LeBron James, Media and Race: Do African-Americans Play the Race Card Too Often?
Several weeks ago James suggested that race played a factor in some of the negative press he’s been receiving. Now James is receiving racist Tweets to demonstrate his claim of race is real.
James issued the following after he released the Tweets, "I just want you guys to see it also," James said after the Heat's practice Wednesday afternoon. "To see what type of words that are said toward me and towards us as professional athletes. Everybody thinks it is a bed of roses and it's not."
One of the Tweets characterized James as, "a big nosed big lipped bug eyed (racial slur). Ur greedy, u try to hide ur ghettoness."
Another Tweet stated, "Why don't u speak by laying ur head under a moving car."
Now do you believe LeBron James is unfairly playing the race card?
Much of the negative scrutiny James is getting surfaced a result of the interview he and his manager Maverick Carter conducted with CNN's Soledad O'Brien.
Here’s how James and Carter responded to the criticism:
“It’s just about control and not doing it the way it’s always been done or not looking the way that it always looks,” Carter said.
And when asked if race played a role:
“I think so at times,” James said. “It’s always, you know, a race factor.”
Carter added:
“It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure.”
Now James has the Tweets to back it up.
Let’s analyze the reaction along racial lines. African-Americans didn’t abandon or dislike James for taking his “talents to South Beach.” Some were merely disappointed in how he orchestrated the handling of “The Decision.”
For whites, “The Decision” took on greater significance. Many, particularly in Cleveland, felt duped. They felt James turned his back on a city that did so much for him.
Gilbert issued what some considered a rant showered with racial undertones. Gilbert was visibly upset because his most prized possession bolted for what he deemed better working conditions.
Gilbert issued the following: “This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown 'chosen one' sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And 'who' we would want them to grow-up to become. But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called 'curse' on Cleveland, Ohio.”
Rev. Jesse Jackson was vocal about the situation. Jackson suggested Gilbert’s rant was reminiscent of a slave master losing his most valuable buck. Jackson stated, "His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner-employee relationship—between business partners—and LeBron honored his contract."
From the time Gilbert’s rant hit the airwaves, when activists like Jackson and journalists like yours truly weighed in, race became a factor in how James was being bashed in the media.
Next the Q-Score was released. It is a poll that demonstrates to what degree athletes are liked or disliked. The poll revealed the most hated athletes were all African-American.
I was very vocal in print and on the radio airwaves about my disapproval of the poll.
Here are the six athletes:
- Michael Vick
- Tiger Woods
- Terrell Owens
- Chad Ochocinco
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James
Where are the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Roger Clemens, Brett Favre, Lance Armstrong, and Mark McGwire?
Where are the white guys?
It is merely the concept of social-engineering. It is a concept by which the white mainstream media induces viewers to perceive a select group and or situation in a fashion that satisfies their selected agenda.
The consummate example would be O.J. Simpson and the infamous “Trial of the Century".
Remember when O.J. was in the back of his Ford Bronco as his friend AC Cowlings was driving down the Los Angeles freeway? People flocked to the highways cheering for O.J.
Remember, “The Juice is on the loose” and “Go O.J. Go!” signs?
The vast majority of those people who lined those highways were white. They supported OJ to the hilt without knowing all of the facts as to whether he committed a double-murder.
For many African-Americans, it was about whether he actually committed a double-murder crime. Furthermore, O.J. had long since abandoned the African-American community. He wasn’t really a celebrated figure like a Jim Brown. O.J.’s stature in the African-American community wasn’t that great.
As time progressed O.J. was taken into custody, a jury was selected, both sides argued their cases, and it was time for a verdict. An interesting phenomenon would take place.
When O.J. was first taken into custody in summer of 1994, many whites cheered O.J., while African-Americans were largely on the fence. When the verdict was read in Oct. of 1995, African-Americans around the country rejoiced, while many whites were outraged O.J. “got off”.
