Science Of Small Talk

I'm sorry you try mouthing off to a cop.

Police officers don't take too kindly to snotty attitudes, from anyone. For instance, an officer was recently reprimanded for pulling over an ambulance and threatening to arrest the driver (both officer and driver were White). Be respectful and obey the lawful orders of a peace officer. Just because you are a professor doesn't mean you get to treat a police officer like the receptionist in your office.

Sorry, guys. Don't think I'm off base at all here. The situation never would have even occurred, as no one would've called the police to start with and, if they had, it would've taken me 3 seconds to convince the officer that it was my house.

This wasn't some argument with a police officer at a party or in a public place. He was inside his own house!

Is neither racism nor profiling, it's about an elitist demanding to be treated specially and abuse those he deems beneath him.

This man acted like a juvenile spoiled brat.

He showed contempt for the rule of law and authority.

In an effort to be PC many times you see blogs on this site that just defy any type of common sense or decency.

We know that the good Prof. mouthed off at first refused to come out, started by accusing the officers of racism, challenged him by saying, "You don't know who your dealing with...blah, blah, blah".

I suggest any race, sex or creed you try that when approached by a law enforcement officer....

Let's trying reading.

I believe that profiling and racism does exist.

But for God's sake find a good case and worthy victim to rally around.

You state that these biases are so deeply ingrained and implicit that we use them without our knowledge. You then say that they can be "trained" away. Are you saying that the Cambridge Police are inadequately trained? I think we need a thorough examination of trained police procedure before jumping to conclusions about the way the arresting officer acted under these circumstances. Was he or was he not using standard operating procedures?

It seems you're just as guilty as all the others for writing an article about this situation, given that you have no empirical evidence that the police officer acted outside of standard protocol, or that he wasn't well-"trained" (as you state). As a professor of psychology you should also know that you cannot generalize experimental results gathered predominantly from college student samples to a single individual who certainly is not representative of such a sample (especially if that sample comes from a place like Tufts!). I'm sure you also understand that there are large individual differences in the way that even the most "white bread" people perceive others (i.e., not EVERY participant in the studies you're implicitly citing shows the effects). In other words, to say that this is such an unavoidable bias that it seems a worthy explanation for this scenario seems like a bit of a stretch.

I sincerely hope that if someone were literally breaking into a home that neighbors would call the police. He literally was jimmying his way into the door. I also hope that the responding police would act aggressively against the suspect regardless of race. Cambridge police officers do not have an easy job, they are not psychology professors. Sure they live next to the ivory tower, but they get threatened, shot at, and risk their lives on a daily basis to protect folks like you and me. What indication do the police have upon arrival (i.e., when they see the individual breaking into the home) that this suspected burglar is not carrying a deadly weapon? We also do not know *exactly* how the individual acted once he was inside the home. We do know that he tried to shut the police out (an act of physical aggression when they are responding to a burglary call). He also yelled at them and generally acted aggressively towards the officers. If these accounts are true, regardless of showing his ID, the police would be acting by protocol to arrest the individual.

You state that: White Harvard professors just don’t get charged with disorderly conduct in their own homes. Strange statement given that a review of the police blotter indicates that the police have never been called to a similar incident (someone, regardless of race, breaking into their own home) in the past few years, never mind whether they are a Harvard faculty member. So perhaps the opportunity has never arisen wherein a “white Harvard professor” would get charged with disorderly conduct in their own home. Seems like a straw man. You also state that: And when Black men of less renown are arrested under similar circumstances, we don’t hear about it on the news. Another straw man, given that you have no evidence of similar occurrences. Police blotters are public records, so perhaps you should do some background research before making such statements.
As a black man who lives in Cambridge, it sickens me that the popular press has brought race into the interpretation of this case.

The president's statement about this event were outrageous and unfounded, claiming that the Cambridge police acted “stupidly”- a more appropriate response would be that the police may or may not have acted stupidly, and this determination can only be made after a thorough review of the case details by internal affairs and other qualified agencies.

Don't forget, Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct. It seems the giant chip on his shoulder became a dangerous weapon once he started ranting around.

It sure shows you that the racism in America has radically reduced when the merit of the cases people tout (especially that race-baiting opportunist Al Sharpton) take some giant leaps and stretches to somehow fit into the racism category. The Jena 6, Stanley (Tookie) Williams and other assorted brutes, monsters and murderers have been championed as victims of racism even after having commited quite heinous crimes.

