Business…here’s a look at B.J. and Justin Upton.
Here’s a funny from the chat session…I was accused by chatters, black and white, of showing favoritism to black people because I primarily write about black athletes. Could someone explain to me what else I’m supposed to do when I primarily write about football and basketball? Seriously, could someone enlighten me on that?
In the last few days, I’ve gotten more e-mails that presume my position on a range of issues purely because I’m black. Since I’m black, I must just side with black people on everything. I must look for every opportunity to slam white people. You know, because I’m black.
Wanna know the most frustrating thing about racism for any black person? That it’s stripped us of our humanity.
Not just in the obvious ways. To be human is to be unique, to be individual. To be black, however, is to be a part of a presumed monolith. Your views are always totally dictated by your race and allegiance toward Negritude, even though black people frequently complain about how black people don’t stick together nearly enough.
My take is the same as Scoop’s and Jemele’s and LZ’s, according to so many readers. We all just look for a reason to jump on a topic involving race. That’s what we do.
Because it’s not just me, or her, or him. It’s we.
We’re asked our opinions on anything another of us says, especially about race, though my colleagues aren’t asked to answer for us or each other in the same way.
I only write about black people because of some favoritism, even though there’s no reason to say that unless you have some presumption about what black people do. You know, because we’re all doing the same thing.
The word is that we only talk about race. Check this archive page and tell me where you see that. More importantly, show me where, in the stories where race is the major issue, how the story could have been done without discussing race.
By my count, that was only about four of the first page. Maybe that’s less than my white counterparts, but there are a few theories on what that might mean.
My voice is mine. It is no one else’s. I don’t represent black people. I represent the view of a black man, one influenced by the experiences that come from that, but one that’s individual within that blackness. I’m concerned with race because it’s at the center of this society, but I ain’t doing nothing because of what anyone else wants or some sort of allegiance. I’ve got a brain, and it’s not conjoined with any other.
In other words, I offer a voice full of humanity. Whether anyone sees it that way or not. And that ain’t about to change.
22 thoughts on “Today's Discussion of Race in America”
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This is why I don’t like crackers; they always got some racist shit to say. And when they’re trying to be fair, they’re even more racist. I hate when I see a white person at the basketball court wearing some oversized shorts and a fitted cap. He walks around grinning like, “Hey black guys look at me, I’m cool.” Shut the fuck up white boy and pass the ball.
With that being said, I’m from the South so I love to hear about football. I don’t care anything about passing – just rushing. As soon as there is a white tailback who rushes for 1,000 yds, I’ll get a poster of him and put it on my wall right beside my autographed picture of Barry Sanders.
Joke, right? I believe someone (probably white) is trying to cause trouble. Cause I wear big shorts but an adjustable hat because my head’s pretty big and I ain’t passing whether I’m white or not because I can shoot it.
And, Bo, racisim (and classism) has stripped white people of their humanity as well. Look no deeper than the publicized response from NCCU students and some “experts” to the Duke non-rape case. For some reason, it seems, because they were white and rich that’s why they got off. Instead of the fact they happened to be innocent.
Mike Nifong would have never gone after me in this case. White, I am. Rich, I’m not. I wouldn’t have been as valuable or as evil. Race. Class. For that matter gender. It’s all too much.
I’m more off topic than the guy before. Sorry.
Damn. I wish I had read Ced125’s post BEFORE I headed off to Foot Locker. What am I gonna do with the shorts and cap I just bought?
Although, maybe it’s more because I’m 41 that I shouldn’t wear them than any other reason…
Guess I’d better get the “Steve Stockton” shorts outta mothballs.
And knowing how things go in cycles, how long until 70s/80s style shorts are back in style in the NBA?
Oh, and Ced125, where do you want me to send this Craig James poster?
Wow Ced125 I guess you THOUGHT you were going to gain “props” for your post, instead you are getting slammed for it. But just like Don, I think that post was probably written with the intent to “stir things up”. Either way, it is recieving EXACTLY what it deserves. It’s great that you love rushing but when you made your comment about letting you know when a white player rushes for 1,000 yards & then you’ll get a poster of him, well when you find a tailback that brings in even CLOSE to what Peyton makes in a year and I’ll buy HIS poster…………..
Ashley, maybe you and Ced125 can hook up and make little racist babies!
Why don’t you both go away?
Bo, I feel you’re frustration. However, I hope that you don’t shrink from writing about “Black issues” because of this chat.
Even though you’re a fully formed human being with a wide range of interests, you’re also Black and you bring with a unique perspective that 88% of the US population won’t understand.
Rex, who is Steve Stockton? Nash’s and John’s adopted son?
