Book Review: "The Presumption of Guilt The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class and Crime in America"

As Director, of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Ogletree’s, The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class and Crime in America, Charles J. Ogletree had to write this book. True to his position and profession the book further enlightens those who are aware and relentlessly educates those who are ignorant to the facts of inequitable treatment by law enforcement as a whole. In the most cohesive and surmounting prose, Attorney Charles J. Ogletree, makes an irrefutable case illuminating the injustices that racial profiling has perpetrated on minorities since humans were identified as Chattel. Fact upon fact and study after study are cited, quoted and assimilated to fact pattern of the case at hand, The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

I use this phrase too much but, “Do yourself a favor” and make this a must read. I for one, thought myself to be plugged-in and somewhat current on my facts but this book arms you with the background and research you need to talk intelligently about the interfacing between law enforcement and the citizen. I hope this exploratory treatise is required reading for Professor Ogletree’s students. It should also be required reading by citizens should they ever interface with the law enforcement community.