Harvard prof, arresting policeman to talk again

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090731/...arvard_scholar

I didn't figure I needed to post more on this story.

As a historian who has taken many African and African American history classes, I am very familiar with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Professionally, I have not always agreed with him especially on his treatment of Africans, because I felt he could be a little elitist in regards to them. But that is a different topic.

I have seen almost all of his PBS specials especially the ones on Africa, but also several of the ones on AFrican American history which IMO is more of his strong point than Africa.

Since he is so famous in the history world, I thought everyone knew him. Apparently not! He is kind of the Michael Jordon of history. He's probably the most famous historian in America. IMO not necessarily the best historian, but certainlly an exceptional one. Above all, he is probably the most recognized face in the world of historians which obviously means most everyone else had no clue who he was until recently.

Since he is so very famous in my profession, I was shocked when he got arrested (imagine Bill Nigh, the Science Guy getting arrested for the same thing.) Historians are usually such a dull bunch. I am one and I am saying my coprofessionals are boring. Although, according to one of my professors, he once saw one historian knock another one out over the cause of WWI. To the vast majority of historians, finding a lost letter by Abraham Lincoln on taxation is their idea of a major heart attack thrill experience.

I feel his behavior made all historians look bad, but not boring though, eh?

Here we have a man who is wealthy, priviledged for most of his life, usually the center of positive attention, revered by colleagues, worshiped by students, and respected by almost everyone who ever met him getting questioned about breaking into his own house. He is used to people pretty much bowing down for him when he passes and here he is getting treated like a regular guy. Obviously, he didn't like it very much and didn't handle it very well. Most people would have handled this differently. Most people aren't the brightest star in the superstars of their profession either. IMO, his biggest outrage was being an unrecognized "celebrity". Because believe me, in the isolated world he travels in, he is.

That's where IMO he went wrong. Welcome to the world of ordinary people Dr. Gates. Of course, now everyone knows him if not respects him.

As for Crowley and his fellow officers--

Obviously they are not big fans of historical documentaries or they would have instantly recognized this guy. Personally, I think age more than race was the problem here. Let's face it, criminals are mostly young people who mean it when they get beligerent, but anyone who has spent considerable time around elderly people knows old people sometimes consider being really cranky and beligerent a sport. I don't think Dr. Gates in anyway meant to harm the officers involved, but most importantly - they did not know he didn't. They don't know who he is and he's getting really mouthy with them. So they treat him like they probably treat all mouthy people and that obviously didn't go so well for them either.

IMO this is all a huge misunderstanding and needs to go away. Dr. Gates needs to wake up. He is not the people who he studies. He is a celebrity, wealthy, respected and a member of the upper crust and he has been almost all of his adult life if not always. He has not suffered the injustices the people he studies have. He is a man of priviledge. Well, Henry, even people of privledge have to show respect to officers of the law including you. It's not a race thing, it's a smart, self protecting thing. We all say, "yes officer" when the police come by our house for whatever reason.

And the police officers could stand to have a little training on how to tell when an older person is just shooting off their mouth and when they are actually a treat.

Too bad, Dr. Gates is such a cranky old man at 58. I hope I am not Miss Grumpy like he is when I am his age.

Re: Harvard prof, arresting policeman to talk again

I have spent a lot of time with his work. He is probably the most recognized, successful historian in America. Definitely among the most well paid, if not the most well paid historian in the US.

Re: Harvard prof, arresting policeman to talk again

I think y'all are beginning to see why I don't care for Dr. Gates. He came off this way to me about 10 years before this incident. He has always seemed like a jerk to me. He did get special treatment. When they took him to the station house, he got to use their phone like it was his personal phone. He got to make lots and lots of phone calls when the average Joe only gets one. I think he summed up his problem when he said, "You don't know who you are messing with." He thought everyone on the planet ought to know him. He was this way in his videos on Africa as well.

Re: Harvard prof, arresting policeman to talk again

I can't help but wonder if Dr. Gates created this whole media circus for the greater glory of Henry Gates. He's a Harvard Don and supposedly the very best in his profession. Some gentleman and a scholar he is. He was no better to the Africans. He didn't yell at them, but he wasn't respectful to them and their ways either.