Racism appears where admiration should reside

Daily Oklahoman - Electronic edition ^ | 2/3/07 | Carrie Coppernoll

[T-Bird45]

Watching the NFL playoff games, I heard the announcer discussing the possibility of the first black coach going to the Super Bowl. A black coach has never made it to the Super Bowl. Really? I was surprised. Surely someone had done that, I thought, but no, no one had.

Race will always matter whether we want it to or not. Milestones like this will be noticed less and less, though, as we become a more accepting place for people of all colors.

I asked NewsOK users if it is significant that two black coaches - Lovie Smith of the Bears and coach Tony Dungy of the Colts - are going to the Super Bowl. Most answers shocked and saddened me.

When I posted the question, I expected words of encouragement for Smith and Dungy, maybe some comments on how they are positive role models for young people. The responses were much different.

One man wrote: "Yes, the fact that blacks can rise to the position of NFL coach, US Secretary of State or Oklahoma's 4th District Congressman exposes people like Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson for the lying, race-hustling poverty pimps they are. The only thing holding back someone in this country is an unwillingness to hitch up their hip-hop, prison-bride pants and work as hard in the classroom as they do at playing sports or behaving like anti-social gangstas, even if it means 'acting white.'"

Someone else wrote: "I'm tired of everything being black and white. The blacks want to be treated equal but they are always bringing up the 'race card.' They use their color like an excuse. Big deal that the coaches are black. Ninety percent of the NFL teams are black and have been for years. It's time to get over the color of their skin. A black man has a better chance of getting into the NFL than a white man just because of his color, and they want to make a big deal about the coaches being black? My thought on the subject is no big deal."

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and MyNewsOK is designed to be a place for discussion and debate. As furious as these comments made me, I'm glad they were posted. It's a reminder that prejudice still exists. In their explanations of why race doesn't matter, these two MyNewsOK users show exactly why it does. I don't even know what "prison-bride pants" means.

People who use terms like "race-hustling poverty pimps" and "race card" are the reason milestones like the game Sunday still need to be celebrated.

[T-Bird45]

The comments directed toward the reporter's inquiry are very similar to generally accepted perspectives and comments on FR. Do you accept or reject her assertion of racism and prejudice?

BTW, the copy above was typed in because I could not copy/paste -- forgive any typos. Also the link may not work because it is to the electronic edition. If you want the actual article, I can e-mail it to you -- send me a PM.

[BenLurkin]

This guy is clueless.

"Yes, the fact that blacks can rise to the position of NFL coach, US Secretary of State or Oklahoma's 4th District Congressman exposes people like Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson for the lying, race-hustling poverty pimps they are. The only thing holding back someone in this country is an unwillingness to hitch up their hip-hop, prison-bride pants and work as hard in the classroom as they do at playing sports or behaving like anti-social gangstas, even if it means 'acting white.'"

That person IS commenting on 'how they are positive role models for young people.'

It is right on point but the columnist can't see the truth forest for his liberal trees.

[sgtbono2002]

Who gives a Red Rats patoot?

[BenLurkin]

Similarly:

"I'm tired of everything being black and white. It's time to get over the color of their skin."

Carrie thinks this is racist?

Carrie, is it racist to not care about skin color?

[T-Bird45]

Checked the link - it works but only to the first few paragraphs.

Pinging OKC locals - thought you might like to comment on a local column.

[rocksblues]

I guess this reporter has the White Guilt Syndrome. I don't.

[ExpatGator]

I reject the assertion, and see nothing but truth in those two responses.

Do you accept or reject the assertion?

[rickmichaels]

I asked NewsOK users if it is significant that two black coaches - Lovie Smith of the Bears and coach Tony Dungy of the Colts - are going to the Super Bowl.

But what if one team loses? Won't the coach of that team be a victim of racism?

[T-Bird45]

I think she found what she really went looking for, at least in her mind. I reject the assertion. I am also astounded at how narrowly she views the world that she would not know what "prison-bride pants" are.

[MHGinTN]

Gee, and here I was under the mistaken impression that the super bowl was a game of football between two teams who earned the right to play for the championship. Who knew it would be a racila issue?... The network goons, that's who.

