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Now that the spectacle of Donald Sterling is somewhat behind us, where do we go from here?
Every time something like this happens many people get all bent out of shape, up in arms and outraged.
They hoop and holler, stomp their feet and yell at the television.
Then they simmer down and ease back into their normal lives until the next time, until the next outrage opportunity presents itself.
While it is true that Donald Sterling’s words were disgusting and vile, he’s not the only one.
He’s just the one who got caught, the one who gets the attention.
CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill says, “The Sterling controversy resonates with black people because it speaks to a bigger problem in their everyday lives. The sentiments expressed by Sterling play out in the daily racial micro-aggressions experienced by black people at work, school, and public space. He unwittingly confirmed what we intuitively knew to be true: many people still hold on to anti-black racism.”
He hit the nail on the head, especially with the micro-aggression part.
Those micro-aggressions are the thousand little pin pricks that happen on a daily bases which cause many of us to sometimes overreact and blow up over the smallest transgression.
How many times have you witnessed a friend or co-worker losing their cool over something that most of the white people around you didn’t understand but you did?
How many times have a friend or co-worker pulled you aside and said, “Hey man or hey girl, chill. You’re scaring the white people?”
It’s funny but it happens.
And when it does, it does shake you back into reality.
But back to my opening line, where do we go from here?
Here’s what I think.
Americans have to stop assuaging their own guilt about racism by thinking that if they condemn someone like Donald Sterling or Paula Deen loud enough or forcefully enough that they’re free and clear and are no longer racist.
That is not so.
When it comes to racism it’s the everyday things that matter the most to the most people.
Everyday things like having few if any black friends in your circle, like associating with or hiring mostly people who look just like you, like moving to a black neighborhood because it’s cheaper but not socializing with your neighbors because you secretly fear them, like not being able to tell black people apart, like not being able to appreciate black beauty, like thinking every black person in a store works there.
I could go on and on and on but I’ll stop there and just let you think about it.
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PK, you spend too much time on your favorite subject. By the way, Tyrone is right to point out that Jesus was a Black man by virtue of the Book of Daniel 7:9 and Revelation 1:14-15. White people don’t have WOOLY hair; white people have goat-like-hair. As such, your disagreement is not with Tyrone; your disagreement is with the Book of Daniel 7:9 and the Book of Revelation 1:14-15.
@PK, your fore-fathers should NOT have brought US [Black People] over here from Africa…you are experiencing “be careful what you wish for.”
There’s some really good feedback on the forum today. However, I thought someone exposed some of the trolls pretending to be black folks (and some of the others here) on this site before. I thought they would have figured out by now that, because they continuously give so many obvious (to US) context clues that they weren’t African American, that only they would possibly believe their charades (and a few other regular screen names….which could all be the same person, who knows).
However, we indulge them because of the whole free speech thing, and the fact that these forums don’t seem to be moderated [very well].
Nevertheless, we still know who they are -we can count on them to backhandedly insult us; constantly mention their race (not their real race, of course); try to minimize the various racism that, indeed, does exist; try to imply that we should stop complaining and looking for racism in everyday life (as if it’s hidden or something); imply that we should collectively take responsibility for every dumb-assed thing that ANY black person does, come on now.
Now, here’s the easy way to spot them who they are, first look at the screen names (which are sometimes over-the-top Afrocentric or Ebonic) and go back and look at the themes of their current and previous posts. More importantly, follow your intuition, We know how We think…the African American psyche is something that can’t be duplicated behind a keyboard. Here’s the most obvious way, watch not only who, but how they respond to my post….which they will, because they think they are smart and we are stupid and their delusional, brainwashed upbringing, will not allow them to believe no one was able to figure them out. So, like the brave internet heroes they are, they’ll respond (they may give 90% agreement, but their twisted nature will cause them to want to slip in 10% hate masked as some sort of philosophical disagreement (even though I made no philosophical argument about Mr. Lemon’s article).