Hashim, 88% won’t understand? Oh boy. Honestly, if only 12% of the population will understand can ESPN guarantee that a high enough percentage of that 12% will actually read Bo’s stuff to make it worthwhile to pay him for it? Probably not. Methinks it’s more than probable that you underestimate Bo AND at least some in that 88%. Just my opinion. Now I gotta go shrink my shorts.
HAHA…I am totally loving EVERY comment that Don is making. You obviously feel the semi-same way I do about most of these comments…lol……….
Jeez. I went to school with a Steve Stockton. Some names are hardwired in your brain.
Yes, I meant “John.”
Crap. I promise not to make any racist babies with Ashley.
Steve Stockton??? ok. whatever.
When did a white running back last rush for over 1000 yds., 1965? Oh yeah, I like Peyton Manning; but anyone who saw the Super Bowl knows that the two Colts runnings backs actually should have shared the MVP trophy.
Your line and your backs dictate the pace of the game. Passing opens up when defenses stack up against the run. Go see Joe Montana and Roger Craig during the 80’s
And buddy who bought the adjustable hat proved my point. They no longer sell adjustable hats in black malls. You have to buy fitted hats. They’re less practical and more expensive. I think that answers most of these corny-ass posts. I’m out Bo
Craig James rushed for over a thousand in the 80s.
I’ve been buying fitted caps since–forever. Not a style thing for me, but a “fits better” thing… I didn’t even know it was trend nowadays.
The comments in this section sadden me… they are a direct demonstration of the divide that doesn’t need to exist.
The us vs them paranoia is bullshit ON BOTH SIDES. Bo writes about wanting to be perceived as an individual, and there are still all of these “my people, your people” comments in the blog?
two words: Flex fit.
Dan, I’m telling you…flex fit don’t work for me. Still leaves that crease in the forehead.
Somehow, I managed to turn a blog about race into a conversation about sportswear…cool.
But back to race relations in America. Why do people insist that there is no difference? Y’all white boys know you can’t hoop, you know you can’t beat a nigga in the 100-yd dash (the mile maybe, but not the 100), and you know the raps you make up and the dances you attempt are all bogus. Go watch dancing with the stars and watch how the black people kickass and the white people watch in amazement.
If you want to learn more about race, go to any mixed college and ask an asian dude where the math department is, I bet he knows the building and room number. Now ask a white boy where the liquor store is and ask a black kid for the cheat codes on NBA2K7. Instead of pretending these differences don’t exist, we should try to learn about them and adjust our attitudes towards one another.
So, you’d prefer the first things white people think to talk to you about are basketball, hip hop, and dancing?
Clearly, I’ve been misled.
“This is why I don’t like crackers; they always got some racist shit to say” is now my new email signature.
Thank you, Ced for that. I’d type more but I’m laughing too damn hard.
what do you think of whitlock’s response to the furor over imus?
If they don’t know where and how you stand by now, they probably never knew that you stood for something in the first place.
Keep doin’ ya thing, bruh….
Whitlock is dead-on in a number of ways. His point on the revs is what everybody knows, however. Stringer stood up for her kids though and I am glad she did.
Look, Imus was annoying…I stopped listening to him a long time ago, not because he was offensive but because he wasn’t funny…he’s also too freakin liberal for me. His biggest mistake was attacking kids that did nothing to deserve it. I could give two shits whether I ever hear Imus on the radio again…he just doesn’t matter. But the uproar over his comments is simply one more example of a white person getting persecuted for saying something that nobody should be saying…especially in public. Personally, I find Chappelle funny as hell and laugh when he jokes white people, black people, Asians. Same thing with that Hispanic dude Mencia. I laugh at some rap lyrics that are just deplorable if you get down to it. But I’m a middle aged man. That stuff doesn’t shape me…just because Imus or Chappelle or Mencia say something about one race or another, it doesn’t change how I feel about any race. If I was 13 it might. 13 year olds ain’t watching Imus. They ARE listening to pretty bad shit on CDs and BET and MTV though.
I think that racism is real in America, so is classism and sexism. They should not stop you from doing your job. People are people…you have cool people and you have assholes…and the truth is WE ALL can be one or the other at any given time depending on when you catch us.
The truth is people say ignorant things. A lot of white people don’t really know any Black folks on a level that is deeper than surface (work, class, the security guard at the store). The same is true with Black folks not getting to know any White people on a more than surface level. There are some things that can be linked to a group, but the media and pop culture makes it seem as if everybody can be grouped and labeled.
There are some really good people out there if you take the time to get to know them. I can personally say that I have had some white folks step up in my life that made me have to kill all the labeling bullshit. Nuff respect to Kirk, White Boy Troy and Pastor Bob!!
Bo, you are a damn good writer and it doesn’t matter which topic you discuss. Your insight, use of language and ability to make the reader connect with you are amazing. If they don’t like what you got to say, fuck’em……they may not like it, but they felt it and thats all you can hope to do.
Keep doing your thing Baba.