Harvard Professor Arrested

A comment about the recent [unfounded] arrest of a black college professor.

I suspect the professor reacted the same way almost any black person would react in the same situation. He was outraged, and understandably so. If a white person were arrested in similar circumstances he would have no reason to react with outrage to perceived racial bias. The white person would likely be able to quickly provide proof of identity without getting angry. Given the history of mistreatment and misunderstanding between white police officers and African-Americans in general the specter of racial profiling is easily brought into being.

Also, I suspect the police officer has heard the same or very similar argument more than once from a person who was actually breaking into a home. He is not likely to believe what he hears from a suspect until there is some proof of what is said. Rapid escalation toward anger might have made it even harder for the police officer to accept a suspect’s statements. Police training (again I merely suppose) is to gain control quickly in any situation. Arrest is his most effective means of gaining control of an angry and potentially dangerous suspect. Maybe the officer was afraid of the professor.
To a police officer arresting a suspect is no big deal. They do it daily and it very rarely is a personal thing – it is part of the process of completing a task. To a Professor it is a much more personal act of mistreatment.

Without hearing the actual exchange between the participants in this mess I cannot go any deeper into an explanation for either side’s actions.

A quote from AP via Yahoo
“Police supporters charge that Gates, director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, was responsible for his own arrest by overreacting. “

DRP