Real Talk with Judge Dawson
Not everyone is a racists. That point is very important because this America would not be the “land of opportunity” without the unity of all people. In the shadow of all the greatness in this country, the NBA is investigating whether Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling made racists comments during a telephone call with his racially mixed girlfriend. It’s under investigation until the voice on the phone call is proven to be Mr Sterling’s. So to all the new generation Americans and African Americans who say that we are in a racially blind age this is proof that, for some people, we are not.
I personally listened to the nearly 10 minute telephone conversation where statements like these were made.
1."why are you taking pictures with minorities, why?”
2. "Don't put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. … And don't bring him to my games, OK?”
3. “it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?”
4. "You can sleep with them, you can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little that I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games," the person said.
5. he is "living in a culture, and I have to live within the culture. So that's the way it is."
These comments were in response to a picture that Mr. Sterling’s girlfriend took and posted on Instagram with basketball legend Ervin “Magic” Johnson Irving Johnson. For those not aware of the latest social trend, Instagram is a place on the internet where people post pictures and short messages. Its easy to use, accessible from a cell phone and extremely popular with the current generation.
Magic Johnson, being the center of the controversy, responded on his twitter account, another message vehicle on the internet, stating that "LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA.” And, "I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.”
The NBA’s response was initially very careful by stating “the remarks heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this time we have no further information," NBA executive vice president of communication Mike Bass said. He also said the league is conducting a "full investigation.”
During a television interview Charles Barkley said that he was not surprised by the comments because In 2005, Sterling, a real estate tycoon, agreed to pay an undisclosed amount in a lawsuit that alleged Sterling tried to force Koreans out of apartments in California. Additionally, in 2009, Sterling paid a then-record $2.73 million Justice Department penalty for rental housing discrimination.
Additionally, former Clippers point guard Baron Davis, who had well-chronicled battles with Sterling during his time there, wrote on his Twitter account, also presumably about Sterling, "That's the way it is ... He is honest about what he believes in..Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all.”
So what do we do with this information? My suggestion is that we continue to live up to our highest potential. If we are given the opportunity, we should confront this type of behavior, but don’t let it trap us in the the cycle of negatively or into actions that could come back to hurt us.
The NBA is shocked because in the midst of the million dollar contracts, the lights, cameras and fans these players have, for the most part, transcended the problems of the average African Americans. However on the local level, racism is not shocking, its a reality. The legal solution for those facing discrimination is to rely on the system to fight and punish those who disobey the law. There are people who specialize in this type of defense. Lawyers and everyday citizens have fought discrimination for years and their service is still needed. The second solution is for us to continue to live our best lives. Not to allow anyone to take away our peace. As a Cycle Breaker, I see this as an opportunity to go back to the time when we treated each other with love and compassion. Today, some African Americans are more disrespectful, deceitful and unfair to each other than others are to us. We often point the finger and get upset when treated unfairly but sit back quietly as we do it to each other. As Bishop Joey Johnson of the House of the Lord in Akron, Ohio stated, racism will be around until the end of time so we have to continue to dream, work for the greater good of everyone and be the best that we can be. Let’s continue to be Cycle Breakers.
For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court. ALSO, on May 19, 2014 at 5:30 pm, join us for a forum on “How to Get a Job.” East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
Social Media @JudgeDawson
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