I love it when I hear of pro players giving to their communities. I don't disagree that the owners shouldn't help develop their communities either. However, isn't that exactly what they are doing with the 300 million? Jordan's company is also giving an additional 100 million over 10 years as well. So we are nearing half a billion dollars, probably even more than that if we do some real homework but to some this is not enough? Should they give all of their earnings away? What's the dollar point where it's acceptable?
I'm afraid it's going to take more than money to change things for the Black community. W. Kamau Bell brought up a good case for restitution for slavery in an episode of United Shades of America on CNN (excellent program by the way) a week or two back. It wouldn't be the first time. The most interesting aspect to me was that immediately after the Civil War, restitution was paid to the former Slave Owners that had given up their slaves. A prominent academic economist argued that American Capitalism was built on the backs of slavery. It was a compelling argument, but haven't we done enough already with government programs? More on that later. Still, I'm not sure that restitution payment would solve anything.
When are people going to realize that racism is a two-way street? Can anybody even begin to imagine the vitriolic reaction to an organization called "White Lives Matter". Even to bring it up in polite conversation runs the risk of being labeled a White Supremacist. But we embrace an organization that focuses entirely on injustice towards African Americans, hell corporations even support it with cash contributions. I mean where were they when attention was shone on the inhumane treatment and dozens of lives lost at border detention centers? Then there's the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund, you name it. How many have sent a donation to the UNCF and then realized that thanks to affirmative action programs, admission standards are already much lower for minorities with greater scholarship opportunities, I mean where does White Guilt end? Maybe it ends where Black Accountability begins.
What is it about Black Culture in this country? Why is it that the highest percentage of single parent households in this Country is Black. Why is it that the highest percentage of deadbeat dads is Black. Why is it that the majority of homicides committed in this Country continue to be Black perps/Black victims even though Blacks represent only 13.4% of the population? Why is it that one white police officer killing or injuring a black perpetrator leads to weeks and sometimes months of protests, destruction of property and looting and yet the response to a gang related drive by shooting is only a phone call to law enforcement? Of course, then this cycle of violence in the Black community is then blamed on White America. The evil white man archetype pervades all, it's omnipresent in the Black community from the Church pulpit to the rhymes of popular rappers. Race-baiting is everywhere it seems.
So who do we turn to in this time of need? I watched an extensive interview after the Blake shooting on CNN with none other than Charles Barkley. Chuck argued that the problem in this Country is one of segregation. He said White America has such little direct contact with Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims that they only respond to them through the stereotypes depicted in movies and the media. I don't know, I'm middle class and I live in a culdesac that's 50% Black, 40% White (less than that, my wife is first generation emigrant Hispanic) and 10% Asian. I work in a school that is 40% Black and 30% Hispanic. I look around and increasingly see mixed marriages and mixed progeny. Spent some vacation time in Brian Head and was encouraged to see a few locals in Deliverance Country in mixed (black white) marriages. Who says things haven't improved? And Native Americans, they're the best, they don't know what category they fall into so they're nice to everyone. (Not that way coming up in SLC in the 60's and 70's though; remember a couple of run ins with N.A.s off the reservation. But shouldn't the original inhabitants have a bigger chip than even descendants of American Slaves after our campaigns of genocide and sterilization? My wife brought up this argument regarding the atrocities of the Conquistadors in South America and the lack of enmity today.)
Then I listened to Kenny the Jet float his more appropriate theory of systemic racism. He says his thing is to ask any multiracial room how many have had a gun pointed at them. In his view, it's generally Black folks that have and generally a police officer pointing the gun. I don't question that although I'm white and I was almost blown away by police officers after sticking my head out a window of a car to ask a question while stopped by police. I had two guns drawn on me and when it was all said and done we were able to drive home with no charges levied and no idea why we (two white boys) were pulled over. But I don't doubt that the incidence of that type of thing happens more frequently in the Black Community. But is that because of systemic racism or because of racial profiling? Or are they one and the same? I don't believe they are. All I know is that I would never consider wrestling an armed police officer to the ground. Respect and compliance to Law Enforcement, not disrespect and defiance that's my way and I've had a pretty good run so far.
My how things have changed. Watched a documentary called Yusef Hawkins,
Storm over Brooklyn last night. Another reminder of how much race relations have improved in this Country. I mean it was dangerous to be caught in the wrong neighborhood after dark in NYC in the 80s. Reverend Al Sharpton led the fight in that one though he may have gotten a little help from Louis Farrakhan and others. I gotta say that I was damn impressed with Sharpton and his tactics. I had heard some rather disparaging stories about him but from what I can see, he was and continues to be, a man of principle. He got members of the Black community to march repeatedly through predominantly white (Italian American) Bensonhurst where Hawkins was murdered. There was no destruction of property though they were verbally and physically assaulted by local residents and police. Thanks to Sharpton and the movement he spearheaded, the community was forced to give up the gunman who was then convicted and sentenced to 35 years. But more importantly, the negative publicity led to more open race relations between the burroughs.
So I guess what I'm saying is "why can't we be more homogeneous as United States Citizens? Why can't we look back and see all the positive change that has taken place in this respect? I remember reading several years ago, a Cultural Anthropologist saying that the racial heritage of American Blacks is 30% White. And that was before the recent explosion of mixed marriages and or mixed progeny. Why is it still a Black/White debate when the real story has always been haves and have nots. At the end of the day after the two day walkout, the athletes will still be haves and their communities predominantly have nots. I look at what Andre Agassi has done in Las Vegas and what Tim Duncan has done in San Antonio; now that's commitment, not just some random empty gesture. In the end, we'll never be able to coexist if we can't get on the same page regarding values, trust and culture and that only happens through dedication and commitment I believe.