There is an inherent sense within the African-American community to protect our own when attacked by whites in the mainstream. Based on the historical development of America, African-Americans are acutely aware that the criminal justice system has been more criminal that it has been just.
In essence, their loyalty to O.J. as a potential African-American victim in the system, trumped his abandoning their race. Even if some felt he committed murder, they wanted him to go free, while many of those whites who once supported O.J., wanted him convicted for killing two white people.
The latter is merely a manifestation of the concept of social-engineering.
With respect to James being liked in the media by whites, to now being largely disliked, is similar to what O.J. went through. When he orchestrated “The Decision”, African-Americans were not irate, but rather, disappointed he left Cleveland.
Once Gilbert issued his rant and began burning James’ jersey, the media began crucifying him. This ensured African-Americans would firmly support James while many whites turned on him.
Why?
Let’s look at this logically: Who controls the mass media?
Who was writing the negative commentary on James after “The Decision?”
Who creates and participates in such polls as the Q-Score?
The answer is white males.
According to The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports, 94 percent of the Sports Editors and 88 percent of the Sports Columnists in this country are white.
How can someone logically assert James is unfairly playing the race card when percentages reveal otherwise?
Actually, what is the race card?
The “race card” was created by whites. It was created to exempt a segment of white America from acknowledging and explaining the legacy of racism in this country.
It’s a tactic utilized to dilute the legitimacy claims of race. Hence, a segment of whites embrace most claims of race lack substance. They assert African-Americans cry race in efforts of not staking their claim, implying they’d rather embrace mediocrity.
White America will never admit racism exists in sport and society. The combination of silence and ignorance helps to mask legitimate claims of race.
Some whites will suggest the mere fact I’m writing about race makes me a racist.
When African-American historians lecture about the historical development of this country and the rise of American slavery, they are depicted as racist.
When African-American athletes like LeBron James assert race is a factor in his mainstream mistreatment, he is unfairly playing the race card.
Let’s look at this situation from a historical perspective: Did people who look like LeBron James write the statement declared in the Constitution "all people are created equal", yet simultaneously allow slavery to pervade in its society?
Did people who look like LeBron James lynch people for over 100 years because of the color of their skin?
Did people who look LeBron James sick dogs on innocents because they wanted their Civil Rights?
Did people who look like LeBron James purposely infect people of color here and abroad with STD's, letting them persist for decades?
Do people who look like LeBron James own and control the mainstream media in America?
The answer is no. White males are responsible for the latter.
How can telling the truth about what’s transpired in the past, and what’s happening now, be considered playing the race card?
African-American athletes like James who speak the truth unfairly get labeled as racists or playing the race card. This is due to a segment of white America living in a collective denial about racism.
During slavery, if a slave tried to run away from the plantation to secure freedom, the act of running would be considered racist, yet nothing would be said about the how slavery was a barbaric institution that restricted freedom.
During the late 1800’s up until the Civil Rights Movement, if an African-American citizen was being lynched and they fought to evade being killed, the victims would be considered racist, yet the act of lynching another human being would not be considered inhumane.
When Jim Brown would score touchdowns for the Cleveland Browns in the 1950’s, he’d be applauded for his athleticism, yet as a man he was expected to adhere segregation. When Brown would speak out against racial injustice, he would be characterized as racist, but Jim Crow was not denounced.
Whites created the race-card. Whites have defined its meaning through their actions. It’s a tool utilized to continue racism and not diminish it; as way to keep from facing the past; as a way of controlling the future.
The African-American athletes and journalists with platforms should utilize them to bring about change. Opting for silence ensures, rather then aiding in, sweeping viable issues that need to be addressed under the rug.
Any person with a level of consciousness about the historical development of this country owes it to that society to making it a better place, whether the truth hurts or not.
In closing, LeBron James wasn’t playing the race card unfairly. He was expressing exactly how he believed all along.
Now he has the Tweets to back it up.
Email Dexter directly. Follow him on Twitter. Read about Sports & More from Dexter. For Media Requests please contact Public Relations.
