My Thoughts On Gates-Gates

I know this blog is meant for films, but I feel the need to express my feelings whenever there is a national debate going on that involves race. 

The arrest of Henry Louis Gates has gotten a significant amount of media attention, almost more than Healthcare in the past two weeks. Before I say what I need to about the incident, here is the list of events and fallout of events that lead us to where we are today. Look closely to see if you find any disturbing trends.

THE EVENTS:

July 16th, 2009: The Cambridge Police are called regarding a house break in a predominately white neighborhood. Even though Henry Louis Gates is the owner of the home, he is arrested for disorderly conduct for screaming at the police officer. His charges are dropped. Louis Gates and his supporters claim he is a victim of racial profiling and the Cambridge Police are racist.

Days later: The Cambridge Police and arresting officer, Sgt. James Crowley defend themselves by claiming they were doing their job when they received a call that two black men where breaking into a house and only arrested Gates because he was acting belligerent and inappropriate. Even though the national media question the charge of disorderly conduct on one's own property, many stop blaming Crowley for racial profiling, instead turning their attention onto the white neighbor who called the police in the first place. For not knowing her own neighbors, she is accused of racial profiling and labeled a racist.

July 22nd, 2009 - During a press conference on healthcare, President Obama is asked for his thoughts on the matter. He attempts to use the moment to discuss the disparity of arrests between whites and minorities, and the statistical evidence proving racial profiling exists. After acknowledging he was not informed on all the facts, didn't know what role race played, and was biased due to Gates being a close friend, Obama says the police acted "stupidly".  Obama's remarks cause a media outcry and many including conservatives like Glen Back and Rush Limbaugh label Obama a reverse racist. 

Days Later: Lucia Whalen, the 9-1-1 caller comes forth to defend herself due to being labeled a racist. During a press conference, she announces she never identified the individuals as black, contrary to Sgt. Crowley's report. The 9-1-1 recording is released, backing up her statement. Crowley supporters take this as further evidence race wasn't involved, Gates supporters are crying wolf, and trying to use reverse racism to get attention for their fake claim.

July 28th, 2009: The media reveals a member of the Boston Police Department, Justin Barrett, sent out an email to fellow-members of the Massachusetts National Guard and The Boston Globe referring to Gates as a "banana-eating jungle monkey." He is immediately suspended. Many Gates supporters see this as evidence of prejudice in the Boston police department and uses it against those claiming blacks are crying wolf. Barret goes on TV with his lawyer to apologize for the incident and says he is not a racist. Ironically, the email sent out with four references of Gates being a "banana-eating jungle monkey" also states that he is not a racist, despite obvious evidence to prove the contrary. 

July 29th, 2009: Fox News distances themselves from Glen Beck's comments that Obama is a racist and has a deep-seated hatred for whites by issuing a statement saying it doesn't reflect their views. On Hardball with Chris Matthews, Political blogger Joan Walsh accuses Rush Limbaugh & Chris Beck of projecting their racism off on Obama. 

July 30th, 2009: President Obama, Sgt. Crowley, and Professor Gates convene on the White House lawn to discuss their issues. The media terms it the "Beer Summit". Afterward both Crowley and Gates issue statements saying neither man apologized but they have agreed to disagree. 

MY COMMENTS: 

The common denominator in all these incidents pre-dating the beer summit, is someone calling someone else a racist or a reverse racist. In a country prided on being a melting pot, it's amazing how we refuse to take each other's views into perspective. This is the same problem that created the Arab-Isreali conflict, and Americans are not learning the lessons it's taught us. 

Racial Profiling exists, and being a person of color myself, I can support that claim with my experiences along with any other person of color in America. White People don't see it as a problem, because physically, they can't experience it. 

White People need to be sensitive to the issue, and understand it's something they can't see because it's something they can't physically experience. Black people need to be sensitive to the fact white people will never be able to fully understand racial profiling the way we do, and be patient and cooperative in supporting them with evidence and solutions. Black people also need to stop jumping the gun with the race card. When it doesn't apply, it does more damage than good. White People need to stop generalizing. Just because this wasn't a case of racial profiling, doesn't mean racial profiling doesn't exist.

And everyone needs to stop calling each other names. The terms "racist" and "reverse racist" only divide people and stop them from having meaningful discussions. The terms have been tossed around so much, few people really understand what they mean anymore and those being accused of it spend their energy defending themselves instead of discussing.  Meaningful discussions on varying perspectives is the only way we'll ever solve the race problem in America, and that notion was what the Beer Summit was all about.