Comments on: Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:22:38 +0000

A good point, Alyssa. Even when it’s right in front of them people will try to turn racism into something acceptable, or something deserved (so it wasn’t racism).

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:28:20 +0000

“Well of course white people don’t see it! It’s not happening to them.”
“It happens when there are no witnesses.”

You are exactly right that white people don’t see racism because it doesn’t happen to them, but it’s not because it doesn’t exist when someone is looking. Rather, racism happens all the time in front of witnesses. The witnesses see it, but they refuse to call it for what it is.
When you are not the one being harassed, it is a lot easier to close your eyes and blame something else. People want to believe that they live in a just society. They want to believe that they deserve and have earned their privilege, so they ignore racism even when it’s blatant.

By: Spark

Spark — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:56:28 +0000

It also seems like the media is reaching for another explanation–class, town v. gown. Not that those factors don’t exist as well, but COME ON. I don’t understand why white people are so defensive all the time. When I first heard the story, it was just absurd, and imagining Gates telling off that cop was awesome, but the pictures of him in handcuffs are really upsetting.

By: Spark

Spark — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:51:10 +0000

I’m really surprised that so many people are questioning if race was a factor here, or finding Obama’s comments last night inflammatory. Regardless of Gates’ reaction–he wouldn’t be in the position to react if he weren’t black. When I heard his (alleged) response “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” I heard, “I won’t let you get away with this.” Nor should he. He’s exactly the kind of person–educated, prominent, well-connected–who’s in the position to fight this conduct.

By: ausgezeichnet

ausgezeichnet — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:43:38 +0000

Yeah, J.D.R., you are probably right on. As a well-dressed white chick, I have noticed that I can walk out of Target or Best Buy or wherever and have the security thing beep because someone forgot to deactivate the theft deterrent and the security guy just waves me on by, but they definitely stop more “threatening-looking” individuals. I am almost tempted to shoplift something just because I am 99% sure I can get away with it and smile while I’m doing it. So, so unfair, and apparently there’s no end in sight to the double standards.

By: J.D.Regent

J.D.Regent — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:55:05 +0000

wow martha that is terrifying. of course privileged people think the police are looking out for them — they probably are. just not anyone else.

By: martha

martha — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:42:06 +0000

Thank you for posting this. I live in Cambridge, and was having drinks with some friends last night and we were talking about this story. And I was so saddened and horrified when my very good friend had bought, hook line and sinker, the argument that Gates was out of line and must have done something to deserve being arrested.

Maybe part of it is that people want to believe police are interested in the welfare of individuals, because it is a really threatening concept to think that the police force is sometimes run by power-happy egomaniacs.

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:44:59 +0000

Fixed, PhD. Thanks.

By: PhDork

PhDork — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:31:54 +0000

If this can happen to Skip Gates, black men are completely screwed.

Oh, and it wasn’t his neighbor who called 911. I read a correction of that fact this morning.

By: afteriris

afteriris — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:20:52 +0000

Others have said it already, but I’m pretty sure I’d have few loudly raised objections if someone tried to arrest me for entering my own home. One of the things that people seem to find objectional is Gates saying ‘you have no idea who you’re dealing with’. Reminds me of the ‘uppity’ accusations levelled at Obama during your election.

I read in the Guardian yesterday that Gates is now developing a documentary about institutional racism in the police force with his own experience central to his investigations. Sounds interesting.