Oh man. I read, over the space of the last two days, a pretty good (but very long) article on Chris Battier of the (who knew?) Houston Rockets. I hate to say it, but I am starting to have a grudging respect for him now. He seems to be a defensive stopper and........ah fuck it. I still can't get out of my head the memory of that douchebag my friends and I used to play outdoor basketball with who screamed the title of the post anytime he was near the ball or shooting or breathing. He wore his baseball cap while playing, backwards naturally. I don't think I played enough with him to engender my total annoyance turning into a hard pick where hard feelings are had, but man was he a tool. I am sure one of those tools who never was closer than a thousand miles to Duke but rooted for them anyway as he had to settle for Michigan Tech. The Notre Dame of college basketball, I tell you.
But any way, Battier speaks about how since he was bi-racial the White kids at his school didn't know what to do with him and the Black kids in the hood thought he played White. The article then kind of illustrates that is still kind of the way it is for him in the NBA now. I almost felt, something like pity and understanding. But then I realize he probably makes over 10 mil. a year and can probably spend the whole off season in Jamaica crying his eyes out while having almost no stats, whatsoever. He should have went to Kentucky and then I would probably emphathize more and I would be screaming his name as I took it hard to the hoop, with my hat on backwards.
2 comments:
Gwen Ifill was on NPR today and was asked about the way that people self-identify or define "black" and "African American." You know, the whole argument that Obama isn't black because his black roots can't be traced to slavery. Before I tell you what she said (which is far more insightful than my semi-racist comments), I find it interesting that black people are the only people in American that would ever make this argument. I don't understand why you wouldn't be celebrating this amazing accomplishment rather than arguing minutia (of course, this is coming from a privileged, white male). Talk about shooting yourself in your leg (Plexico) and cutting off your nose to spite your face...
Anyway, Gwen Ifill basically said that you are whatever you have to defend. She said that the arbitrary categories really don't mean anything but if you are trying to hail a cab in New York and you look black, then you are, well you know...
Also, the 35-year-old president of the NAACP is also biracial so it seems like since Obama became President, it's a cool thing to be biracial.
Nothing racist at all in what you have said. Excellent points. It is late so I will try to do the best I can to respond. I do actually feel bad for Battier. He seems so lonely. We need to talk more about race, as a society, and how we are failing each other in a multitude of ways. You know I have anecdotal evidence both ways as well. By the black father whose biracial daughter I was dating saying, "He ain't black". Or the white guy from a tiny town, who acted black, this summer who called me, "a white guy with a tan". Funny from the latter, as he was never called nigger in his life, although it would be the highest compliment to him if he had been. Or to some of my very dear family members or friends who have said some awful, awful things late at night that I am so ashamed I didn't call them on. When they know my deal!! Or when I have objected, feeling like I need to apologize to them. Fuck that.
Black people don't have a monopoly on trying to figure out the racial experience. So don't worry about the white male thing, it shouldn't matter if you have something insightful to say, as long as it not something distracting.
That's exactly it in regards to the charge, Barack had no special privilege, being no direct descendant of slaves. Last I looked, no living black person does. Ironically, unless they are from Africa where some slavery still exists and they escaped from that. Obama still would be what he is regardless, especially to the evil ones. A black man in America. It is quite interesting.
That is a trope I don't understand from the black community, or maybe I do. That was kind of my point in my Gates' post. The disappointment the guy felt to find out he no longer could be exclusively something. Then finding out a part of him existed I am sure he railed against, in private, is telling. As I tried to point out, he felt like he lost half of himself. I feel he gained more, and it fundamentally changed nothing about who he was. I know, for once I am an early adopter of something (biracial). All the kids are doing it now. Which scares the hell out of the worst of both communities. They should be ashamed.
Post a Comment