It is a race issue too though. Both men responded to each other with a specific, racially informed, expectation. Gates’ expected deference and when he didn’t get it, explained it through a racial lens. Crowley expected deference and when he didn’t get it, was not sensitive to the fact that Gates’ response was probably as racially informed as his white academy students. With the focus so much on white behavior (which is legitimate) we forget that people of color also see the world through our own racial lenses.

As an academic myself, I expect more from Gates though. I don’t expect police officers, even really good ones, to be critical of their own ideas. They have a job to do, it’s dangerous, and there is a lot of protocol to follow to protect oneself, fellow officers, and the public. I don’t expect cops to respond to a B&E call contemplating their feelings and ideas. But those of us who teach about, write about, and do research on sensitive issues, like race, should be held to higher expectations of self-reflection. Particularly those of us who are supposed to be “renowned” scholars.

Being working-class, and originally from Boston/Cambridge, and knowing these kinds of police officers intimately,having one of them in my family, I can tell you that there is a tremendous amount rage just waiting to be directed at anyone from Harvard, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

And I am very sure that when Officer Crowley was told to go to Harvard Square to answer the police call, this was activated. This is why he has been adamant about NEVER apologizing. For Boston people it is a matter of pride.

“Townies” resent these academics (and college kids) regardless of race. They feel colonized by them. These types are seen as looking down on the police and locals- who are asked to babysit for them and service them. They are seen as rude and privileged brats who take the best jobs and living spaces and never leave.

The layer of racism was added to this. I can just imagine both parties “mouthing off”. In Boston/Cambridge- this is always an accident waiting to happen.

After this incident, I am sure Obama will be seen as defending “one of his own”. Mainly because Obama went to Harvard and protects this intelligensia, regardless of his working-class roots. And he has brought so many of them into his administration. It is a club, that the Crowleys will never be part of. Even if he has a beer with Obama (and Gates).

There is a class war going on in Boston/Cambridge, regardless of its liberal reputation. This is the real city, that most people are not aware of and are afraid of.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/obama-addresses-gates-rem_n_244518.html

http://tinyurl.com/l76mdx

“A black police officer who was at Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s home when the black Harvard scholar was arrested says he fully supports how his white fellow officer handled the situation.”

“And honestly, who isn’t rooting for the cop when there is an asshole in the room?”

Tough to tease “clean” racial profiling out of this.