Its very obvious that there was a misunderstanding with the neighbor, and being that Boston is known for its "stiff" population (not to say that everybody there is stuffy), people who hold that type of mentality are less likely to admit their mistake.

I'm sure both sides got a bit riled up, HLG due to the fact he was being interrogated apologetically on his own property, and the police for being called for no reason.

However, whether it be racism or not, there should be a full on investigation on the neighbor to see if were any prior issues in which the neighbor would have been inclined to call the police, falsifying a report to create a tumultuous situation for Gates.

Also, there should be some sort of investigation into the police department, because if there was any hostility on their part, or refusal to turn over names and badge numbers, that is unconstitutional and there should be some sort of punitive action taken towards those officers.

But yes, on the part of the neighbor, and potentially on the actions of the police (depending on the events - I was not present, therefore I cannot give an accurate assessment), I feel that there could as well been some sort of inherent racism (or simple stereotyping) that aided in the decision-making of both parties.

@lady chaos. i agree. and boston's has a reputation for being as racist as that town in mississippi with segregated proms. while i can conclude we don't know all the facts (because i don't believe that police report for a minute) there was obviously a mistake made on the part of the police, because they ended up arresting a man in his own home for disorderly conduct, a charge that was so frivolous it was immediately dropped. if the responding officer refused to give his badge number, he needs to be reprimanded. the neighbor should be checked out as well. this kind of bulls**t needs to be accounted for so it can stop.

and i agree with lawerence bobo that post-racial society is a fantasy that's being used to lull people into complacency and away from being alert and aware, virulently racist and bigoted is the reality of american life.

I agree with the police report seeming shady. I just can not see this man screaming about the police officer's mother. I have seen falsified police reports and this seems like it may have been fudged a bit to cover the cop's a$$. Both of the parties could have handled it better but arresting a man in his home for disorderly conduct seems like you are pushing a grudge

I don't agree with the immediate jump to accuse the neighbor of racism. Gates himself admitted that he was banging his shoulder into the door. I am a white woman and my former neighbor once called the police because I had lost my keys and it looked to a bystander like I was breaking in. I as grateful that they called. In my opinion, the woman in no way falsified a police report. And, that is based on what I've heard from both Gates and the police. She called and said that it looked like there were two men trying to break into the house next to hers. Even Gates admitted that it could have easily looked like he was trying to break in.

Symphonee, I agree that the police report could be embellished. I think the truth lies somewhere in between Gates' story and the story given by the police.

I don't know about racism, but I do believe there was probably some stereotyping involved on the part of whoever made the 911 call. Our neighborhood isn't terribly cohesive (we don't personally know most of our neighbors or have block parties or anything like that), but we do at least know who our immediate neighbors are and what the family members that stay in their residences look like. It's a bit sad if you don't at least know what your neighbors look like, even if you don't know who they are. Everyone also has alarm systems around here, so if someone is actually breaking in, you will hear it from 3 blocks over.

I do agree with the quote. Of course America isn't "post-racial". That would mean that we've moved beyond the need for race (as it's been defined and used the past few centuries) as a category. But as long as race is a part of how we define ourselves and how others define us, we cannot be "post-racial". That's a VERY long road that I personally don't ever see coming to an end.

I live in Boston. I expected a liberal, open-minded vibe here, and it's nothing like that at all. There is so much snobbery, it wears you down on a daily basis. It's also the most over-policed area I've ever lived.

My sympathies are 100 percent with the professor. There is nothing post-racial about America. I think that he made a comment, and the cop decided to show him who was the bigger man and took him off to jail.

This happened in daylight...If this sh*t happened at night there would be a body count!

This guy is so wrong for lashing out at the police. Using the race is even more wrong. The police where at his house to protect it. He should be thanking them for getting there so fast.
If he didn't freak out he would never been arrested. Cops don't care what color the guy is. If they did they wouldn't have even showed up. This guy is a little weezle that is using his status to have a temper tantrum. UGG this kind of crap piss's me off so bad as a black man. This snobby Harvard professor thinks he should be treated different than everyone. Its not that he's black he;s mad because he wasn't treated special. He should watch a video I just watched at http://obamavideonews.com Even Obama said that we as Black folks need to stop making excesses.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr is sitting on Marthas Vineyard in his million dollar home thinking about how to make money off this and saying he's doing it for future generations. He is so full of BS
There I'm done.