But then again, just look at the giant chips on the shoulders of so many of the black studies scholars to see how fashionable these chips are. Not only that, pointing theses chips out puts you immediately into the racism category. (Or Uncle Tom if you're also black). I think those who are shouting racism the loudest these days are doing so to divert attention from the fact that they are the biggest racists of all.

What a great article. As a grad student studying perception, bias and stereotypes, this truly summed up exactly what I thought when I heard about unfortunate event.

What close-minded comments. Just because you sadly think YOU are not prejudiced (though I bet you are...we all are), don't pretend people with authority are perfect.

I had a similar situation at my residence in suburban northern Virginia. I'm a white female and at the time I was 16. (I'm now 18) I was with some friends (white males) moving band equipment from my house into a car late at night. A concerned neighbor called the cops and they sent 3 police cruisers. They were incredibly polite before AND after I calmly handed them my license and proved that it was, in fact, my own residence.
If they had arrested me after I had shown my I.D. I would have been, needless to say, outraged. Even if I had started yelling or being anything less than polite, after I had shown my I.D. I would expect to be released and certainly not detained further from going into my own home.
I'm sorry to hear that Professor Gates was not treated as he should have been.
It's a wake up call to what still needs to change.

I thought this was a great article.
Krista, as a Psych major, I completely agree.

The writer of this article is nothing but a smug slanderer assuming and using slurs against anyone who "dares" disagree with his assumptions.

We can only speak to facts.

Different Endings -> what's your point? If Prof. Gates acted the way you did he wouldn't have been arrested, if you acted the way he did you most likely would have been...

WOW - open you mind to FACTS.

Read this before you take a second, third handed opinion of a journalist or someone else in power who's heard other hearsay.
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF

The report written by arresting officer, James Crowley:
"On Thursday July 16, 2009, Henry Gates, Jr. - -, of Ware Street, Cambridge, MA) was placed under arrest at Ware Street, after being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior, in a public place, directed at a uniformed police officer who was present investigating a report of a crime in progress. These actions on the behalf of Gates served no legitimate purpose and caused citizens passing by this location to stop and take notice while appearing surprised and alarmed.

...When I arrived at Ware Street I radioed ECC and asked that they have the caller meet me at the front door to this residence. I was told that the caller was already outside. As I was getting this information, I climbed the porch stairs toward the front door. As [reached the door, a female voice called out to me. I looked in the direction of the voice and observed a white female, later identified {} who was standing on the sidewalk in front of the residence, held a wireless telephone in her hand arid told me that it was she who called. She went on to tell me that she observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch of• Ware Street. She told me that her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry. Since I was the only police officer on location and had my back to the front door as I spoke with her, I asked that she wait for other responding officers while I investigated further.

As I turned and faced the door, I could see an older black male standing in the foyer of {} Ware Street. I made this observation through the glass paned front door. As I stood in plain view of this man, later identified as Gates, I asked if he would step out onto the porch and speak with me. He replied “no I will not”. He then demanded to know who I was. I told him that I was “Sgt. Crowley from the Cambridge Police” and that I was “investigating a report of a break in progress” at the residence. While I was making this statement, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed “why, because I’m a black man in America?”. I then asked Gates if there was anyone else in the residence. While yelling, he told me that it was none of my business and accused me of being a racist police officer. I assured Gates that I was responding to a citizen’s call to the Cambridge Police and that the caller was outside as we spoke. Gates seemed to ignore me and picked up a cordless telephone and dialed an unknown telephone number. As he did so, I radioed on channel I that I was off in the residence with someone who appeared to be a resident but very uncooperative. I then overheard Gates asking the person on the other end of his telephone call to “get the chief’ and “whats the chiefs name?’. Gates was telling the person on the other end of the call that he was dealing with a racist police officer in his home. Gates then turned to me and told me that I had no idea who I was “messing” with and that I had not heard the last of it. While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence, I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me. I asked Gates to provide me with photo identification so that I could verify that he resided at Ware Street and so that I could radio my findings to ECC. Gates initially refused, demanding that I show him identification but then did supply me with a Harvard University identification card. Upon learning that Gates was affiliated with Harvard, I radioed and requested the presence of the Harvard University Police.

