Racism and Hypocrisy

Of all the comments made either written or spoken about the Sterling Affair, I believe the fairest and most honest comment made was by legendary basketball center, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. 

 In Monday's late edition of USA Today, Kareem gave his assessment of what he sees is the real evil in this sordid affair. According to him, while he sees Donald Sterling's remarks insensitive, there are other equally distressing issues at hand. Please read the article in the USA Today link. At the bottom, click on the Time link to read the commentary in its entirety.

He is right about the sin of racism being the great evil underlying this event. The problem with Sterling, of course, is two-fold: he is the owner of a team consisting of African-American players, with an African-American coach; and he apparently has not outgrown the prejudices of his youth, even as he witnessed much of the horrible racism in the last century. 

 Sadly, Donald Sterling is also a victim of hypocrisy in this way; too many other comments made by both whites and blacks about him want to ignore the fact they all tolerated his attitude, as much as say, the attitudes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. In all three cases, each man epitomizes racism and hypocrisy at its worst.

 Perhaps there is an opportunity here where we can all relearn the lessons which were taught by Dr. King. He understood that we are all human, and as humans, we will occasionally sin the sins of prejudice and racism. As a minister of God, he would forgive those who had fallen, as much as Don Sterling has. He would reach out his hand and lift the sinner out of the abyss of racism, knowing there was the possibility he would probably sin again.  

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at a book signing. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 That really was what I believe Kareem was trying to say. I have always liked Kareem. He is a big, yet gentle giant. He is a true example of a kind, considerate and devout Muslim. So when he writes his commentary, I take it as one written by a fair and reasonable man. 

 He points out the sins of all the players in the play. He points out the hypocrisy of those who are now outraged by Sterling's behavior, when they should have been disgusted with him years before. He is equally annoyed by the girlfriend, who is black and Mexican, who knew about Sterling's racism and only now decided to expose it; dollar signs come to mind. 

 In the end, Sterling will be judged by his owner peers and hopefully, the right thing will be done. He needs to go, much like the way Marge Schott or Eddie DeBartolo left their sports. Disgraced.  That would be the biggest and greatest punishment. 

In the meantime, blacks, whites, Asians and others all need to make the concerted effort to rise above the greatest of human sins, that of racism. Otherwise, we will see this occur again and again. 

 Those who fail to learn the lessons of history or racism are doomed to repeat them, again and again and again. It is time to move on, people.