A Simple Question?

Why is it hilarious, pretty terrific, amusing and fun to say White Men Can't Jump, but seriously, seriously inappropriate, offensive and racist to say African-American kids can run ...?

Comments

[jubs]

Cus you are creating a stereotype in both situations? and stereotyping is racist? because instead of judging a individual as a person, you are judging him or them(whatever) as a group?

[Smokey]

I also defend Coach Deberry's comments too. You have to take the statement in the context they were said.
I myself am a white athalete, and was recruited by the Academy for a lil' while 2 years ago. I opted to stay at home in florida, mainly because I knew up in Colorado, especially in the Air Force, it was mainly white kids on the team and that they would have a hard time competeing with the teams fromm the south, which are routinely in the top 25 and are mostly made up of black players. That is what Coach Deberry was talking about, nothing racist.

I dont understand how a movie can be made (white men cant jump) yet a coach talking about why his team is at a disadvantage gets all this negativity. Straight Up Double Standard right there Ya'll.

[disgusted]

That doesn't answer the question, jubs. The white community has set itself up to being 'slammed', taking the hits without returning them to avoid looking 'racist', all the while looking PC to current culture. The irony to it now is, after years of complaining that the white community has been stereotyping them, the black community is committing the same sin by ridiculing the white community AND expecting it to fly automatically. The moment any reference, real or imagined, is made by the white community, it's the automatic race card being thrown down and the accusations begin flying. It should be equal. Everyone should be able to poke fun at everyone else, and everyone should be mature enough to take, and dish, it out. Unfortunately, that's one of many areas in today's society that we need to mature on.

[Buckley F. Williams]

"The white community has set itself up to being 'slammed', taking the hits without returning them to avoid looking 'racist'"

And that is the crux of the matter. There is a point where political correctness & over-tolerance end and stupidity & self-destruction begin.

With regards to race relations in this country, we have long since reached that point.

[BetteJean]

Why is it ok to have Black Entertainment TV, but not White Entertainment TV? Why can AOL have a Black Experience forum, but not a White Experience forum? Why can we have the United Negro College Fund, but not a United Caucasian College Fund? Why is ok to have Mrs. Black America, but not a Mrs. White America? Why is ok to have National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, but not a National Association for the Advancement of White People? Why is ok to have a Black History Week, but not a White History Week? Why is ok to have Ebony Magazine, but not White Magazine?

Need I go on?

One has to ask themself, who is really segregating themself? Who are the ones who are "separating" themselves?

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm!

[A]

Bettejean, I too would like to know why these double standards exist. Thanks for summing it up.

[chip]

having followed afa football all my life...
the sad thing about this ridiculous contreversy is that fisher deberry may well be the most fundementally decent man in college sports

[Not a Hand Wringer]

I suppose if Black Americans had imported ship loads of white slaves into America, to do slave work on plantations, there might well be a Miss White America Contest, United Caucasian College Fund, etc in America today.

Yes, it does seem like double standards exist today, but are any of them as extreme as

denying a person their freedom because of the colour of their skin?

So, the effects of slavery continue to reverberate in society today...just as they probably will for many many more years.

The double standards discussed today are simply a case of the pendulum swinging back from a day when slavery was accepted...into something out of balance in the opposite direction of slavery.

It will probably remain that way until society completely learns how to view a person without first viewing that person's skin colour.

At that point, we will have eliminated all double standards as they pertain to skin colour.

[Smokey]

having followed afa football all my life...
the sad thing about this ridiculous contreversy is that fisher deberry may well be the most fundementally decent man in college sports

Posted by: chip | Oct 26, 2005 9:54:43 PM

Exactly what I meant to say, this guy is a hell of a man/coach, who routinely has a decent program, yet is resticted by his personnel and still pulls out winning seasons.

[chip]

this guy is a hell of a man/coach, who routinely has a decent program, yet is resticted by his personnel and still pulls out winning seasons.

Posted by: Smokey | Oct 26, 2005 10:01:20 PM

win or lose- this is an ethical moral human being who truly does not deserve this

i think down the road the double standard that is being established is going to create a very ugly backlash- it's disapointing that race relations in the us seem to be as bad as ever

imho- the black leadership in this country is the cause of this & they are a disgrace to the memory of martin luthor king

[cindi in pa]

imho- the black leadership in this country is the cause of this & they are a disgrace to the memory of martin luthor king

Posted by: chip | Oct 26, 2005 11:02:25 PM

agree Chip. Every other nationality and race in this country has grown and moved on. If a young black male would read this story, he would be proud as hell, not take it as a racist comment. Fact of the matter is, blacks play better in most sports. With the exception of Ice and Field Hockey, which for some reason they do not desire to come out for.