With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings to ECC on channel two and prepared to leave. Gates again asked for my name which I began to provide. Gates began to yell over my spoken words by accusing me of being a racist police officer and leveling threats that he wasn’t someone to mess with. At some point during this exchange, I became aware that Off. Carlos Figueroa was standing behind me. When Gates asked a third time for my name, I explained to him that I had provided it at his request two separate times. Gates continued to yell at me. I told Gates that I was leaving his residence and that if he had any other questions regarding the matter, I would speak with him outside of the residence.

As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates agai,n demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and foyer were making it difficult for me to transmit pertinent information to ECC or other responding units. His reply was “ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside”. When I left the residence, I noted that there were several Cambridge and Harvard University police officers assembled on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Additionally, the caller, md at least seven unidentified passers-by were looking in the direction of Gates, who had followed me outside of the residence.

As I descended the stairs to the sidewalk, Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him. Due to the tumultuous manner Gates had exhibited in his residence as well as his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence, in view of the public, I warned Gates that he was becoming disorderly. Gates ignored my warning and continued to yell, which drew the attention of both the police officers and citizens, who appeared surprised and alarmed by Gates’s outburst. For a second time I warned Gates to calm down while I withdrew my department issued handcuffs from their carrying case. Gates again ignored my warning and continued to yell at me. It was at this time that I informed Gates that he was under arrest. I then stepped up the stairs, onto the porch and attempted to place handcuffs on Gates. Gates initially resisted my attempt to handcuff him, yelling that he was “disabled” and would fall without his cane. After the handcuffs were property applied, Gates complained that they were too tight. I ordered Off. Ivey, who was among the responding officers, to handcuff Gates with his arms in front of him for his comfort while I secured a cane for Gates from within the residence. I then asked Gates if he would like an officer to take possession of his house key and secure his front door, which he left wide open. Gates told me that the door was un securable due to a previous break attempt at the residence. Shortly thereafter, a Harvard University maintenance person arrived on scene and appeared familiar with Gates. I asked Gates if he was comfortable with this Harvard University maintenance person securing his residence. He told me that he was."

I think in this case the one screaming racism is the racist.

I think the incident will show that a rich person who doesn't want to follow the directions of a police officer is treated much more tenderly than a poor person, regardless of color, who employs the same behavior. If a trailer park resident displayed this kind of behavior, he or she would be residing in the county lockup awaiting bail.

It's not race, it's class. And some people don't have any.

This professor, from what I have seen, has always had a chip on his shoulder towards white people. He would love to make the slavery issue TOTALLY the white peoples’ burden; and ignor the historical fact, that it was, and is, the black African culture that initially and PRIMARILY cultivated the racially organized slavery era. The blacks basically did it to themselves (just look at how they’re into ‘personality’ and ‘idol’ worship). But “the good professor” could never admit to that; otherwise how could he continue his ‘upperly mobile’ lifestyle… The proud ancestor of a house bleep-er.

I grew up on military bases in the 80s and 90s. My father was an officer in the Army. I also happen to be Black. From Ft. Sam Houston, Texas to Ft. Lee, Virginia I was stopped over 50 times by Military Policeman beginning at the age of 13.

I was never arrested and never stopped due to some misdeed on my part or someone in my company. I learned early on that it was my skin color. I had plenty of experiences where I would be walking with my friends, who were white, and the M.P.s would stop us and ask for my I.D. and my I.D. alone. The first time this happened I was the only kid whose dad was an officer. The rest of my friends father's were Non-commissioned officers.

Interpretations will differ, but the ultimate event will remain the same.

I think the greater issue is the abuse of power. No one is immune from that. I think all would agree that police officers should continue to receive training in how to deal with the populace they "serve and protect." The other side of the argument, which is essentially that Gates should have kept quiet is common sense and does not have to be discussed further. However, the problem with that argument is that citizens should not live in fear of police officers and wonder if ANY question or comment they utter will be grounds for arrest.

I don't believe that the police racially profiled Professor Gates. Rather, Professor Gates profiled the police. The professor's racism and hatred of whites goes back to his application to Yale University where he said, "As always whitey now sits in judegment of me, preparing to cast my fate. It is your decision either to let me blow with the wind as a nonentity or to encourage the development of self. Allow me to prove myself." As he progressed in his career he criticized European literature saying Western and Euopean cultural traditions express a "tone deafness to the black cultural voice," and result in "intellectual racism." His hatred of the white man was evident in his display of lack of respect for authority and yes, the police represent authority. He deserved to be arrested and the District Attorney who dropped the charges against him should not be reelected. Furthermore, another racist was exposed by this incident, another liberal, radical, who showed his lack of support for the police and that is Obama.