CHRISTIANITY: The Root of Racial Hatred stems from Christianity, because it purports WHITE SUPREMACY in the Name of GOD. Jesus was not a white man by virtue of Daniel 7:9 & Revelation 1:14-15 [wooly hair & feet looked as though burned in a furnace]. White people violate the 1st Commandment of GOD because GOD ordered NOT to make any likeness of images of GOD, in words to say, white people made GOD white–white people tell us they are the chosen people of GOD is not the TRUTH
Nice essay. Don Lemon engages in extremely thoughtful discourse and I’ve seen him take both black and white “sides” on debates, depending on the merits and the issues.
I believe he is one of the best in the country at framing issues thoughtfully and in ways that encourage us to ponder and think deeply and candidly about all kinds of issues not just race. My wife and I are ardent supporters and fans because we really appreciate Don’s candor. He is not only even handed in his comments but if something really bothers him he is not reluctant to voice his views. He is never shrill or irrational or biased or vicious like so many so called news people today.
The NAACP is worse than a joke. It’s a tragedy. It supposedly wants to represent “minorities” and not blacks. We should all know that the interests of “minorities” is not always 100% aligned with the interests of blacks.
For example, in California “blacks” wanted the legislature to re-institute Affirmative Action (based on race, including the black race) as a factor in admission to state colleges and universities. Asian American organizations and persons saw increased black enrollments as leading to decreased Asian American enrollments and so fought against such a change. They won. No change was made. African Americans lost!
For example, the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus and others push “immigration reform”. Such “immigration reform” would result in cementing illegal immigrants into jobs that could, would and should be held by African Americans–who are US citizens, unlike the illegal immigrants!. And in the US being a citizen should count for something! (See http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2010/02/how_illegal_immigration_hurts_black_america.html?utm_medium=feed&obref=obinsite and after reading the first two paragraphs you’ll realize that illegals have stolen millions of jobs from blacks.) The Mexican Americans/Hispanic Americans/Asian Americans are for such “immigration reform” as it would help their communities but hurt the African American community. It seems that the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus and others don’t mind working against the interest of blacks. Again the interests of blacks is not 100% aligned with the interest of other minority groups. And it is foolish to think that it always is!This is a set up to another loss for African Americans.
Blacks have made much hullabalu about the Donald Sterling/Los Angeles Clippers imbroglio but are mute about “immigration reform” and even “Affirmative Action” both of which is have and will have a much bigger impact on black communities! (By the way, if the courts say that Affirmative Action based on race is improper, why not push for Affirmative Action based on condition of previous servitude? That is, have Affirmative Action based on whether you had an ancestor that was a slave in the US. If you are Irish American, German American, Chinese American, African American or Nigerian American, if you had an ancestor that was a slave in the US, then you qualify for Affirmative Action. If you don’t have such an ancestor, then you don’t qualify for such Affirmative Action.) What’s wrong with this picture?
Well said Don! Maybe most of the anti-Black racism will die down as more and more of these old racists have grandchildren who identify as Black.
Steven Biko said that the greatest weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. In this context, we must see and understand that the “one-drop” theory is racist and is based upon the racist belief that black/African blood is a taint and that it taints other heritage/blood that is there. Therefore, since black/African blood is a taint (garbage), the “one-drop” theory states/dictates that blood/heritage that is mixed with it must be consigned wholly to the garbage (black/African) bin. You have adopted whole-hog the standard that was adopted by the white slave-master for the benefit of the white slave-master and that is racist. If a white racist has grandchildren then genetically those children cannont be black. The can be mixed, or mulatto or biracial. I invite you to reject racism and all its permutations, including the one that you just espoused!
Sterling looks like just what he is a racist POS.
However, it is a well known fact from anyone associated with the Clippers organization that he is this way. So why did it take so long for his ugliness to be discovered and outted?
I totally agree with Don Lemon about the everyday racial experiences we Black folks have to endure at work, in our neighborhoods which are being gentrified. I don’t care about having white folks as neighbors as long as their intentions are not to displace me from the “hood.”
