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Busted Harvard Prof Drops 'Yo Mama' Joke on Cop

Posted Jul 20th 2009 3:20PM by TMZ Staff

Busted Harvard Prof Drops 'Yo Mama' Joke on CopEven the nation's pre-eminent African-American scholar isn't afraid to bust a yo' mama joke -- especially when he's getting busted by cops.

Cambridge police arrested Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for disorderly conduct last Thursday night. Gates was going into his house when police responded to a call that two black males were breaking in.

According to the police report, 58-year old Gates got into it pretty good with Sgt. Crowley, and that's when ...

"As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. His reply was "ya, I'll speak with your mama outside."

As you can imagine, the argument got more heated after that and Gates was taken into custody.

Professor -- everyone knows it's "yo' mama." Not "your mama."

Tags: harvard professor, HarvardProfessor, henry louis gates, HenryLouisGates, yo mamma, YoMamma

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1. ha ha first

Posted at 7:56PM on Jul 20th 2009 by hamiltonyan

2. RACIST B@STARDS! HE WAS WALKING INTO *HIS* HOME, AND WAS ARRESTED? WTF? WAS IS WRONG WITH THIS STORY?

Posted at 7:58PM on Jul 20th 2009 by I GUESS BLACK PEOPLE CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE?

3. It should never have happened - it was his own house.

Posted at 7:59PM on Jul 20th 2009 by Snotsie

4. maybe the cop was his son

Posted at 7:59PM on Jul 20th 2009 by hamiltonyan

5. Just another black man who thinks they are above the law.
What if it really WAS a robber, I guess the cop should just walk
away and let black criminals do whatever they want since investigating
a potential crime is apparently racist. I love liberals.

Posted at 8:01PM on Jul 20th 2009 by Tmd

6. Shouldn't have happened but a good yo' mama joke is always appreciated! :)

Posted at 8:03PM on Jul 20th 2009 by HG

7. i wish i wash a black, as when the cops hassle me, and they have, i can call someone a racist.

i suspect it is more a gender thing as cops always hassle men btu give women a break - even ask for the digits.

Posted at 8:06PM on Jul 20th 2009 by Whatever

8. That's what an idiot cop said, he said. The man was already inside his house, when the cop got there. I suggest TMZ, NOT try to report on serious news stories. I guess some broke ass white ppl can't believe a black man, can be very wealthy and renown, while they patrol th beat. Ahhahahahahahahahahahaa

Posted at 8:08PM on Jul 20th 2009 by cosmos1

9. #5 ....you're a moron! The cops were doing their job! YES and there's nothing wrong with that! Whoever called them is the person at fault,,,they live in the neighborhood and you're telling me they didn't know that a black family lived in that home before they called the cops to report criminal activity? A possible robbery by black guys! WHATEVER! Guy was in his own home he could say whatever the hell he wanted! ALL TMZ GOT OUT OF THIS WAS THE YO MAMA COMMENT WHEN THERE'S A BIGGER STORY HERE?

Posted at 8:15PM on Jul 20th 2009 by TMZNOT REAL NEWS

10. The real headline is that he was getting busted going into his home. I wonder how long he's lived there. His neighbors are whack for calling - were they tipped off by him driving up or using his key to open the door? I have to say, I never worry about anything going down at my place because white neighbors watch the neighborhood like the freakin' CIA. Sometimes I wish they would mind their own business, but they do keep an eye out so I guess it's a trade off for living next to people who will look the other way while you're being robbed blind. The trick is, you have to introduce yourself so they know you're cool. After that, it's complimentary surveillance.

Posted at 8:14PM on Jul 20th 2009 by Mrs. Desjardins

11. Waste of Time

Posted at 8:14PM on Jul 20th 2009 by HighwayStar

12. Read the whole story over at yahoo news. He was breaking into his own house after his door jammed. A woman reported the incident. Instead of being grateful that the cops responded so quickly to a potential burglary, he got all bent out of shape because he's black and is wearing a huge chip on his shoulder. Black people need to get over it. Hey....I'd be happy if the cops where protecting my neighborhood that well. I'd also be respectful of the authorities and let them sort things out. Just goes to show you, Professors aren't so smart after all.

Posted at 8:15PM on Jul 20th 2009 by Mike

13. Aaaaaahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!! Classic! Gates said JUST what I would have said. He was going into HIS OWN HOME. While it is wonderful that the police are so concerned, and it is good to know that apparently his home would be difficult to break into unnoticed...I think any one of us, Black, White or In Between would have been annoyed that a "neighbor" didn't recognize that it was the HOMEOWNER entering his OWN HOME. There is never anything wrong with a good "yo mamma" hahahahaha!!!!!!!!! ---But seriously, what's up with this "neighbor" ?

Posted at 2:06PM on Jul 22nd 2009 by The Bean

14. Maybe i am stupid, but he was going into his house and a cop arrested him for a Yo Momma joke....but he has every right to go to his house. A cop can not go into a house without consent even if there is a criminal in it. They need approval. Cops can not go anywhere they want. If a cop wants to talk to you at your house they may ask to go in your house but they are not to go in without approval from the owner. There is information I am sure missing from this story. I just do not get how he got arrested.

Posted at 8:17PM on Jul 20th 2009 by My 3 Cents

15. When you make as much cash, and carry as much prestige as he does, it's not proper to say "yo momma" its "your moma."

Posted at 8:19PM on Jul 20th 2009 by renairs

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