I just heard Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested in his own home after returning from vacation. Why? A neighbor reportedly saw him on his own front porch, along with his “driver”, trying to force the door open because it was jammed. By the time police arrived, he had entered through the back door, shut off the alarm, and was sitting on the phone to the management company of the home.
A number of things race through my mind as I read this. First of all, it was HENRY LOUIS GATES JR., Harvard Professor, world renowned, author and television special producer!! Did the neighbor not know who lived next door to her?? Did the police officers who demanded ID not know who he was?? Unbelievable!
Second, Henry Gates probably totally lost it. I’m sure he was ticked off and railed on & on at the police officer about what was happening to him. He was probably incredulous himself, being asked for ID and, I’m sure, treated like a criminal. One thing I’ve learned from criminology and also every guest speaker I’ve had from law enforcement to the classroom: Attitude is everything, when talking to the police, or the “po-po” as they say down south. The police officer has the badge, wears the gun, and holds the power to hand cuff you, strip search you and take you into the station. Like it or not, the thing to do is say “Yes sir,” and “Sorry, ma’am,” and “I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding, of course sir, here is my ID.”
But this was Henry Louis Gates Jr. They might as well have been arresting Al Sharpton or even President Barack Obama for breaking and entering into his own home. It was going to be a national issue.
When we lived in downtown Indianapolis, in a gentrifying neighborhood, the neighborhood crime watch was intense. They sent out regular e-mails about break-ins, or suspicious behavior of people walking through. I always found this excessive. We lived downtown. Vagrants are going to be walking down the alley behind our houses. They didn’t have cars. Good to be cautious but not freak out. It was when the leader of these e-mails sent out a warning to watch for 2 men described onlyas “young and black” that I reacted. I wrote back saying this was not enough information, and to please not call the police if they saw a young black man in the area because it might be my son-in-law. This was followed by numerous apologies.
I also cannot help but to remember and honor the memory of Amadou Diallo, the young, West African immigrant who was shot 43 times in the vestibule of his own apartment in downtown New York City, by 4 police officers. He was not displaying any sort of suspicious behavior at all, but was standing there. At the time, the NYC Street Crimes Unit was in effect. This was a police unit allowed to stop & frisk anyone at any time, in certain “high risk” neighborhoods, to look for guns and drugs. You did not have to be doing anything suspicious. You just lived in the wrong place. Amadou died reaching for his wallet, to show the police officers his ID. It became national news. The police officers were acquitted.
Henry Gates was in his own home. If his neighbor had seen a white man in a suit trying to pry the door open, with his black driver standing near, might she have asked him, “Is something wrong, Mr. Gates?” Would she have had a speaking relationship with him, known who he was? Would the police officers have acted with the same suspicion? Would the white professor have been taken downtown in handcuffs? Something tells me, probably not. I think the story would have ended differently.
But this was Henry Louis Gates Jr. And he lost it. Of course he could have just shown his ID (which he finally did) to the officer standing in his living room. He could have thanked the officer for coming and shown the proper deference expected, rather than demand the officer’s name and badge number (which he refused to give Dr. Gates). He could have called the neighbor lady and made friends with her, calling on a higher power to possibly give him the strength to meet her gaze and “love her for the sake of God” alone. The officers could have realized the mistake and shown some deference to Dr. Gates for accusing him of breaking and entering into his own home. They could have done their best to smooth over an awkward situation. But he didn’t. And they didn’t.
And now the whole nation will watch this scenario play out to the bitter end, in all its ferocity. No one will be looking for spiritual principles involved. No one will be attempting true understanding. No one will ever let their guard down to admit their part in the horrible situation. Each side will stand their ground and determinedly fight to WIN their case. And that is life in today’s America.
“”Strive earnestly,” He again exhorts both races, “and put forth your greatest endeavor toward the accomplishment of this fellowship and the cementing of this bond of brotherhood between you. Such an attainment is not possible without will and effort on the part of each; from one, expressions of gratitude and appreciation; from the other, kindliness and recognition of equality. Each one should endeavor to develop and assist the other toward mutual advancement…. Love and unity will be fostered between you, thereby bringing about the oneness of mankind. For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white will be an assurance of the world’s peace.””
(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 37)
”The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbour. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behoveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.’”
(Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 36)
”So they (members) must confer and consult in such a way that neither disagreement nor abhorrence may occur. When meeting for consultation, each must use perfect liberty in stating his views and unveiling the proof of his demonstration. If another contradicts him, he must not become excited because if there be no investigation or verification of questions and matters, the agreeable view will not be discovered neither understood. The brilliant light which comes from the collision of thoughts is the “lightener” of facts.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 406)