it will never be enough. We who are not racist and have never been (yes there are some white people who are not racist) should what, apologize? Think about it though, if someone white is worried of someone black they are automatically a racist. If someone black is worried about someone white then…………..
Come down as hard as you want when someone acts racist but pulling that card out for BS weakens it for every time it's true.
And here's a shocker white people get nervous when dealing with police also.
What seems to be missing here is a simple fact. The policeman was going there to protect Mr. Gates and his property. A white cop going to a black mans house, willing to rish his own life if necessary to protect him, and his property. He was responding to a breaking and entry call with two men. Mr. Gates is just one person. From the police perspective arriving at the house, he doesn't know whats going on. Even if Gates has proper ID, it bears further investigation given the circumstances. What, for instance, if he was estranged from his wife, and he was going there to harm her? What if the two men were actually in the house and holding a gun on Gates? When the police officer asked Gates if there was anybody else in the house he replied “none of your business”. Well, actually it is his business right now to make sure everything is as it should be. He was asked to “behave” several times and he refused, and the time pulling the race card on this officer. If Mr. Gates would have just stopped trying to be a victim, and realized that the officer was there to help and protect him, this would have gone down differently. He should have thanked him for being there and just cooperate a little, the realtionship between citizen and police would have respectful. When you act like Mr. Gates did, you just create your own problems.
Contempt of cop is a crime in America.
I would suggest that white liberal progressives watch programs such as Parking Wars on A&E. To believe that if white employees or even black employees say the right thing or behavior in a proper matter that blacks will not be abusive is incorrect and goes against reality.
What part of 400 years of oppression makes blacks in Philadelphia violate parking regulations, abuse traffic police and blatantly lie in front of the cameras while trying to resolve parking violations?
It's not the 400 years of oppression. It's the Left's message to today's black people that they have the right to walk around with chips on their shoulders, act insolent and bitter, disrespect authority, and behave in a surly and unfriendly manner around today's white folks–because hey, it's just political revenge for those 400 years. And if white folks are put off by the black folks' insolence, it's because they just don't “understand the history.”
The answer to those 400 years of oppression is reconciliation, not bitterness or revenge. After South Africa ended apartheid, the blacks didn't turn around and slaughter the whites. Had they done so, you can bet that the American Left would have nodded and rationalized it too.
sinz54 said: “It's the Left's message to today's black people that they have the right to walk around with chips on their shoulders, act insolent and bitter, disrespect authority, and behave in a surly and unfriendly manner around today's white folks–because hey, it's just political revenge for those 400 years. And if white folks are put off by the black folks' insolence, it's because they just don't “understand the history.”
Hey fellow black folks, did you receive a letter in the mail from “The Left” with the above message? I'm still waiting on mine. Oh, it never was sent out. That's what I thought…
Per capita, black and Hispanic men are locked up more than white men. That's the numbers. In predominately black urban areas, some black police officers deal with black men in a “bad way” regardless of the situation (seen with my own eyes). So it's not just a white cop thing, it's a cop thing. And it's unfortunate because I feel the same way as Dennis (whatever the race of the police officer). Now does that mean I have a chip on my shoulder? No! No!! NO!!! If I did, I couldn't live life as a happy, well-adjusted adult. A white friend of mine (who's very conservative) has said the same thing to me about the police (how he gets very nervous as well). The ONLY difference between me and him is that I have this nagging thought that my color will get me into more trouble (for lack of a better word). Oh I've gotten much better as years go by, but it's still there.
This fear that myself and other black males only becomes an issue when it rules your life. When you let it flow outwards from you in negative ways. When it “colors” your perspective in everything life throws at you. So I resent deeply when SOME white people call my “cop fear” a chip on my shoulder. It's an issue I deal with but I deal with well.
With all that being said, I still feel that Professor Gates shares more of the blame than Sgt. Crowley. The Good Professor protested too much. I know Sgt. Crowley is a law enforcement professional and should have taken the high road, but Professor Gates is also a professional and law abiding citizen. He should have respected the sergeant and his job more. But I give President Obama, Professor Gates, and Sgt. Crowley their due. They are going to meet to diffuse. And that's what adults should do. Don't we tell our children that?
Hey if it was some cracker in a trailer park his ass would of been arrested before Gates.
What? Does no one have a “crazy uncle” somehwere, living in some old house with a mean dog and a shotgun, ready to cuss out any authority figure who dares set foot on his land without an invitation?
