Posted on 10/26/2014 7:03:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
No stranger to controversial statements, NBA Hall of Famer turned sports commentator, Charles Barkley, blamed stagnation in the Black community on “brainwashed” Black people too “unintelligent” to choose education over street credibility.
During an appearance on Philadelphia’s “Afternoons with Anthony Gargano and Rob Ellis” radio show, Sir Charles responded to a Bleacher Report article claiming that teammates of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson felt that he wasn’t “Black enough.”
Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman denied the locker room racism, telling CBS Sports, “Nobody in here said that. It’s made up.”
Wilson also brushed off the story, saying, “Black enough? I don’t even know what that means. I’m just an educated, well-spoken male.”
Though Barkley’s comments were made before the report was denied, that does little to change the crux of his sweeping statement, which is that Black people believe education and Blackness are mutually exclusive.
“We as black people are never going to be successful, not because of you white people, but because of other black people. When you are black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people,” Barkley said.
“For some reason we are brainwashed to think, if you’re not a thug or an idiot, you’re not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you’re not a good black person. It’s a dirty, dark secret in the black community.
“There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don’t have success. It’s best to knock a successful black person down because they’re intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they’re successful. It’s just typical BS that goes on when you’re black, man.”
Barkley also raised eyebrows when he said that he agreed with George Zimmerman being found not guilty in February 26, 2012 slaying of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
I agree with the verdict,” Barkley told CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo. “I’m sorry that young kid got killed, but they didn’t have enough evidence to charge him.”
“Trayvon Martin, God rest his soul, he did flip the switch and start beating the hell out of Mr. Zimmerman.” He added that he “feels bad” that the trial gave “every white person and black person who is racist the platform to vent their ignorance. That’s the thing that bothered me the most. I watched this trial closely. I watched these people on television talking about it. A lot of these people have a hidden agenda. They want to have their racist views, whether they are white or black… They’re biases come out.”
In another incident, Barkley piggybacked on the myth that there are more Black men in jail than college — a lie comprehensively and methodically exposed by Dr. Ivory Toldson – Barkley explained why Black men need to be armed to protect themselves from other Black men:
“You know, we as black people always, we don’t have respect for one another. You know, we’ve got more black men in prison than we do in college, and crime in our neighborhoods is running rampant.”
Recently, Barkley defended accused child abuser Adrian Peterson by saying that whipping children isn’t abuse, it’s a Southern thing:
“I don’t believe that because, listen, we spank kids in the south,” Barkley said. “I think the question about did Adrian Peterson go overboard? But we all grew up in different environments. Every black parent in my neighborhood in the south would be in trouble, or in jail under those circumstances.”
So, in life according to Barkley, Black people are unintelligent, crabs-in-a-barrel who should carry guns to protect ourselves from each other, whip our children and be nice to dangerous White-identifying men who stalk us on rainy nights.
Got it.
Is he talking about Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus ?
The author is one of those brainwashed blacks Barkley is talking about.
I saw that when I was in high school. The dominant characters are merciless to their peers.
Is Barkley going to run for office? Even if he runs as a Democrat. He talked about it in the past.
Chars be right, but he be too white!
Great read until you get to the last line and you see all the stereo-typical leftie crap that Barkley is arguing against but the writer is too stupid to know it!
I’m a white guy who grew up in Oakland Californian. I still spend a lot of time there. I absolutely agree with everything Barkley said. I’ve been saying the same thing for years to my friends (black and white), but I’m not a famous athlete so no one gives a cr#p.
The hardest people to convince about of the facts of black America are white liberals from the burbs. They are so sanctimonious about ‘Republican racism’ (so called), but whenever I tell any of them I from Oakland and still have family in Oakland they always shudder....because....lets face it, they are afraid of the stereotypical black dude....the very dudes who they vote with every two years.
I respond by saying black people are absolutely fine and it’s not them (per se) making parts of Oakland unsafe. It’s liberal politicians and ignorance making parts of Oakland unsafe. It just so happens most blacks are liberals which to this day I don’t understand why. Any city run by liberals will be screwed up, it doesn’t matter what their color. The liberals took over Oakland in 1965 and it’s had problems ever sense. We’ve had a couple of decent mayors, but most get into power with liberal stem-winder speeches unfortunately
By the way, I love Oakland. It’s the greatest city on the face of the earth. The weather is fantastic, there is a of of culture, Jack London Square, a cool down town area, and the A’s, Warriors, and Raiders are great symbols for the city (no jokes about the Raiders please).
