Harvard Professor, 58-year-old, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested on July 16, 2009 in his own home near Harvard University campus, by Cambridge police sergeant, James Crowley, for disorderly conduct.

Police were responding to a 911 phone call by a, 77-year-old white women, Lucia Whelan, a circulation and fundraising manager for the alumni Harvard Magazine, who suspected a possible burglary in Professor Gate’s home, because of previous break-ins in their community.

Professor Gates was having difficulty opening his front door due to a damaged lock and decided to enter his home from the back door. When the police arrived, Professor Gates was already in his home and upon request provided identification to Sgt. Crowley as proof of his residency.

According to Professor Gates’ attorney Charles Ogletree, Professor Gates requested Sgt. Crowley’s name and badge number twice to no avail. Professor Gates followed Sgt. Crowley to his front porch where several police officers were waiting. Sgt. Crowley placed Professor Gates under arrest according to a police report for “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior.”

Many people believe that the underlying reason that the African American, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested by the white police sergeant, James Crowley, was due to white racism on the part of the neighbor who made the 911 call and the white police officer who arrested him after learning that he was rightfully in his home.

I don’t believe that racism is the culprit of the exchange between the white officer and the black professor. I think this is a case where people in powerful positions abuse their authority that transcends race, gender and religion.

I know of several cases where college professors have lost their student’s papers, given them the wrong grade and ultimately caused the students to lose their financial funding because the professors did not return their student’s phone calls or emails.

In one case a tearful, angry and distraught student finally contacted their professor un-expectantly on campus and in a face-to-face exchange shouted at the professor for being unresponsive and irresponsible for losing their exams and research papers.

The professor confided to me that they would show the student who was in charge by not giving the student the grade that they had rightfully earned because the student was “out of line” by speaking to them in a disrespectful tone.

When I was a social worker I was required to testify in Juvenile Court on the parent’s and children’s progress on my case load; and many of the judges in the court rooms were rude and disrespectful to the social workers, families and attorneys.

For example, a judge mispronounced a mother’s name and even though the mother nicely and respectfully tried telling the judge the correct pronunciation of her name; the judge still became rude and unhinged and threaten the mother with contempt of court simply for requesting the correct pronunciation of her name. This was a common experience in this area of my job.

In my personal experience, I have found that many people who are in positions of authority have a chip on their shoulder and they want the world to bow down to them whether they are right or wrong. I have seen this character trait in many bosses as well.

We are not talking about racism—we are talking about rude-ism. Some people in positions of authority think that just because they wear badges, robes, uniforms, and have important titles that they are not required to give other people the respect that they deserve simply because they are in a higher position—even if they do not conduct themselves in a manner that deserves respect.

Let’s go back to the scene of Professor Gates and Sgt. Crowley and create a dialogue that would have had a different result:

Sgt. Crowley: “Sir, I truly understand why you are angry and I would feel violated as well being treated like a stranger and a criminal suspect in my own home and community. I would feel the exact same way if I were in your shoes. Think of it this way, Professor Gates, if this had been a real break in, I would have been here to protect you to the best of my ability. Your concerned neighbor and I are only looking out for your safety and well-being. I am very sorry. My name is Sgt. Crowley and my badge number is 00000. You have a nice day sir.”

If the police officer had said something similar to this-- the position of humility and grace would have been placed in the professor’s court. And the professor would have had no other option than to except Sgt. Crowley’s apology. The race issue would not have mattered because the police officer would have acted like an evolved human being who happens to be an officer with dignity, wisdom and compassion and no one would have ever questioned his true motives.