Fed up with the "slave" issue. That was a very long time ago. We have progressed in this country.
The black leadership in the states are lacking big time. Cosby is right, enough is enough, take responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming your problems on white people. Back in the late 60's white people would call a black person a nigger, the blacks didn't like that. Take a walk down town, in a high school hall way between classes, now its the blacks who claim the word "nigger" as being their right to use but nobody elses.

[callmeBetty]

Beats me, Dan.
I think it depends on who said what, how and why........

This coach sounds like a stand up guy, and when I think of Olympic track stars - they are all African American. Not a big deal.

The PC stuff for me, exists mainly to be enable someone to have the authority and or credibilty to rag on the real buttheads who are being jerks or are just generally stupid. IMHO, lol

When you get over it, race and ethnicity are descriptive characteristics - like blond hair, blue eyes. Other cultures are not terrifying, and people are people the world over. Being PC's become another exploited tool, which doesn't much help the cause.

[Mr. Snitch!]

The history and implication behind White Men Can't Jump is: But they don't need to. The history and implication between Black Men Can Run Really Fast is: Good thing, too, because it's the only way he'll ever succeed.

I'd like to think we're past all that, too. But maybe it takes another generation or so before that happens.

BTW, whites are no longer the majority in NYC. Latinos are. I am not sure if I should feel disenfranchised or more in touch with my inner Hispanic.

[TheAlamo]

A house divided cannot stand.

Until people get over the immaturity of "labels" we will continue in decline.

You are either American, or you are not. If you are not, then it is best you go where you think you belong.

The "indian" American, black American, white American, prefixes are meant to do one thing. Separate and divide.

Why has that happened? Advertising.
As long as the country itself promotes division...as long as the government itself...promotes division, it will not end...it will grow wider.

As far as sports go. Blacks happen to be better at some sports, and whites happen to be better at others. So what? Some people are better drivers than others. Some people are better at math than others. So what?

If people realized the power we would have as a united nation, it would shock them....and of course there are those who do....and that...is why we are divided.

[allison]

This is beyond ridiculous. An apology is not in order, and making an apology will just continue the divide IMO.

There are physical differences between black and white men/women in the pelvic region (and I am not referring to the obvious urban myth). There are skeletal differences that allow the black man to run faster than the white man.

Personally, I am tired of hearing the whining that the white man brought the black man here as slaves. It was the black man in Africa that sold their brothers into slavery. Yes, the white man perpetuated the condition...but that was 200 years or so ago. My ancestors (Irish and German) did not employ slaves, EVER. They were hard working (Coal mines in the north)people who adjusted to America by learning the language and working hard to succeed. They were not given college scholarships, they taught themselves. They did not live off of social security, they worked hard. I am not complaining about my lot in life, nor do I expect anyone to treat me with kid gloves or walk on eggshells because of my heritage.

And, to take the above one step further, I live in Memphis, Tennessee. The ratio of blacks to whites here is 70-30. I, as a white person, am a minority. I want nothing because I am a minority, and I am owed nothing by society either. I am the one that owes society. I owe society to be a good citizen, to work hard, and above all to be responsible for myself and my actions. I think it is high time that everyone starts to be held accountible for their own lives, their own successes and their own failures.

There is supposed to be free speech in America. Why should anyone need apologize for anything they say, unless it is something they feel themselves that an apology is called for.

[chip]

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3155071

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_4189992,00.html

and the denver post even has a poll asking if deberry should be fired....... 92% say no

i predict sometime this week a spokesperson like jackson or sharpton or one of thier ilk will make statements that will further divide people....will inflame racial tensions..& turn a blind eye to actual problem solving & no outrage will be expressed

yet this very fine man......who has coached here
22 years..........has helped countless young people & is a credit to his community will be under fire and/or an object of ridicule........by people who had never even heard his name until a few days ago

[callmeBetty]

BTW, whites are no longer the majority in NYC. Latinos are. I am not sure if I should feel disenfranchised or more in touch with my inner Hispanic.

Posted by: Mr. Snitch! | Oct 27, 2005 1:57:06 AM

LOL Well, that depends... How do you feel about chimichungas? (sp?) My inner hispanic hates them!