Back in the day, when Tony Rhodin worked for a real newspaper, he published an interesting column nearly every morning. An unabashed liberal, he defended his positions much more gracefully than I do. He's still writing for Lehigh Valley Live, but the newspaper industry no longer values serious discussion. It prefers stories about sex or food, and under 300 words.
On Monday, Rhodin published a story about a young man who had committed a robbery last month. He decided to turn him into Constable Lance Wheeler, who in turn notified local police. This kid had no idea that Lance happens to be the president of the Easton NAACP. I doubt many young people know a thing about that group. He turned himself into Lance because he knew Lance is a constable and trusted him.
In his story, Rhodin felt compelled for some reason to note that Lance is "also an NAACP official in the city." Sure enough, a reader reacted with "Hmmm, NAACP ? Very interesting I think."
The reference to the NAACP was totally irrelevant to what happened. But it provided someone with an excuse to inject race into the discussion.
My example of conscious racism involves a black football player at Wilson Area High School who last year took a knee before games. He was called into the Principal's office twice. Instead of appealing to this student athlete's patriotism, the argument was that this young man was costing the school a lot of money because alumni were refusing to donate.
This year, this young man is a junior and it's his time to shine. In a scrimmage a few weeks ago, he made an outstanding tackle. After doing so, he celebrated briefly. He as cut off by a ref who said, "This ain't no ghetto. You ain't going to be acting all hood-like here."
This upset the player, who wanted to discuss the situation further after what appears to have been a racial remark by a referee. His teammates began to surround him and push him away, trying to keep him out of harm's way. He pushed back against his teammates, but pushed the wrong person. His coach. He's been kicked off the team.
Unable to play at Wilson anymore, he transferred to Notre Dame Green Pond. Under PIAA rules, he must wait 30 days before he can play. But even then, Wilson is objecting to his transfer. After kicking him off the team, Wilson may have lost the ability to "blackball" him.
What is happening to this young athlete is very conscious racism.
47 comments:
Sorry, you are reaching O'Hare. The kid is in high school and not the NFL. What happens in the NFL is a labor issue between the management and the players as contract employees. In high school you are a student and the rules are the rules. Maybe the referee said all that and maybe he didn't. I doubt the young man wanted to rationally stand and discuss it with the reff, in the middle of a game???
So his team does what all teams do and try and help their teammate. He gets aggressive and starts shoving everyone and eventually his coach. He is off the team. That is the way it has always been regardless of your color argument. First and foremost he is a student athlete. First a student and then an athlete. He is not an employee. If he ever gets to a college team or even the NFL, I guarantee you even a black coach would not put up with that shit. If you really want TO help this young man don't play the victim card and help him learn how to act and react appropriately with people. That is called teaching. You are doing him no favors.
If your not black u will never understand how we think and that's the bottom line .
Annon 123?:58. You are right. If someone is white they cannot understand how you think. However, I assume like all humans regardless of race, people "think" as individuals. I am white and will say with all sincerity that a hell of a lot of whit people act and think like assholes. I don't judge myself by their thoughts are behaviors. I think 12:23 made some good points. Are you claiming that black coaches in the collegiate and pros as well as at all levels of sports who do not tolerate such behavior are not thinking like "Africa-Americans"??
Sorry that does not hold water. It is sad as this young man seems to be getting in trouble. At this stage of his young life it would be best to help re-direct him as opposed to finding excuses for bad behavior.
12:58, agree. And you will never know how whites think. So where are we going here? Shall we shut down discussion, or forge ahead?
Bernie, you are really stretching on this one. Apparently the constable is your buddy and you are on your soap box. Hell, consciously NS unconsciously?? You have people coming and going. So I guess no rules or you are a racist.. What A BULLSIT argument.
Couldn't read your whole article Bernie. I'm just glad I didn't knock on the wrong car window thinking it was Uber and a Coach attacks me.
Let's start with the supposed "conscious" racism against the black athlete:
"He was called into the Principal's office twice. Instead of appealing to this student athlete's patriotism, the argument was that this young man was costing the school a lot of money because alumni were refusing to donate."
What is racist about this? The principal was presumably honest with the athlete, and had a private discussion with the athlete. That's racism?
"This upset the player, who wanted to discuss the situation further after what appears to have been a racial remark by a referee."
I don't care how good your argument might be, trying to "discuss" any situation further with a referee during a game isn't going to work out for you. I'm assuming this kid has been involved in sports for a while, and I'm sure he knows that. If he thought the remark was racist, he could have told his coach and allowed the coach to follow up after the game; or followed up with the school/league after the game; or told his parents to get their take on it. Again, "after the game" is key here.
