Forget all the talk about race. The real issue in the Henry Louis Gates matter is not race. The real issue is the abuse of police power to enforce nothing more or less than good manners in dealing with the police. It is not, and should not be, a crime to be rude to a police officer that is speaking to you inside your own home.  Whether the homeowner or the policeman is black or white is a matter of no difference.  This article from Reason has it right.

By any account of what happened—Gates’, Crowleys’, or some version in between—Gates should never have been arrested. “Contempt of cop,” as it’s sometimes called, isn’t a crime. Or at least it shouldn’t be. It may be impolite, but mouthing off to police is protected speech, all the more so if your anger and insults are related to a perceived violation of your rights. The “disorderly conduct” charge for which Gates was arrested was intended to prevent riots, not to prevent cops from enduring insults. Crowley is owed an apology for being portrayed as a racist, but he ought to be disciplined for making a wrongful arrest.