Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio asked for future NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O'Neal's special deputy badge Tuesday after his now-famous freestyle at a New York night club. Surprisingly, Arpaio's decision is not in reference to his freestyle, but his derogatory and foul language. Go figure.
I am by no means a criminal. I haven't even received a speeding ticket in almost six years. But I know two things: Cops (a) use profanity and (b) use racial epithets.
I myself have been a "victim" of both by white cops and black cops. And I know that Satchel Page is not a special case. Being a black man in this country, you can almost expect that at some point in time. It's not a badge that we wear to reserve any special attention. It's just a reality that we have to deal with and challenge. And I'm pretty sure that at least one of Arpaio's officers have used obscenities and racial slurs to enforce their authority over a potential suspect.
In this hyper-sensitive racial climate that we live in today, our celebrities, politicians, and athletes are subject to have their words heavily scrutinized for questionable language. And many times they are treated unfairly. This case is an example of such. I clearly do not believe that Shaq's punishment was justified.
First, we must understand the setting. Shaq was performing a freestyle at a nightclub. Anyone who knows anything about hip-hop and, in particular, in a freestyle setting, also knows that anything goes. Much to the chagrin of the ancient establishment, hip-hop is a genre of music, and, therefore, an art form.
And Shaq's freestyle, as wack as it was, falls under the jurisdiction of the arts, which grants him amnesty for such language. Hip-hop music, especially freestyling, is a platform for raw expression, as it artistically details those deep crevices of one's mind and lays out one's perspectives on life unapologetically.
As an emcee, I can tell you that the stream of consciousness does not go to "oh, who am I going to offend if I say this" when freestyling. And there is a beauty in that.
I personally do not use the now-notorious, but ironically, ever-more popular "N"-word toward anyone, and haven't in about six years. I do use that word in context, however, in reference to one's actions and not a particular person or persons, i.e. someone acting "N"-word-ish (that was silly) as it then somewhat removes racial connotations and becomes its literal definition as someone who is ignorant.
Secondly, although it's almost embarrassing to admit, rap is one of Shaq's occupations. True, we haven't had an album from Shaq since 1998's Respect—knock on wood—but that's a mere technicality. He's been busy winning four NBA titles and other individual awards since then. So he hasn't had time to spare in the lab.
If Shaq had his police badge removed from him for his comments while freestyling, he should've never been given a badge to begin with. It's naive to think that Shaq does not use such language on the court, his most prominent breadwinner. I'm pretty sure that Shaq's language on the court would make that freestyle safe enough for your grandmother to sing along to.
So why would Shaq's badge be removed? Simple: FACETIME!
Aside from the Internet and its allegiance to anonymity, television is the best medium to say and do stupid stuff and be popular for it. And you don't have to become a Paris Hilton, famous for doing nothing. You can settle for just blowing-a-silly-rap-caught-on-video-and-that-is-blown-out-of-proportion famous.
Besides, the ramifications for that are a lot less risky than Ms. Hilton's. He would have been better off saying that Shaq was a lousy cop. Or, better yet, fire him for his entire filmography. That would be a lot more justifiable.
Well, congrats to you, Sheriff Arpaio. You, good sir, have knocked down Satchel Page's writer's block.
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3 months ago
Gud Article man! i Agree
3 months ago
Question for you. I am Native American and Thai, I kinda look caucasian. I get called white. I hear people of African ancestry refered to as black. but for all my 36 years I have never once met an actual black or white person. What gives? Why do these labels exist? I feel pretty damn left out of your little game seeing as no one uses red or yellow to describe Native Americans or Asian people (I guess those were even more obviously retarded then black and white).