For everyone who is saying Boston is a racist city, you need to come visit for yourself. @ Sloane220, you're wrong. I was not segregated from my white peers at my prom. There are a ton of mix couples here.

This incident happen in Cambridge which is one of the most open minded, liberal, diverse cities in Massachusetts. The gentleman who is yelling "racial profiling" is completely over reacting. The cop was called for a b+e in progress and was doing his job by asking for ID. If a cop came to my house and said they was a call for b+e and he needed to see my ID for proof of residency, I would give him my ID without any issues. The gentleman was screaming at the cop.

I have no sympathy for this guy. The cop was doing his job. This man deserves no publicity at all! Please look into the story before making judgement.

It's the police training and procedures that makes police officer ask the home owner to step outside their home, and that it's not understandable to the average citizen, it happened to me and I was and still upset about it, police officers should use some common sense and understand who to deal with incessant people, all their training is how to deal with criminals, they have to understand that some times the neighbors call the police by mistake, and it can not be something criminal about every call they answer.
in my case the North Hollywood, California on 06/26/2009 committed a crime in my opinion because 2 police officer one at the time tried to get my wife and children to say that I committed violance against them, they spent 40 minutes trying to get my wife and kids to lie so they can make arrest and take a father away from his children

They want you to come outside because they don't have a WARRANT to come in!

Stepping back for a moment . . . . my feeling is that the concept of racial profiling should be used with great caution and my reason for feeling that way is because it is, at its base, a version of an ethically-neutral function our brain carries out many times a day and that function is generalization. Generalization helps us "size up" a situation rather quickly with a limited amount of information. It compares new information with old information quickly and appears to be an evolutionary survival skill. It isn't always correct - as when I see a snake across my hiking trail that turns out to be a root, cleverly disguised to look like a snake. It is very sensitive to things or situations that are "different". My problem with professor Gates in this incident is that I think someone as educated as he is should have been aware of this tidbit of evolutionary psychology, given the policeman the benefit of the doubt (he probably doesn't have the education Gates does), and taken the high road. He could have "chosen his attitude" (Frankl) and behaved like a MLKing or Nelson Mandella but he didn't. Instead, he "profiled" the police officer. There is a childish naivete implicit in much liberal presumptions and that is that the human organism is subject to limitless perfectibility. No so. When all is said and done the "selfish gene" will still drive us and altruism and cooperation will still select for survival . . and "generalization" will still be a tool used every day. How much better it would be if we could understand these things about each other and conduct ourselves accordingly.

This was not a case of racial profiling. The cops are going to arrest you if you start screaming and yelling. I don't care what color you are. And chances are if he had calmly explained himself this never would have escalated. I am so SICK of people using the race card. Sick sick sick. I would be grateful if someone saw me trying to break into my house because what if it wasn't me? It's not like they called the cops because he was black. It's not the cops fault that they were called. I have heard other reports since this morning that suggest he was NOT merely asking for the officer's badge number. And excuse me but if you are a "professor" why are you using phrases like "Ain't nothing post-racial about the United States of America." Ain't nothing? Excuse me?

Amanda-La, you are tired of the race card as I am tired of your race card projected upon myself and other groups of color on a daily basis. Why is it that when discussing race, some individuals (majority of the time white) proclaim that they are sick of the "race card" as a means to deflect the conversation off themselves unto others? As I've mentioned before, why do they not tire of this said card when they benefit from a full deck?

Also, Amanda, the "ain't" in the phrasing was used for verbal ironic emphasis. Of course, you wouldn't expect a professor to use the word; thus, the reasoning for using it. Clearly, his usage was lost on you.

Carry on.

Honeybrown, Honeybrown...

Racism in the USA ? Of course there is. The question is are things improving? For those indenial about the facts of racism in our society, they are either very sheltered or liars.I am a white male over 50 so I hear what many say in private and many times it is not so nice. So stop the BS because the first step to correct a problem is too see the problem

I know, GKitty, I know!