Thank you Charles for saying it like it is. I wish President Obama had your wisdom because things will never change in the black community until a black politician with your attitude comes to prominence.
You hit the mark. I thought the same thing all the way through the article until that last sentence. Author hoisted himself on Barkley’s petard.
The hardest people to convince about of the facts of black America are white liberals from the burbs.
Agreed. I live in a neighborhood with a make up much like Ferguson's in terms of racial mix an income, and no one here is cheering the rioters. I suspect all, and know some, of my black neighbors believe Michael Brown was an innocent gunned down by a cop, but they still don't approve of the violent retaliation. Although of course most of them are also old enough to know how retaliation works out in the long run; going on their past history, some of them likely felt differently when younger.
The only person I know who is cheering on the so-called "peaceful protests" and arguing that random black violence is justified is a white liberal who has lived her whole life in the suburbs. Although for some weird reason I think it's less than she's scared of the "stereotypical black dude" -- although she is -- and more because she identifies with him somehow. An "if that were me, I'd want the right to lash out, and I'd have the power to do so" kind of thing.
“So, in life according to Barkley, Black people are unintelligent, crabs-in-a-barrel who should carry guns to protect ourselves from each other, whip our children and be nice to dangerous White-identifying men who stalk us on rainy nights.”
Um, NO. That’s not what Barkley was saying at all, Ms. Savali.
Just for grins and giggles, I did a quick search and looked up some of this author’s other articles. She’s a nut, and a regular at HuffPo and Alternet. Nuff said.
“f you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you’re not a good black person.”
This sums up what one of my best friends in high school went through. He had a 3.8 GPA, took advanced science and math courses, and was just one of the nicest guys you’d ever hope to meet. He was treated like dirt by a lot of other black students - *especially* the girls. Oreo, nerd, not a “real” black person, etc., he got all of that, and worse.
BTW, he’s now an engineer in Texas, making six figures. So, I like to think he’s had the last laugh. But I bet some of the folks who made him miserable back in school *still* think he’s “not keeping it real.” Bleah!
And yet just a few years back Barkley wanted to run for governor of Arizona as a Democrat - either he’s a fast learner or he doesn’t quite have all his facts straight yet as to who’s been “brainwashing” blacks for decades.....
Kirsten West Savali can’t handle the truth!
Gawd for some reason I just love it when a black person has the logic and guts to say these things. There’s a conservative lady on AM 890 Sunday nights named Stephanie who’s also a straight shooter and when the topic arises tells it like it is about/to the black community. Love her, from what I’ve heard so far. Allen West seemed promising years ago, don’t know whatever became of him. Think he was a Senator for a term...
Yikes I’m somewhat embarrassed as I never use the slang “gawd.” I don’t know where that came from. Please disregard:)
Never thought I’d see the day when I’d say “Charles Barkley for President”! (Well, maybe I still won’t go THAT far.)
Good to have someone that the black kids look up to (?? or is Barkley too old now?) saying stuff like this. Although I’m sure they get the message from other stars. Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman have football camps back in their gang-ridden hometown(s) near LA (Compton is one, maybe both).
TW, he’s now an engineer in Texas, making six figures.
I would imagine the same people that gave him a hard time in school, do not have the same to say about athletes.
Seems that athletes get a pass for doing well, but the intellects will never get a pass.
Word disregarded - the problem I have with Barkley is that he seems to be talking off the top of his head most of the time - saying things like those in this article sometimes, and then others which seem much the opposite such as that he wants to represent the Democrat party - Bill Cosby is another who talks much the same way, speaking about how having babies out of marriage is hurting blacks at one point, and later saying things that seem to mean that blacks’ problems are brought on by whites - Allen West is much more consistent and sensible in what he says - Ben Carson, Walter Williams, and Jason Riley also talk good sense virtually every time they open their mouths, IMO.....
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