"He pushed back against his teammates, but pushed the wrong person. His coach. He's been kicked off the team."
When you react physically in a situation, sometimes innocent bystanders end up paying a price. It might not have been your intention to hurt those bystanders, but you're still responsible for your actions.
"What is happening to this young athlete is very conscious racism."
Uh, no it's not. The only thing in the story that could be even remotely construed as "racist" is the referee's comment. But without knowing the full context we can't be sure. While you can't always choose what happens to you, you can choose how you react.
Even assuming the worst about the ref's comment, this young man chose to react poorly to the situation as it unfolded, and now he's paying the consequences for his actions. Instead of worrying about how soon he can get into another school to play football, he would be better served by some self-reflection as far as what he could have done better.
This could be a valuable learning experience for him, and not just a situation for race-baiters to try to exploit.
12:58 & 5:20 are on to something. I grew up thinking that we were all meant to get along, but after having so many black folks (and other races) tell me that I don't understand or don't think like them...I'm inclined to agree. We need to acknowledge these differences, everyone would get along better.
Now let's get to the first part of the story about the kid that turned himself into a constable:
"In his story, Rhodin felt compelled for some reason to note that Lance is "also an NAACP official in the city." Sure enough, a reader reacted with "Hmmm, NAACP ? Very interesting I think."
The reference to the NAACP was totally irrelevant to what happened. But it provided someone with an excuse to inject race into the discussion."
So there's a story written, that "for some reason" makes an "irrelevant" reference to the NAACP. An a reader makes a comment saying "...NAACP? Very interesting..."
The reader could be rightfully wondering what the "irrelevant" NAACP reference is doing in the story. It was injected into the story by the WRITER, but instead B.O. somehow concludes it's the READER that's injecting race into the discussion. That's ridiculous!
Even if the READER meant the comment in the most offensive way imaginable, who cares? It's one reader (or two, or three). Here's a life lesson - get a life and stop reading comments at the bottom of articles. Stop trying to paint with a broad brush because of the actions of a few.
I'm not saying that racism doesn't exist, but not every interaction between a white PERSON and a black (PERSON) needs to be viewed as being racial. By crying "racism" at every perceived slight, you're actually going to create a situation where real racism gets ignored.
It seems that it has been programmed into African-Americans that everything that happens to them is because of racism, we have problems in school, with traffic stops, preferential treatment in the workplace, everywhere we go, but whites, who also experience these inequalities, believe it has to do with the inequalities of life that have always been and will always be. Some of these things can be addressed, some not. Yes this is were the thinking is different, between whites and blacks. Some believe everything is racism, some believe that they can extort preferential treatment by crying racism or encouraging white guilt on the white population. And yes there is racism in the minds of many whites just as there is in many blacks. It has gotten worse not better. It really did decline with the Obama administration, but of course, no one dares blame Obama. We could assume that America is racist to newcomers, to immigrants to brown people, but I see new arrivals from India, China, Africa, and other countries who go to work, prosper and become part of mainstream America.They are very happy for the opportunity that America provides.They have experienced these same inequalities were they came from and consider it just part of life. Yes it people do think differently. I can assume that my thoughts on this will also be labeled racist.
"What is racist about this? The principal was presumably honest with the athlete, and had a private discussion with the athlete. That's racism?"
No. That's avarice. The conscious racism came from the referee. And look at everything that flowed from it. You completely skip that part because it defeats you.
" It was injected into the story by the WRITER, but instead B.O. somehow concludes it's the READER that's injecting race into the discussion. That's ridiculous!"
The WRITER engaged in unconscious racism when he injected the NAACP in a story in which it is completely irrelevant. He did so because he KNEW it would cause a reaction and did not care about the consequences. The READER who reacted engaged in conscious racism.
"Here's a life lesson - get a life and stop reading comments at the bottom of articles. Stop trying to paint with a broad brush because of the actions of a few."
Like yours?
I love when you tell people how worthless you are.
"t seems that it has been programmed into African-Americans that everything that happens to them is because of racism, "
"If your not black u will never understand how we think and that's the bottom line ."
These are examples of unconscious racism. These persons are unaware they have just smeared an entire race.
" At this stage of his young life it would be best to help re-direct him as opposed to finding excuses for bad behavior. "
Unconscious racism disguised as concern for this student athlete. He is being subjected to racist behavior and reacted to it like a man. He accidentally shoved his coach, and would not be the first person to have done so.
Has something been filed against the ref with the PIAA?
Think this kid is showing the start of what is excused by some as "anger management problems." He was so upset he aggressed towards his coach? Thank God he did not have a weapon. Think we will see his name in newspapers in the future if his inability to moderate his responses is not addressed. He "reacted like a man"? Give me a break!
