I recently visited one of my favorite eateries on my side of town, Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish off Statesville Avenue, and walked into a very spirited discussion about the Donald Sterling controversy. For as long as I can remember, wherever older black men have gathered, there have been deep conversations on almost any topic.
In case you need to be caught up, the grits hit the fan when TMZ shared excerpts of a conversation Sterling, billionaire owner of the L.A. Clippers, had with his side piece about his feelings toward black people. “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” he asked her. “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.”
As I waited in Mr. Charles’ small ordering area, one patron was receiving quite a lashing because he believed that Sterling had the right to his own opinions. Yes, Sterling has the right to his own opinions, but because he is a public figure and owner of a sports franchise that benefits from the general public’s support, he has to be held to a different standard. Athletes are contractually required to uphold their franchise’s code of conduct and ethics, so shouldn’t the owners be held to similar, if not higher, standards?
Another patron thought it was interesting Sterling had issues with black people but his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, is part black (the other half is Latina). I might have been a fledgling in this discussion, but what I lacked in age I more than made up for in years of classroom debate. I entered the conversation like a young pit bull.
I shared that Sterling exhibited a classic 12 Years a Slave mentality when it came to people of color. They can be owned, exploited and even sexually objectified, but they are not in his eyes his equal.
Our debate went against an article that had, since the Sterling debacle, spread across social media like wildfire: Gawker’s “Black People Are Cowards.” The author was being provocatively facetious and was really asking for a call to action. As a community, he argued, we needed to step up our game.
But judging from the increasingly animated discussion at Mr. Charles and so many similar conversations I’ve participated in about Sterling, most of us are not cowards. We are very conscious of racial attitudes — we just suffer under some of our less-informed so-called leaders.
Case in point: the now-former head of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP.
The chapter was set to give Sterling a lifetime achievement award, which it has since rescinded. But Sterling’s racism wasn’t just recently discovered. The Associated Press reported that Sterling was sued for housing discrimination in 2003 for allegedly attempting to drive blacks and Latinos out of buildings he owned.
How can a man with questionable attitudes toward minorities even be considered for an NAACP award? Very simple: money. The L.A. NAACP announced that it would consider forgiving Sterling, for, what else, a donation.
Leon Jenkins, who only days ago stepped down as the chapter’s president, shared this with the Los Angeles Times: “God teaches us to forgive, and the way I look at it, after a sustained period of proof to the African American community that those words don’t reflect his heart, I think there’s room for forgiveness.” I just love when folks bring God along to co-sign their poor decisions.
Considering that this is the same chapter that boycotted The Color Purple back in the day, I am beginning to think that its regional acronym stands for the “National Association for the Advancement of Clueless People.” If the L.A. chapter was in charge of the NAACP Image awards, we could witness the next recipient of the Strom Thurmond Commitment to Diversity come on stage to a musical tribute by Justin Bieber in blackface.
Most folks at Mr. Charles were not surprised by Sterling’s statements. Many agreed that as much as athletes earned, it was nothing compared to what the franchise owners and networks made from their talents. Many hoped that, following this debacle, athletes would warm to the idea of autonomous ownership.
Though it was harsh, Sterling’s punishment should still encourage some sort of action among players. The NBA fined Sterling $2.5 million, banned him from the league for life and is trying to force him out as owner of the Clippers, which probably won’t hurt an 81-year-old billionaire too badly.
This article appears in May 7-14, 2014.
“We are very conscious of racial attitudes — we just suffer under some of our less-informed so-called leaders.” Thank you for expressing this so eloquently.
I wasn’t surprised either about this and the only reason that he got the first award was because of money. We as human beings seem to have the green eyed devil in front of us when it comes to choosing the high or low road. Greed blinds us from seeing the bigger picture and in this case it played a big role and now NAACP is kicking themselves for allowing a person like him to tarnish their name even more. Need to get it together
Agreed. I feel that there are so many variables that contribute to our handling of these situations, where we truly suffer are with reliable organizations to support any real movement.