They can live in their home, just as I live in mine. If they choose to speak, then I will do the same–if not f them!
We need to focus more on ourselves
then anything else.
Stop the black on black crime, demand equal education for our children, simply step up and make some noise the way we use to back in the day when things were not right and we demanded and received changes!!!
Racism is like a cancer that goes deep into ones soul.
No matter what it cannot be easily removed!!!
Donld Stelring doesnt want any help for his problems. Like most like him it is hard pressed for them to even amdit that they have one. As for sensitivity training. At his age? tha is a nice thought, but that aint happening. As for Don Lemon’s main point about a cure. Yes, there is one and only one. and that is honest and true salvation in Jesus Christ. any other man made cure, i.e. training, classes, history lessons, etc will mostly fall short. Reason being, those are all outer cures, while racism is down deep in the soul and spirit of a person. Which is why so many dont even admit or realize they are diversity challenged. Plus his money, ego and power he feels excuses him from this behaviour. Yes, indeed their are legal questions to the whole scenario behind his fines, suspensions, etc and some of this remans to be seen. But this isnt about moeny or how much he gets to keep. He may even as some suspect make money. But the fact that he hs been exposed is the biggest matter. and those who try and defend him, or try to logically explain it away. that’s really at the hear ot of all of this. Becuase you are concentrating on the worng stuff. What one does in the dark will come to light. Many more will be exposed een if they dont see it coming.
I have lived my entire life in New York City as a black Man, and I must say that I feel extremely Blessed! I have NEVER, EVER experienced not being able to get a taxi here on a daily basis, no matter how I’m dressed, NEVER! I’ve worked at an Investment Banking Firm most of my life, being the ONLY Man of Color there, and NEVER, EVER have been denied any promotions that I sought after. My Colleagues and I vacation with our families together ever since my children were babies! Wedding’s, Birth’s, Graduation’s, Celebration’s, Promotion’s, Everything have been with my colleagues, who are truly my family!!!! I don’t wonder why it seems that I am blessed, I just accept it and wonder why this world cannot reflect my experience daily as a Man of color. Why can’t we all just get along???? That phrase is sooooo damn true! We all have sooooo much in common with each other. I’m just soooo happy that I’ve been able to have a life such as I have! I can not be the ONLY person of color who is having this experience right here in NEw York City, right here in AMERICA!?!?
Is the spectacle of Donald Sterling really somewhat behind us? Isn’t the NBA jumping the gun here? Was Sterling really treated fairly by the NBA? This might come back to bite the NBA BIG TIME! First, they impose the most severe sanctions they could based exclusively and specifically on illegally recorded “evidence” which would never stand up in court – in fact, it wouldn’t even be submittable as evidence in court! Then they offer no help to Sterling for his “problem”. No offer of sensitivity training, or race relations education, etc.. Nor do they offer any way to make amends or earn a reduction by an expression of contrition, repentance, rehabilitation, etc.. Does anyone in the NBA believe there is merit to “loving thy enemy”? Maybe, but there is certainly no love for Sterling from the NBA – only “return hate”! Meanwhile, Sterling could end up making way more money by suing the NBA for sanctions based on use of illegal evidence (secretly recorded personal conversation which was also a breach of “a reasonable expectation of privacy”), defamation, etc. and winning punitive damages worth more than the billion he could’ve gotten for his team, & still keep his team as a bonus! The NBA says he can’t sue them. That is wrong. The NBA also said he couldn’t move his team, but once again the NBA was wrong! Maybe teaching the NBA a little bit about fairness (if not kindness) via some “tough love” could become a new passion for Sterling. Stranger things have happened! It ain’t over yet…..
Thank you Don
Reblogged this on The Student Becomes The Teacher and commented:
I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Lemon’s commentary that I heard this morning on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Just because you have black friends doesn’t mean you can’t be racist!