Racist Roulette

"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well.”

In 2003, Rush Limbaugh uttered these apparently “racist” words about quarterback Donovan McNabb while serving as an NFL analyst for ESPN. The reaction was vicious and widespread, complete with the likes of Tom Jackson and other black athletes and commentators expressing the “pain” and “disgust” they felt upon hearing them.

“My question, which is just a straight honest question – Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother? He's not real. OK, he's black, he kind of does the thing, but he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kind of black but he's not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he's off to something else."

Rob Parker said these things last Thursday, while working on ESPN’s “First Take”, about Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.

He went on to add these gems: “We all know he has a white fiancé. There was all this talk about how he's a Republican, which, I don't really care, there's no information at all.”

The backlash, as expected, has not been anywhere near what it was with Limbaugh’s comments and, if I were one to get offended by such things, this sure seemed more offensive. In ESPN’s minor defense, they have suspended Parker, for now, and it will be interesting to see if they have the balls to complete the full act of ridding themselves of this racist, by their own apparent standards.

The difference, you may ask? In my less than humble opinion, it’s because Rob Parker is a black man speaking about another black man. For some ridiculous reason, there’s apparently some “rule” in place for that and this seems to garner a pass. Forget the FACT that if a white man were to question another white man’s “whiteness” because his fiancé was black, on national television no less, shit would hit the proverbial fan and we all know it.

Another black ESPN employee, Stephen A. Smith, CLEARLY uttered the dreaded “N-word” a few months back and it was brushed aside quickly and denied that it even occurred.

Again, that unwritten rule of blacks being able to use horribly derogatory terms against their own race seems to apply. But, if that’s the rule in play here, why is damned near every black comedian out there free and clear to use “honkey” or “cracker” in their standup routines, while also continually making fun of white voices and such stereotypes as the inability to dance? This is another HUGE “shoe on the other foot” example that definitely doesn’t escape the radar when perpetrated by a white comedian.

Just the fact that I didn’t use “H-word” or “C-word”, as I did “N-word”, shows that there’s a far different level of comfort there, which really shouldn’t exist if we’re being honest with ourselves about stamping out racism.

I, for one, could give 2-shits and I honestly mean that. Most stereotypes exist because there’s a lot of truth to them and I find black comedians far funnier (stereotype?) than most white ones, ESPECIALLY when they’re poking fun at me. Look, my cock IS small, I CAN’T jump all that high and I DO probably use “dude” a little too much. I CAN dance like a motherfucker though – so you assholes can cool that shit right now!

But the rest of our “holier than thou” society who are so easily offended should really explore these “rules” that seem to be in place if they’re sincere about changing society.

Here are some more glaring quotes on the same topic:

“He doesn’t look like he’s that type of an athlete. But he is. He is, man. I don’t know…some brother down in that line somewhere…I don’t know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the ‘hood or something went down.” ~ Michael Irvin (black) on NFL QB Tony Romo (white)

Referred to him as a “yellow chump” and ordering that “motherfucker to make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice,” ~ Floyd Mayweather Jr. (black) on fellow boxer Manny Pacquiao (Filipino)

“This is why I hate white people. You guys try to turn everything into a racial issue.” ~ Charles Barkley (black)

Michael Irvin insinuates that Romo’s ancestor must’ve fucked a black man to achieve his athletic success, Mayweather makes insensitive remarks about Pacquiao’s Asian heritage and Barkley flat out says he hates white people, though I’d assume that was in a jesting manner.

My thick skin is virtually unfazed by any of those comments, but less asshole of folks would surely be offended. Once again, if a white man hinted, hell STATED, that a black man’s mother must’ve banged a white guy to be successful at hockey or golf, made stereotypical comments about a cohort’s skin color and food preferences or even jokingly stated that he “hated black people”, let’s just say you’d hear about it, as opposed to a majority of you that probably never heard the comments above.

Race is another taboo topic, not that I give a shit, and it is touchy as hell. It’s simpler for me, at least in my own mind, because I’m not easily offended and realize the realities of the world we live in, as well as accept our differences without having to necessarily hate each other because of them.

But if network executives, athletes, talking heads and movie stars are going to continue to scream racism at every turn, even at the most obvious of jokes, they may want to take in some black comedy and music…or apparently just turn on their favorite sports channel.

Then, they need to realize that there’s “another foot”, if you will. You can either be less goddamned sensitive to everything or more goddamned diligent to ALL SIDES of everything…but you can’t have it both ways.

Your favorite honkey signing off…KMFP-out!


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