The week has been pretty exciting huh?
No matter which part of the country you're from, there's something steaming up the windows--and it ain't the kind of sum'n-sum'n you enjoyed in that black, '86 Lincoln Continental you borrowed from your parents on prom night.
Believe it or not, this stain would be too embarrassing even for ServPro.
Race. Let's talk about it.
Nah. Nevermind, we can't.
If we can't say anything nice, we can't say anything at all. It's easier fogging our glasshouses into gas houses than actually opening the windows to fresh air to speak candidly with our neighbors.
Just because good fences make good neighbors doesn't mean you shouldn't peek through the knothole once in awhile, even if you get your eye poked.
But poking hurts. And nobody likes pain, even temporarily.
Which is why a real discussion will never happen. Just ask Mark Cuban's latest sacrifice at the Altar of Fear. (WATCH)
The multi-billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks imitated a sketch from Chappelle's Show: "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong."
Cuban's thoughts are the same thoughts this writer and millions upon millions of white Americans have thought. Often.
Instead of praise for his honesty, many derided him for his remarks, using words like "ignorant" to describe the entrepreneur's candor.
Hey, what's that old saying about three of the five fingers on your hand?
(No, not the joke from the Rick James-Charlie Murphy Chappelle sketches. The one your mother and teachers recited when you 'cuzed somebody of sum'n.)
Instead ex-NBA "star" and ESPN spoon-feeder, Bruce Bowen, sounded more like Louis Farrakan than he even looked, criticizing the owner and even casting stereotypes himself, missing the entire point of Cuban's comments.
However, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back, Ryan Clark--also on the dais--actually supported Cuban. Perhaps football players are smarter than hoopsters.
(Can we say that?)
Can we ask that???
Doesn't matter. There are too many Bowens out there to make a difference and not enough Cubans and Clarks. Too many Bowens to scare off the Cubans. Too many Bowens intimidating those who think like Cuban to come to grips with the idea that YES AMERICANS, WE ARE INDEED PREJUDICED, so they can continue to hide behind the white clothesline of guilt and throw stones in support of guys like Bruce All-Righty rather than break the glass and admit they have a problem.
You may know these Bowens by other names. Like Sharpton. Or Jackson. Or they may be your grandparents who shared stories of neighbors' spousal abuse and recall how they did nothing because "back then, you kept your mouth shut."
Maybe because back then your grandparents had their own issues and didn't want help either. Yeah, it's much easier that way, isn't it?
Instead of honest racial dialogue on a platform that most of America enjoys (and more importantly, understands--sports) we get brought back into the house by an overzealous plurality who preys on the fears and threats of the majority simply because all it takes is one.
One pissed-off black dude. And a few white guys to support him to prove they're not racists.
In America, the dirtiest word is the N-word. No doubt. No excuse. It is.
The second dirtiest word is the R-word.
Though, those trying to read this through the fog of steam brimming from their bathrooms might think it's the "other" R-word. Maybe it is. But we'll never find the truth, which is what Cuban tried to convey. We'll just get force-fed a line-of-thinking from an angry mob.
We'll never get anywhere dealing with race in America. We'll just keep telling ourselves that having a black President and pulling the plug on an octogenarian owner living in the 1800's will put the issue away for awhile like your grandparents' neighbors, or that credit card balance recurring like the Ghost of Christmas(es) Past.
Keep steaming up the glass, Americans. Like the Amish, you're too used to the stench to acknowledge it doesn't smell too good here.
(Can I say that?)
What bothers me most about these "outrageous" comments I'd that we're even talking about them. What bothers me even more is what we are NOT talking about.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, Ray Rice and his now wife held a joint press conference to discuss the incident that occurred some time ago in which he knocked her out in an elevator, dragging her unconscious body through the halls of a casino hotel. There was little outrage about this incident then, and even less now.
At yesterday's presser, Mr. Rice apologized to everyone under the sun (Raven's ownership, management, coaches, friends, family, fans, etc...); everyone that is, except for his wife. While this is a private matter (much like the Donald Sterling situation was, but that's another topic for another time), one would figure that a public list of those being apologized to would include the woman he assaulted. I guess not.
What's worse was the statement issued by Rice's wife, in which she apologizes for her 'role in the incident'. What role is she speaking of? The one where her face was a punching bag to her NFL playing husband? Yeah....you should be very sorry that he hit you. You probably deserved it, right? Probably not....but when you go on a public stage like you did and apologize for being a victim, you not only minimize what your scumbag of a husband did, you condoned it. THAT'S what she should apologize for.
Thank God we have Mark Cuban's inflammatory comments to keep us from discussing something that is not only outrageous, disgusting, and appalling, but also criminal. Thank God we have an innocuous statement from him to fuel the racial flames on what used to be sports talk radio. Thank God he made those statements so we don't have to discuss what should be talked about in every radio show in this country involved in sports. Thank you Mark Cuban.
If Roger Goodell ever happens to read this, I ask if him, "where ya been, buddy?". If it had been Ray Rice getting a concussion in that elevator, there would have been five rule changes by now, and probably several suspensions. If this commissioner had any stones, he would suspend Rice for one full season (I think he should be out of football, but that's probably racist of me in some way, since I'm a white guy). Rice will attend anger management classes, and as a result will probably get two games. Go commish, go!
What I have learned from all of this is that racism is the topic that sells. No one wants to admit it, but it's the sexy topic now that keeps everyone glued to the radio. I also learned that when a black woman gets assaulted by a nationally known sports figure, there is very little outrage. What does that say about us? It's a shame Ray Rice isn't white....maybe more people would be calling for his exile from the NFL.