@jaybadz It is unfortunate that a few have been given the responsibility of speaking on the behalf of a community but often times seem clueless as to the real needs and attitudes of that community. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts!
@jmiller84 You are so correct that chasing the mighty dollar seems to cloud our better judgment in many cases. And you are also correct that those that have been either through appointment or default been entrusted with leadership need to do better. Thank you for reading and sharing your views!
My perspective always grows through your column.
@Diane Marcucci Thank you so much and please continue to read and join in the discussion!
I enjoyed this article. I’m not for sale, and i don’t think it’s Ok to buy your way out of being hateful and racist.
@Tiffene Love Screenwriter I am glad you spoke up because some leaders think a few scholarships to AA students will wipe the slate clean in regards to very questionable attitudes towards minorities. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on this topic!
I enjoyed this article and this type insightful open dialogue is beneficial . thanks
@jaybadz Again great point. It seems that some of the organizations that are in leadership positions are missing the mark. Thank you for reading and contributing to this discussion!
@Jeff Jewell Thank you for reading and please continue to join in on the discussion!
Enlightening as always….
@christopher Lewis thank you Sir and please keep reading and contributing to the discussion!
Seems racism lurks not only in Sports locker rooms but rears its ugly head in hallowed private institutes of learning as well, see Sprite films contests selection criteria for example: miss your insightful, courageous perspectives and glad there’s an impartial platform for them- Mr. Easley #penmightierthansword
I do not start out nor will I end up defending obdurate Los Angeles Clipper owner Donald Sterling as anything less or more than the billionaire businessman and bigoted man that he has proven to be.
However, I caution that insipid is not illegal. So I am very restrained against vilifying close door ignorance as a way to advance open door progress. I see no reason to force this dean of owners to abandon his $600M operation on the merit of a leaked telephone conversation with a perturbed mistress.
But now that everything is public it simply has to be treated as the public relations nightmare that it is for Mr. Sterling and the NBA.
The National Basketball Association should have “insisted” HE apologize IMMEDIATELY, that HE offer more team diversity with perhaps some minority ownership with the Clippers and that HE appoint an executor to oversee the team as HE steps away. All of that FIRST. Then the NBA should have followed with its disciplinary additions.
I applaud newly ensconced NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for seeing he needed to move swiftly amid wildcat player strike possibilities and social media fallout. But hey, all the banning and fining are little more histrionics to score public points at the current expense of this dissenter who once sued the NBA and won the right to move his team from San Diego to Los Angeles where he could make more money and gain greater visibility. And boy did he get that!
Ironically, for all his prejudice, he has probably created more positions of administrative and team leadership for minorities than any other, though those administrators were highly inept and abetted the team’s long-standing position as the laughingstock of the NBA. That till the last few seasons.
There is no need to pressure him to go.
This 80-year-old very prideful and willful man has been reduced to public and commercial spectacle– over comments he never would have publicly made. He knows what it means: game’s over. I lose. I must leave.
@Richard Butts Unfortunately issues of race, class, gender, sexuality or other such causes are still part of our popular culture. Thank you for reading and keep agitating!
@Tony-Tony Stark you bring up a good point that are we traveling a slippery slope when one’s professional portfolio can be dictated and regulated by ones personal ideas and philosophy.
I still believe that if we are going to hold players to a certain standard then the one who owns the franchise should be held accountable somehow as well.
Thank you for reading and your always insightful commentary!
Great article, Charles! The NAACP is not what it used to be. They are almost null and void. Donald Sterling is pitiful and should sit take a seat. I hope that they are able to force the sale of the Clippers. I would hate to have to suit up and go play a game for a racist man like that. That is terrible. Well, going forward, anyone who comes into contact with Sterling will know exactly what he is dealing with. Sterling’s worldview is disturbing, especially considering that we are in 2014. Some stuff will never change.
@MelyndaG Sterling is a hot mess and unfortunately there are still folks who share his views. You are correct that the NAACP seems to be struggling to find relevance in our modern day challenges. Thank you as always for reading and sharing your ideas!