Racial Slip Ups - Watch Your Mouth

Okay, is it just me or does it seem like some people feel they can say whatever they want about anyone with no regards for what they say or possible repercussions? Seems like every time I turn around the news is buzzing about some celebrity or public figure who “done gone and put their foot in their mouth” without thinking of the consequences. Then as soon as they are taken to task or their bottom-line is affected they suddenly get a conscious and apologizes.  

Do you remember John Rocker who was a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves? He’s known for making lots of derogatory statements during his career.  Like when he referred to his African-American teammate as a "fat monkey" or when Sports Illustrated published an article in their December 27, 1999 edition that quoted him as responding to the question as to whether he would ever play for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets. He said, “I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?” Yeap, he was an equally opportunity offender.

Then there was Danny Ferry, General Manager for the Atlanta Hawks who was in the hot seat for his racially insensitive comments about free-agent Luol Deng. Ferry was reported to have said that Deng “has a little African in him. Not in a bad way, but he's like a guy who would have a nice store out front but sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back.” Pretty hard to overlook that one, especially when it was recorded.

I’m sure you remember Paula Deen who was the target of a lawsuit alleging racial and sexual discrimination.  It was alleged she made derogatory remarks regarding African Americans in the presence of a female employee whose nieces are bi-racial with an African-American father. While the lawsuit was dropped, the effects of the scandal lasted a while.  To the point Paul’s empire crumbled around her. Nothing brings you faster to your knees than people boycotting your business and you.

Oh and what about Donald Sterling? You remember him right? He was the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who made some real racist remarks to his then girlfriend, Rochelle Stein, about Magic Johnson last year. That one was a dozy. There was a media frenzy for weeks on that one.

I can go on and on but I’ll stop with this most recent example of this epidemic which occurred after the Oscars last month when Giuliana Rancic made a comment about Zendaya Coleman’s hairstyle. I did not hear the comment first hand but what I gathered is that Giuliana insinuated that Zendaya‘s hair smelt like weed. Whatever it was that she actually said or insinuated it was enough to create a stir and she was taken to task for her comment – way to go America!! Like all the other offenders before her, she would quickly offer a half-ass apology that, by any standard, did very little to undo her comment never mind make Zenday, or anyone else for that matter, forget what was said.

What I don’t understand is how people can be so insensitive to others. What make them feel they can just open their mouth and not police what comes out of it? The more I think about it the only explanation I can come up with is it is because that is how they truly feel. Out of the heart the mouth speaks - Luke 6:45. When people say stuff, regardless of what it is, I tend to take into consideration that what they say is directly link to how they think and feel.  With that being said, if that is how they feel then they should not insult our intelligence by then offering an apology only because their pocket or reputation is affected by their comment. They should be prepared to stand behind what they said at all cost. Truth is had no one taken them to task or their livelihood was not affected, they would walk off into the sunset without a care or second thought about what they said. Everyone, no matter who they are, has a moral responsibility to check their thoughts before their mouth opens to release those thoughts. They also need to be prepared to deal with the consequences of their words.

As a society we have a moral obligation to send a message to the John Rocker, Danny Ferry, Paula Deen, Donald Sterling, and Giuliana Rancic of the world – that we will not tolerate their insensitivity to others and will not accept their half ass apology because it’s not sincere. I offer that their apology was only done as a publicity stunt to help counter the negative feedback their comment generated or to stop the financial bleeding. I say, no matter who it is, anyone who offends another person with racially insensitive comments, even if they claim it was a joke, should suffer the consequences and be taught a lesson they won’t soon forget. I bet if their financial assets or career suffered because of their thoughtless comment, it will not only ensure they never do or say something insensitive again but will also be a deterrent for anyone else who would be so incline to be just as insensitive. If you are man/woman enough to share your views about others, then be man/woman enough to accept the consequences of your convictions.  I’m just saying. I got issues – what about you?)i(

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