Race Relations Professor Gets Racially Profiled?

Dr. Henry Louis Gates has taught at some of the finest institutions in our country. From Yale to Cornell to Duke and finally Harvard University. He's currently Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research but he has spent most of his life studying and teaching about race.

Apparently his neighbor calls the police to tell them that two black men are breaking into a home. This is where the story gets fishy. If you've seen Dr. Gates on TV he has a distinct shape, limp when he walks and he's kinda feeble looking. I do not believe his neighbor couldn't tell it was him trying to get through his front door that was stuck. The story becomes even more fishy once the police arrive. Cambridge is a small town. I do not believe these cops didn't know who Dr. Gates was. They know the house is property of Harvard University and they know Harvard has a nationally known black professor. But that's just my opinion. Let's talk about the issue at hand.

The consideration of race when developing a profile of suspected criminals or police focus on people of certain racial groups when seeking suspected criminals, is racism at its finest.
Was he or was he not profiled? The cops answer to a report of a break-in by two black men, they get to the house and Dr. Gates answers the door. Would a robber answer the door at the time of a break in? When Dr. Gates was asked to show ID, he declined. He gave them his name and occupation and explained to the cops that his door was stuck and he was merely just trying to force it open. Was this not sufficient enough of information? You know the house is owned by Harvard and the man inside has stated he's a Harvard professor. He has every right to be upset about being questioned in his own home about being a criminal. Dr. Gates asks for the cops name and badge number, which by law you have a right to request and get, the cop tells him 'no'. Dr. Gates calls him a 'racist' and that's where all hell breaks loose.

There is a problem if cops are arresting people for expressing their opinion. Dr. Gates does not believe he would have experienced this ordeal if he was white and statistically, he is right. This is not a issue of opinion. Black men are systematically targeted by searches, stops and humiliation by the cops just because. They rely on unsubstantiated hunches and suspicion and that explains why 70% of traffic stops on I-95 are of black motorist when they only comprise 17% of the traffic.

Let's just admit it. Race is STILL an issue.