Henry Louis Gates: Esteemed scholar treated like second-class slave
The late historian Carl Degler stated the following many years ago: “The central question of the twentieth century is whether the United States will be able to work out a biracial society in which blacks and whites will be able to live together in mutual respect and justice. That question is still open, not only because such a society has not been achieved in the United States, but because it has not been achieved in any nation in which whites dominate.” That statement still rings true today. When President Obama extended an invitation to Henry Louis Gates and SGT. James Crowley many thought there would be sweeping change and we could rally around this “teachable moment” that was about to take place. Yeah right. When Professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested by SGT. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department several weeks at his home on disorderly conduct charges it ignited uncomfortable dialogue about racism and racial profiling. Gates felt he was unnecessarily harassed by Crowle...