Your 7:15 post ?????????
“The writer engaged in UNCONSCIOUS racism when.......... He did so because he KNEW it would cause......”
UNCONSCIOUS and KNEW referring to the same act. Curious.
Bernie O'Hare said:
"The WRITER engaged in unconscious racism when he injected the NAACP in a story in which it is completely irrelevant. He did so because he KNEW it would cause a reaction and did not care about the consequences. The READER who reacted engaged in conscious racism."
So now you know the motives of BOTH the writer, and the READER? Wow, you must be psychic.
The writer may have done a quick background check on who the constable was, and just added the NAACP comment as an innocent cross-reference. I doubt he had some racist motive (conscious or unconscious).
The reader (much like you) may have simply been wondering WTF the NAACP reference had to do with the original story. From the reader comment in your article, I can't tell if the reader is white or black, or supportive or unsupportive of the NAACP.
Or are you (psychically) assuming that the reader is white? Is this YOUR unconscious racism - that only white people read newspapers? Even if the reader is black, not all black people support what the modern NAACP has become. Or are you unconsciously assuming that all black people think alike?
For God's sake, go out and get the professional help you so obviously need! If you seriously believe in what you're writing, and not doing it just to stoke traffic, you have a real problem.
So get help before it's too late. We might strongly disagree on many issues, but I don't want to be reading about you in some newspaper headline.
8:30, I never said he “shredded” his coach. He was pushing back against teammates and did not realize it was his coach. You seem to be focused on this young man’s reaction to blatant racism instead of the racism itself. This attempt to deflect attention away and blame this athlete for the actions of the ref is just more unconscious racism.this kid has every right to speak up for himself. I understand he is a very good athlete and an exemplary student. I am sure NDGP will empower him while teaching him about the bullshit we encounter daily.
The PIAA almost removed me from sports in the 90's because i verbally disagreed with a ref. I was disrespectful and deserved reprimand. I learned from it. Now if your teammates need to hold you back from becoming physical with a ref? He should have been tossed on that fact alone. As for what the ref said is another story. Filing a complaint after the game stands a better chance of obtaining satisfaction and would illicit a sympathetic response. Unfortunately he acted "like a man" and ended up perpetuating a stereotype. The pen is mightier than the sword.
8:08, so far as I know, no. I am sure the ref will have a different recollection. But the fact is that there are very few minority refs or minority coaches. This blows my mind.
If this child is allowed to kneel to express his political beliefs, should another child be allowed to kneel and express his religious beliefs ?
What if the referee who made the comment was black?
Would his comment be interpreted differently then?
"If this child is allowed to kneel to express his political beliefs, should another child be allowed to kneel and express his religious beliefs ?"
In a public school? Absolutely.
"What if the referee who made the comment was black?"
It appears to me that you are working overtime to justify a racist remark. Of the black refs I know, I know none who would say such a thing. I do know refs who might joke about it with kids they already know. I doubt that is what happened.
Hey Bernie! I walk past you at least twice a week while dropping off paperwork in the courthouse. Can you feel the unconscious racism waves emanating from me? Or is it just the stench of white privilege bouncing off of both of us as we pretend that we are actually accomplishing a good days' work?
Bernie O'Hare 11:24 said:
"It appears to me that you are working overtime to justify a racist remark. Of the black refs I know, I know none who would say such a thing. I do know refs who might joke about it with kids they already know."
Just trying to get all the facts.
After all, if a comment is racist, it's racist no matter who says it, or who it's said to, right? But if the comment could be interpreted as not being racist in some instances, you have to examine all possibilities.
Maybe the player could have been using his "unconscious racism" to ASSUME that the comment was racist because it came from a WHITE referee? Surely you're not suggesting that this kid is a saint and has no "unconscious racism" of his own?
Because if you're going to go down this ridiculous "unconscious racism" rabbit hole, we certainly have to examine the "unconscious racism" of everyone, right?
Absolutely! We are all guilty at times.
1:53, I feel the unconscious racism.
Bernie O'Hare said...
"Absolutely! We are all guilty at times."
Well, it took almost all day, but at least you've finally admitted that the fault here could be the unconscious racism of the player.
Now how about we take a minute to remember those who died on 9/11 - those in the Towers, those in the Pentagon, those on the planes, and the First Responders who went to their deaths trying to save others.
And how we somehow ALL managed to come together for a little bit after that?
What I admitted is that we are all guilty of unconscious bias at times. You twist words and are a sophist.