Last night there was a CBS program on best ads from past super bowls. The Mean Joe Green Coke ad continues to win and I would bet nobody watches the ad and says to themself, "Gosh, Joe Green is black ... that commercial must be racially motivated, somehow." Frankly, I don't even notice Joe is a blackman unless some dolt brings up the 'issue' ... he's a man, a man who worked damned hard to be the best at what he chose to pursue. PERIOD. I'm old enough to recall Rosie Greer or the Purple People Eaters, and I'll bet not three at FreeRepublic can off of the top of their head recall if and whom were the white guys on those front line defenses.

[MHGinTN]

Rosie was in LA and the Purple Gang was in Minnesota, BTW.

[spikeytx86]

This man is spot on. In fact I found another disturbing quote from a nother bigot;

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

When will people learn end the bigoted death spiral to equality? (Do I even need to say sarc?)

[Arrowhead1952]

If you think that's bad, check this article.

Stephanopoulos Overstates Obama: A Lot of Blacks 'Didn't Know He Was Black'

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

You brought up about exactly the same point that was going to: that many of these are the "accepted perspectives and comments on FR" [of some freepers]. The fact is, is that the United States isn't a people-group[color]blind society yet, and that people who go "la, la, la; no racism here" aren't helping the country go in that direction (which it is, albeit not fast enough). Personally, and reluctantly, support the media's social engineering in television shows to try to eradicate racism--when you're dealing with people's lives, sometimes even underhanded methods can be used to speed things up.

[workerbee]

I reject the assertion that the comments are racist. What's sad here is the fact that anyone felt compelled to announce or point out the fact that the coach, whoever he is, is black. Or that the author thought to herself, there's never been a black coach at the Super Bowl? THOSE are the people who want to continue defining everyone and their accomplishments by their skin color.

[spikeytx86]

"When will people learn end the bigoted death spiral to equality? (Do I even need to say sarc?)"

learn to*

"a nother"

another*

Haven't been to bed yet so the screen is a little blurry my apologies :)

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I think that the problem with these comments is that while they are good points, the people who made them seem to also be racists. That is, they use language that gives you the feeling that they don't like blacks. It's probably more the case that they're sick to death of hearing about race, but don't know how to express themselves well.

I got into a discussion about this subject last night with an Asian friend of mine. I told her that minorities seem to be obsessed with their ethnicity (that is, the ones I'm friends with) when no one else cares! One of my black friends is forever pointing out other black people, talking about "black" qualities and "white" qualities, etc. Me? When I think of the minority friends I have, I don't think "oh, that's my Asian friend" or "That's my Thai friend." I think of people as who they are as people. This one is my funny friend. That one is my thoughtful friend. Black, white, Asian, I don't care, but stop talking about your race! It drives me nuts. I don't think that race defines us, but it seems that many people think it does.

My grandmother cracked me up many, many years ago when she proudly announced to us all, "I *LOVE* black people!" Oh my goodness! It was hysterical! As if you could love people based on their skin color. Imagine if she (a Caucasian) had said, "I love white people!"

The Korean woman I was talking to last night (a new friend) asked me if when I think of her, I think of her as Korean. I said, "No, I think of you as Lisa." Then she thanked me! Huh? It's not like it's something I work on and consider an accomplishment.

Sorry to ramble. I just don't get all the focus on race.

[T-Bird45]

I'll bet not three at FreeRepublic can off of the top of their head recall if and whom were the white guys on those front line defenses.

I can only recall one (I think) -- Merlin Olsen. Do I get partial credit?

As to your point about Joe Green being black, you are absolutely on point and it is a great response to the columnist that what we really ought to be discussing is the human race achieving a significant goal, not the color of the person's skin.

[Gondring]

http://newsok.com/article/3007717/ is the link

[T-Bird45]

Good post -- I think you are especially on point here: It's probably more the case that they're sick to death of hearing about race, but don't know how to express themselves well.

Your approach to describing your friends reflects a great goal/ideal for most of us. Even when we want to rise to that ideal, there are others that cannot escape the context of race being the overriding factor of their lives. This tends to affect the relationship with those friends and co-workers.