Same ol' same ol'

[grantcart]

Aging and distinguished Black man coming home weary from a long days work.


Just getting back from another international trip to China and dogged tired.


Somebody sees something and a cop gets called.


Cop asks him for ID and what job he does.


"Why I am a professor at Harvard"


Frustrations are expressed and the cop arrests the elderly black man who walks with a cane.


But the Professor has been around the block a few times and word gets back to his friends.


One of them is the President of the United States, the most famous and most recognizable statesman in the world.


While some things stay the same, some things have completely changed.


It makes me smile to think that the next time a police officer confronts a distinguished African American there will be a momentary flash of "now could this guy actually know . . ."


And for all African Americans who have ever been pulled over, patted down, cross examined, thrown to the ground, handcuffed, embarassed in front of their families and friends, suffered the sneer or taunts, or any other dehumanizing put down, well its not going to be all gone but,


the "same ol', same ol'" will never be the same again.

[tekisui]

1. That's my take.

I don't care if Gates overreacted. I don't care if Crowley followed procedure to a T. I think the story is a win for the reasons you laid out.

Of course, on the flip side, white racists will add it to their arsenal of reasons to hate. Screw 'em.

[grantcart]

2. tks

[Cha]

3. That's poignant, grant..

and soothes my soul.

[Uzybone]

4. Great point

there are many black men who have head their heads cracked in for doing much less than Prof Gates allegedly did. Maybe this will give the next thug* with a badge pause.


*not all cops are thugs.

[windbreeze]

5. Post this where more people get to see it, would you?? n/t

[goclark]

6. Thanks Grantcart for another wise post

When I think of all the times, even as a teenager, that my friends were stopped and abused by the police.

For those few that don't know, I am African American.

One of my "memories that just keeps sticking after all these years" was coming home from a fancy ball at a Beverly Hills Hotel about 1965. It was my Cotillion.

All of the young men were dress in stunning tuxedos and the girls looked absolutely lovely.

My date was driving his father's luxury car and we were headed down Wilshire Blvd. on the way to the after party at his house.

We had not been drinking (thank goodness) and we were not going above the speed limit.

All of a sudden from out of nowhere lights started flashing and we were pulled over by the Beverly Hills police.

The police started screaming at my date and made him get out of the car and they threw him against the hood.

They wanted to know where he stole the car from - that was way before Cell Phones.

Nothing that he could say and nothing that he could show them would satisfy - nothing.

After about 20 minutes of fear, one of the other Dads spotted us as he was driving home from the hotel. He verified that it was indeed the son and the car of Dr. Davis.

They didn't want to even believe him but finally, after a stern warning to never be in Beverly Hills again, they let us go.

Every time I am in Beverly Hills, I think of that fear and the anger is something that just does not go away.

Every day, it is still happening. That is the shame of it all.

Thanks grantcart for listening and understanding why we can't forget.

It is my hope that the "Teachable Moment" will come from GATES vs. All the Police in America.

[grantcart]

8. and thanks for sharing goclark

[angee_is_mad]

7. Kick

and highly recommend!!!

[cliffordu]

9. Pretty good writin' for a guy from

....somewhere.



Dammit.

K&R

[grantcart]

10. Spokane, now that you know that jewel I expect you to use it wisely and thoroughly

and beat me with it often!!

[cliffordu]

12. Spokane????

:rofl:

'Nuff said!!

[Demeter]

11. Or So We Devoutly Hope

but I'm not holding my breath for another generation, either.

[Beetwasher]

13. That Is A Great Fucking Point, However

It's sad that you still need the threat of the possibility of a bigger dog in the game to keep some people in line. I just wish people were more evolved. But yes, we're moving in the right direction and that's good.

[lunatica]

14. Good point. And may it be so

[grantcart]

15. tks

[hfojvt]

16. Have you ever been to China?

I haven't.

Yeah, the old guy is working pretty hard sitting in a plane, and having his own driver to carry his luggage as well as do the driving. Life is rough, very rough for this poor working stiff.

The cop did not ask where he worked. Gates threw that out there himself so he could show how important he is.

One other part of the same ol', same ol' is for the arrogant big shot to make life difficult for the low level working person. "Don't try to treat ME like everybody else. I have connections."

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[lunatica]

18. Oh! the poor cops get treated so badly!

Jesus! How lame your rage is!

A man getting upset over being treated like a common criminal is abusing the poor cop? Are his words just too much for a cop to take? Did he rain curse words at the poor cops head? Exactly what did he do to get arrested in your raging opinion?

Actually don't even bother to answer because your statement is too lame to defend.

[hfojvt]

19. where did you see focking rage???

Did I say cops usually got treated so badly? No, there is probably only 1% of the population who treats a cop with the attitude of "you don't know who you're messing with (because I am friends with Oprah and the President)". Often cops will push the rest of us around like arrogant bigshots themselves, but they also sometimes get shot at or involved in dangerous high-speed chases and crashes. We might laugh to see Gates turn the tables, but I have a feeling that if a bully gets beat up by an even more powerful and bigger bully that the second person really isn't a friend of mine either. Let's see what happens if his driver gets harrassed by the cops. Do you think he can turn to his 'buddy' Gates to get him out of a jam?

I have my doubts, but oh we are supposed to have pity for the hardworking Harvard Professor. Much as I like the OP, that is the characterization which is too lame to defend. "Oh I was so tired after my free trip to China for me and my daughter." Having moved about 3000 pounds of tables and chairs this weekend and walked about 20 miles at work, I guess I can relate to that.

[grantcart]

20. I have made the transpacific trip over 40 times. It is exhausting sitting in cramped places

without movement. The older you get the worse it gets, especially if your sleep pattern is disturbed.


Not that any of this has any relevance to the central point of the OP however.

[whistler162]

17. You forgot.....

Professor standing next to door that has the lock broken and a shoe print on it calling the harvard maintains department to have them fix the door being surprised when a Police Officer comes to the door to ask him who he is and if the house is his!


But we all know that a burglar always looks like this - and acts all sneaky and suspicious!

Good thing I don't have read hair!