alexandraerin

Not to nitpick, but I think I remember reading that Gates got home in the middle of the afternoon, not the middle of the night. That means it would have been even less likely that he was an intruder and the police should have been in more of an investigative mode than a "go in there and arrest the guys" mode.

Initially when I read about this I wasn't sure if it was perceived or actual racism, but the more information that comes out the more I am convinced that it was actual racism. I don't think it was just Crowley, though; it was systemic. The police officers responding don't get to hear the 911 call, he didn't know that it wasn't definitely an intruder, or that the caller initially identified the man as Hispanic and not black, or that she said they had suitcases and not backpacks (and why would an intruder have suitcases with him?). He just knew that "there were 2 black guys who may or may not have broken into this house." Then, when Gates responded, as many people would, black of not, offended at the accusation that he had broken into his own home, all Crowley saw was the Angry Black Man threatening him and he went into fight or flight mode, which for the police is fight, or subdue and arrest. That's a racist reaction, but it's not necessarily a consciously racist reaction, he may or may not actively be racist, but he has those ingrained preconceptions that out society isn't going to be rid of until they've been aged out.