Pmurph, I love you.

ick get off my back "honeybrown" you have no idea where I'm from and what issues with race I have dealt with. Don't assume that I'm some priveliged white person who has never dealt with race issues. I love how I can't be white and discuss race. You want racism. Your comment to mine is racism. You're assuming things about me because of my race. And the no, the usage was NOT lost on me.

Where did I say you can't discuss the topic of race? How was racism implied in my statement? So, I am on your back because I am responding to your post? What a cop-out.

Deal with the words you've used. Privilege doesn't equate solely to financial gain. It can also equate to race. When you use common statements of those who are naive about race, the assumptions are often correct. You pulled the obvious "race card" statement that many people have heard and dealt with on a daily basis. It's old meme.

One more thing, the usage was lost on you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have said the following:

"And excuse me but if you are a "professor" why are you using phrases like "Ain't nothing post-racial about the United States of America." Ain't nothing? Excuse me?"

The real deal is that the Cop needed proof that a Black man lived in THAT neighborhood.

And that there BE somthing to worry a white man.

"The real deal is that the Cop needed proof that a Black man lived in THAT neighborhood. "... in THAT house where someone reported a possible break-in. I'm still not sure what you think the cops should have done instead. Should they have not gone to the house to check things out and verify that the person inside isn't an intruder?

Just for you: BLACK PEOPLE DONOT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, so YOU don't belong here because your not only black, your old too.

Chouette, after they asked his ID (which they provided), they should've left. They refused to acknowledge what he gave them.

It's not uncommon for some police officers to try to prove which people belong to what neighborhood. Hell, I asked in my own neighborhood (which is affluent) whether or not I belong here.

He just got in from China, he had a passport, too.

Chouette and HoneyBrown, I understand what both of you are saying. Chouette, I definitely agree that the police were right to ask Gates for his id to begin with. I also don't see how that in any way indicates that the police were acting in a racist manner. It was responsible of them to (initially) ask for Gates' id. HoneyBrown, I also agree with your point that they should've left after Gates showed them his id.

I volunteered in a predominantly black neighborhood almost daily in college and I was constantly asked if I was lost/looked at like I didn't belong there.

Lilkimbo, but the tone is more likely to be one of concern about your "safety" than about if you were worthy of being there.

I'll tell you this Honey, back in the day my brother and I went a disco in Hollywood, My brother who can pass for white got in with his drivers license. Yours truly was asked for a second ID, My brother told the bouncer I was his sister and they promptly put both our @$$ out!!!

What? That's crazy.

I used to shop Nordstrom's in the Brea Mall until I was actually followed by a salesclerk. Here I am making triple of than what she'll ever see in a hour and I was followed! The funny thing is I wondered if she noticed the cute freckled face brunette placing the Juicy Couture tank top in her bag! What a costly mistake.

I guess we could start our own blog on Life In America/Being Black...I get called a Mexican a lot too!

Haha I get the "You Can't be Black" statement A LOT!

I really think this man played his RACE card for who knows what,if he was honest about whatever this never would have have happened

The whole heard of ya are too busy with BLACK and WHITE to notice that OUR young men are dying overseas,that my neighbor can't find work.

@bostongirl- please make sure you comprehend what you're reading before you comment on it. i said boston was as racist AS the town in mississippi with segregated proms. i in NO WAY said the boston had (legally sanctioned) segregated proms. but the city is segregated by race and has a reputation for being racist. and LMAO why would you ASSume i've NEVER been to boston. first of all i live in nyc, boston although it's cold armpit of the universe is only 4 hours away, and my cousin just graduated from school in boston. I USED TO GO THERE A LOT. my cousin, who used to LIVE there, the same as you do, so i guess her opinion is as valid as yours, says the city is racist and has heard stories of racism from hostesses and waiters refusing to seat and serve blacks in an reasonable amount of time to having to show 2 or three i.d.s to get into clubs, to the police racially profiling black people while walking, driving, and shopping. and the gentleman you're talking about showed his i.d. and the cops STILL wouldn't leave. what other explanation do you have for that BESIDES racism. you wouldn't be angry and maybe belligerant? especially if you and your family members and friends have gone through CONSTANTLY issues like this with the police and being suspected of committing a crime for no reason other than the color of your skin? please.

oh and p.s. and don't ASSume that nobody looked into the story but you.