In my Color and Design class in college if I had used black and white to describe the color values of human skin I would get an F. It seems we are smart enough to know better but to lazy to do better. Pretty sad.
from 3 months ago
Sup, Ken. I don't mind being called black. It's a label that we (meaning black people) have created for ourselves. As you are well aware, majority of black people in the United States and abroad descended from Africa via the slave trade. Kings, Queens, laymen, wives, and children were brought against their will without regards to what tribe they were from. The only commonality to slave traders was they were dark skinned and would bring in money. Upon the arrival to this country in particular, those Africans were given several names throughout time. Nigger, spade, colored, jigs, porch monkey, African-Americans, for example. Black was however, a name that we gave ourselves as oppose to being given names. Whatever your Native American lineage I'm sure that tribe gave themselves that name and not have a name given to them. All that to say I'm proud to be called black. It doesn't make me anything better or worse, any more or less intelligent than any other people. There's nothing wrong with labels. So long as we don't judge according to those labels. The last thing I want is a "gray" society where we lose the ethnics characteristics that make us all special in our own way.
btw, I have heard Native Americans referred to as red (Washington Redskins Hello!) and Asians referred to as yellow.
from 3 months ago
also, I don't want you to lose focus on the article because I mentioned something about race. I was referring to myself and I should be able to do that.
3 months ago
totally agree man. good job engaging the readers on a discussion that should be had
3 months ago
Maybe the rap and all the hype over it was just a smoke screen for Arpaio. He really wanted to fire Shaq because Shaq promised to bring Phoenix a title this year, and they didn't even make it past the first round.
from 3 months ago
another good reason to fire him.
3 months ago
You state: "Anyone who knows anything about Hip Hop and in particular, a freestyle setting, know that anything goes."
So if a white guy gets up at a hip-hop battle and talks about "lynching niggers" and "crack-ho babies" that would be ok? Or would the crowd kill him?
Just curious if it's as tolerant as you portray it.
from 3 months ago
Bubba, I haven't heard a white guy rap about "'lynching niggers' and 'crack-ho babies'" as you so eloquently put it. And I know what your getting at. Truth is, I have heard some stuff that isn't as P.C. or uncreative as those references. And to be honest with you, in a freestyle dude had better come with it or the crowd wouldn't have to kill him, because whoever he would be referring to would tear him out the frame. Lyrically I mean.
3 months ago
I had to have a good laugh when I saw Sheriff Joe Arpaio doing something like this. He's not exactly a model public servant. He's been known to serve bologna that has turned green to his prisoners, and has been accused of many harsher forms of abuse in his term as Sheriff.
from 3 months ago
ok that's gross.
from 3 months ago
Was it St. Paddy's Day? Because if it was maybe he was just trying to cheer the guys up.
3 months ago
Hey Joe! I must comment you on your statement about the prefect Sheriff Joe Arpaio; I thank he should have taken his own badge as well!
3 months ago
I totally agree with you. Cops for the most part thinnk that since they are part of the law, it means that they are above the law. They think because they are powerful pepole they can say and do whatever they want to do and just get away with it even if it means punishment later. What happened with Shaq is no diffrenet then what any other cop does at a routine traffic stop sometimes. There were other ways to deal with the situation if it truley brought embarresment to the sherrif. Yet because Shaq is a public figure he takes a very unusual punishment, and that my friend is unconstioutional!
3 months ago
The bottom line is that Sheriff is an elected position. This is about votes, period. There might be an African American population of about 2% in Maricopa county and this guy, as we all know, is a "law and order" cop. Those people love the dude, and I'm sure that they are eating this stuff up with a shovel. The guy is a smart politician who knows where his votes come from and how to turn those people on. It also doesn't hurt that Shaq is a fat, flabby caricature of his former self who wasn't able to do jack for the Suns. If they had made it to the finals my bet is that the Sheriff would have overlooked this whole thing.
3 months ago
Sheriff Joe is a joke and everybody in Phoenix knows it.
Shaq could probably beat him in the next election.
3 months ago
Shaq's firing is simply an example of a white boy trying to be more n***** than Shaq.
Look out for Sheriff Joe to put in a O'Neal diss track in the next few days.
Oh. Tell me how that bologna tastes!
Oh. Tell me how that bologna tastes!
3 months ago
I think it's important to note that Sheriff Joe is the biggest publicity seaking politician in Arizona. This guy does ANYTHING to get in front of a camera. He makes the inmates in "tent city" wear pink underwear.... he will do anything to get on TV. What better way to get on TV than to give Shaq an honorary Sheriff badge... better yet... let's take it away.
3 months ago
seriously...i dont know what you guys are talking about. i love cops the 500 here in jackson keep all 200,000 people safe...
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