You are clueless to support a High School player taking a knee and have Kaepernick on your blog today (Sept 11).
Racism is alive and well on the HS football fields of the region. N word used liberally by players during games and nobody does anything about it. Even when the referee's have complained and hey have been shut down by local AD's and banned from doing their teams games..cover up underway.
I can think of no better day, other than Independence Day itself, to stand for a modern patriot who reminds me what what we fought for. Phonies like you remind me what we fought against.
Who is the Patriot ?, Kaepernick is a loser !. Sarena in the Nike Commercial is a sore loser !.
Agree 7:58 (google the ugly truthonbernieohaire).
Racism is a system... not a state of mind conscience or unconscious.
An individual can be a conscience or unconscious bigot or be conscience or unconsciously prejudice.
A racist can only exist within a system of racism, without a system to operate within one can only be prejudice or a bigot.
Or words mean nothing.
When we kneel it's not out of respect it's what we believe. But again you will never understand how many people in the court house are black or Hispanic point made
Do what you want. Tell the cop to fuck of. Smack your coach. Rob you local stores. If anyone says anything claim racism.
The sadist thing is another young man of color is being taught that being a victim and blaming others is easier than taking responsibility for your own actions.
The Real Thing!
Everything is not black and white like you think pure ignorance...we have a problem and it's never gonna go away read all the comments pure racism
This was the dumbest post of the many dumbest posts O'Hare ever posted.
Here's an easy test for appropriateness of what the ref said. Would he have said that to a white player engaging in excessive celebration? Obviously not.
Thanks Bernie for shining a light on this.
All you have to do to see overt racism is look at the comments under most news reports of events involving black people. When a few fights broke out at a hip-hop concert in PPL Arena, comments appeared denigrating blacks. When a man was wrongly shot by police near Dorney Park, FB comments mocked mourners and made light of the tragedy.
I've noticed that when white people commit crimes, nobody seems to make comments impugning the entire white race. I wonder why.
Canary - maybe he would. The point was made earlier that BO was speculating on the thoughts of the reporter and the person who made the NAACP comment. Unless you are the ref its just speculation.
Color matters?..
Jesus was an olive skinned Semite.
If you want to impersonate that guy, Villa, misspell his name like he does.
@2:57
You're right, it's my opinion that the ref wouldn't have said that to a white player. Had he done so, that would have been inappropriate too. Either way, saying it to a black player is breathtakingly inappropriate.
We really don';t know for sure what the ref said. We have one angry kid who has a problem with authority and a quick temper,"claiming" he staid it. What if he did? Refs have told over acting or overly aggressive with kids to get off the trailer park theatrics or thug shit. Not everything is about color. However, those with weak self image problems will make it that.
Any referee who said anything like you suggest should be fired. I know refs who would be among the first to report this guy.
It's really is Amazing how all of you who are white are the ones commenting on how you think Blacks act and think please! You immigrants who live in immigrant countries you all treat each other a d live like shit your hard headed and cheap on everything in life for with makes your thinking cheap and disgusting and selfish all at the same time you white people are racist towards blacks when nothing in your life is sold to you from any black person you house, car, bank loan none of these items were sold to you buy no black man some white immigrant sold you all that crap and the fact of the matter is that asshole don't even own the credit on the house, car or college own a fucking thing of it! Talk about how disgusting your white women parental kidnapping children demanding for child support and the mothers. Is on welfare and poor but the dad cannit have contact because of bullshit lies that are being more quickly used to fix a problem that is bigger then just education it's racially taught to white people how to be racist and used the goverment to hide all there bullshit Racism is against the fucking law and holes and if you actually follow the fucking law racism would not be a issue and yet it is why because you fucking g white people refused to be educated and all you do is fucking with just to be fucking because like dogs that just fuck with no direction is the problem in this country and town most of the people I went to school with wear do you think there ass is there not working no real educational jobs that are changing lives no these people went out a d had children before they even had fucking money so if you white and your going g to talk shit about the mindset of black please take a good look at yourselves most if you who are white your in goverment because goverment is not only saving there lives but also have to teach these adults how to be civil in this town white people and immigrants have come in to this country a d have been handed everything off what blacks fought and immigrant act like there the new people saving this country please! Everything that any of you as a immigrant have established is nothing but running to goverment why because goverment is wear your butts need to be forgiven learn while stealing lieng and taking advantage if the civility of government that is supposed to discipline and control your every action!!!! You white people act like you have the privilege of using g fears of your own. Interaction with black people is tainted and dictated by some white person who is ignorant and in competion with other white people but just using racism as a way to be a cowards a d now really take responsibility for there adults actions that have nothing to do with black people at all.....
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