Just because you’re educated, respected and lauded as the country’s pre-eminent black scholar, does not excuse you from poor judgment, bad behavior or ineffectively throwing the race card. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s situation is appalling.
Gates has proven that he lives in a neighborhood where the residents pay attention and care enough to call law enforcement when something is suspicious. Is he purposely looking to destroy that last thread that holds society together? It’s better than receiving a Twitter message about the house that got broken into – only to find that it’s yours that’s being discussed.
Gates has shown that reaching higher levels of education cause you to believe that you’re unlike the rest of us and the rules no longer apply. It is never proper behavior to become irate with the police. There are others ways to rectify a situation.
Gates has shown that the race card is futile. Thanks to the crusaders of the 60’s who fought for our civil rights (Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, etc.), we have shown our multi-cultural peers that when we can’t otherwise handle our affairs, we have a safety net. We can accuse any and every one of racism, bias and profiling.
When will cooler heads prevail?
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