@amanda-la- number 1. when you use inflammatory statements mocking racism like black people are imagining it like "I am so SICK of people using the race card. Sick sick sick." on a public forum, people are going to come for you, okay? and they're going to come with something EDUCATED to say to counteract your ignorance. don't get mad at honeybrown19 for being intelligent. and what professor gates did was calmly show his goddammed i.d.. when the cops STILL wouldn't leave, he surmised it was because he was black and he was probably right. that's when he got angry, made the statement "why? is it because i'm black in america? and began getting verbally belligerant with the cops. and he had every right to because he was in his own goddamned house. he can scream and yell all he wants to he's in his own house and JUST PROVED IT. at that point the keystone cops should have gotten a clue and LEFT. NOT ARRESTED HIM FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN HIS OWN HOUSE. because what f***ing robber is going to show his i.d. and argue with you about living there? a real criminal would have freaking RAN. and these idiotic cops know it. this is all the fault of the police. and he and every other american has every RIGHT to ask the police for an i.d. and badge number. yea, all of your commentary pretty much shows that not a white person who isn't at all aware of your white privilege. sorry, you told on your yourself. don't get mad at somebody holding up a mirror.

Love how you don't post comments that you don't like. I spent 20 minutes posting here and nothing. Probably because I said this guy is wrong and the cop was only protecting his property.

wasnt racial profiling
wasnt racist at all
the cops werent wrong
Gates wasnt wrong
circumstances got out of control.

HoneyBrown, you'd be surprised. A lot of people had the tone that I didn't belong there. You're right, though, some were concerned about my safety, but it certainly wasn't a vast majority.

On a complete side note, that's horrible what the clerk did to you, but you'd be surprised at what people in retail make, especially at Nordstrom!

When Prof. Gates was "arrested" he was not read his Miranda rights. As I said before, when he stepped outside he lost his rights.

Everybody is going round and round on here. There are some people who repeatedly refuse to see that the world is not roses and racism happens more than just once a month to one token minority. Both parties in this situation could have been the bigger person but it still stands to reason that the facts do not add up in the COP'S favor.

- He was ID'ed by the Harvard police as well as the ID that he eventually gave.

- Prof. Gates was dealing with a lung infection at the time and was unable to yell at anyone.

- He was arrested without his Miranda rights being read to him

I call them like I see them. Every time something happens to a minority does not mean that race is at play. In this instance, I don't think it was but I do think that instead of walking away from a agitated homeowner who had been falsely accused of B&E, the cop went on a power trip plain and simple.

We agree that all of the above is wrong. This officer has experience and just thought for a moment thet this PERSON did not matter, and proceeded to violate all this PERSON'S rights...Is that BETTER FOR YOU?

Where did you all read that he was not properly mirandized? I'm not disagreeing, I just haven't seen that anywhere.

On a side note, I read Bobo's piece and he keeps referring to how famous and well-known Gates is. I don't doubt that he's very well-known in the academic world, but I had never heard of him before this incident. Had anyone else?

I was on the View, and B. Walter's and Woopie brought it up when discussing Obama's statement on this matter. They also didn't like the word Stupidly.

Thanks, GKitty! I'll have to try to find some video footage of it. I'm sure they have some on their website or I can find it on YouTube.

Also, Pro Gate is a world scholar, I for one have looked up to him for many years because of his genealogy work for descendant of slaves...to help us find out where we came from.

The police only have to read you your Miranda rights if they plan to interrogate you while in police custody. From what I have read about his arrest, it sounds like they just booked him at the station and released him on $40 bail and didn't question him at all (asking basic identifying information is not considered interrogation), so I don't see why he would have needed to be Mirandized when he was arrested.

I can't stand unsupervised children...where's yo MOMMA?