Gates 911 call and arrest report released

It's worth noting, I think, that the caller, Lucia Whalen, seems awfully calm during the call, and never mentions anything to indicate that the alleged "burglers" were black men. Even more interesting, she claims that she never spoke with the arresting (or assisting) officer at the scene.

Whalen's attorney told CNN, "Let me be clear: She never had a conversation with Sgt. Crowley at the scene. And she never said to any police officer or to anybody 'two black men.' She never used the word 'black.' Period."

The arrest record indicates otherwise. In it, officer Crowley claims to have spoken with a woman outside the residence before he approached who identified herself as the 911 caller, and who had "observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch" and that they appeared to have been attempting to force the door. It also indicates that Sgt. Crowley ultimately retreated from the residence after verifying Mr. Gates' identity because the "acoustics in the kitchen and foyer" were making it difficult for him to communicate with his dispatch. Gates then, as we know, followed him outside, and was arrested after some additional carrying-on.

Crowley notes that he was "quite surprised and confused" by the behavior Gates exhibited towards him...and I can't really blame him. Upon advising Mr. Gates that he was leaving the residence, and would gladly speak to him outside if he wanted, Gates allegedly responded "Ya, I'll speak to your mama outside".

Ouch.

Gates 911 call and arrest report released

the midwest is turning beige too

CNN published an article today about a county in Kansas that has become a majority-minority* county, according to numbers released by the the US Census Bureau last week, joining the other 300+ US counties (roughly 10% of the nation's counties) that share the same demographic distinction.

There's nothing new with this trend, but it is notable in that this isn't a county in a "border" state, like Texas, California or New Mexico which, in addition to Hawaii and the District of Columbia, are already non-white majority states (Starr County, Texas for example, has a minority population that accounts for 98% of the county's population).

The Atlantic Monthly published an excellent (if maybe contentiously titled) article on the subject earlier this year in light of the historic election of our country's first black President, which delves a little into what it will mean to be white in an America in which white is no longer a majority. Personally, it just makes me more convinced that I gotta learn Spanish.

It should also come as no surprise, I suppose, that some whites aren't real thrilled with this trend and who, in fact, see it as "the death of America". Do yourself a favor and stay away from their blogs.

* The U.S. Census Bureau defines majority-minority as a geographic area in which "more than half the population is made up of a group that is not single-race, non-Hispanic white".

the midwest is turning beige too