See, that's what I think this conversation is missing. We've ALL seen or heard about people who really, really dislike the police. Why is ranting and raging an offense under the lovely, green flora of Cambridge, MA, but not in the harsh desert sands of Teledeo, AZ?
There are facts here which some simply don't want to acknowledge–and I wish they would because, as a relatively open-minded person, I'd like to hear their take on those facts. Indeed, many of the same people who think the “stupid” comment was stupid would themselves rant and rave if someone “attacked” them for what they said or shouted or wrote on a poster or whatever. They'd be screaming, “First Amendment! First Amendment!” all the way to the county court steps.
So I'd love to hear a response to that here: Why, in his own home–and after being ASKED to step outside onto his porch–do Dr. Gates' First Amendment rights NOT apply in this case? What, exactly, as far as you know, caused his behavior to be disorderly conduct?
Come on now, folks. Someone respond to this. I want to know how you get there.
EEllis said: “Hey if it was some cracker in a trailer park his ass would of been arrested before Gates.”
Ya got that right. LOL!
Thanks for sharing this, Dennis. I also really appreciate T-Steel's. If you haven't read it yet, jimi izrael's column on The Root is also a good take on the situation:
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/skips-gates-arrest…
Thanks for sharing this, Dennis. I also really appreciate T-Steel's. If you haven't read it yet, jimi izrael's column on The Root is also a good take on the situation:
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/skips-gates-arrest…
Thanks for sharing this, Dennis. I also really appreciate T-Steel's. If you haven't read it yet, jimi izrael's column on The Root is also a good take on the situation:
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/skips-gates-arrest…
Thanks Jill, thanks Jill, thanks Jill
(Just kidding…have done so myself, perhaps not in triplicate)
I will go to the site you recommend
Have a great weekend.
Dennis, great post. Thanks you
Dorian
Dr. Gates has a First Amendment right to say what he will, but he does not have a right to verbally harass a police officer, and he does not have the right to go screaming and disturbing the peace. If he had simply kept his views to himself, or at least not screamed them, and had not continued to do so after being warned three times to stop, The First Amendment does not allow you to express your views in every forum, at any volume you wish. You cannot use your rights to harass, nor can you refuse to obey a lawful order. This was a lawful order to stop his expression because he was disturbing the peace by screaming and yelling.
The Gates affair has been pretty much a total disaster for Obama. He racially profiled the police without knowing the facts. He played favorites with his friend, assumed the worst from law enforcement, and failed to issue a proper apology when it became apparent he was totally off base (The black policeman on the scene backing Crowley's account nailed the coffin shut). He will continue to suffer from this for a while and it won't disappear until he issues a true apology acknowleding that HE was wrong and HE is sorry. Having not done so yet has only made things worse and his ego has become a target once again.
PJPBFan, you need to do some simple homework since you have MAJOR facts wrong. Read Crowley's report and then read the First Amendment. Gates started acted out (can't say screaming now because the 911 tape brings even that into question) WHILE HE AND CROWLEY WERE IN HIS KITCHEN, not on his porch. You cannot “disturb the peace” in your own home and you have a right to say anything you want to anyone you want in this country, as long as it doesn't insite violence. As one talking head pointed out today on TV, you wanna tell the world just WHO IT WAS whom Gates was “inciting” by insulting a cop who was in his home? IN HIS HOME!!! Now, as you'd see in the report, Crowley asked Gates to step outside. Some belief the officer specifically made that request in order to arrest Gates. There's no proof of that, so I'm not going to harp on it. However, the question is WHY Crowley made that request. AGAIN, in his report, he admits that BEFORE he asked Gates to step outside, he (Crowley) was satisfied about Gates' identity. So, PJBFan, you wanna explain why Crowley didn't just apologize for disturbing Gates (EVEN IF Gates had insulted him–again, because you can insult someone all you want to in your own home) and walk away? Of all people, Crowley should know, as a trainer himself, that the police's role is to quiet, not inflame, confrontation. There was no point whatsoever, except EGO, for Crowley to have not just swallowed whatever anger he felt and walked away. NONE.
OK, buddy, after you read the report for yourself (Oh, and while you're at it, note the growing stories about the discrepancies between Crowley's report and the 911 tapes–the man is in trouble, although I wouldn't be surprised if it was covered up.), come back and respond. I challenge you to!