LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR
Parker’s remarks that drew the controversy were as follows:
“My question, which is just a straight honest question: is
he a brother, or is he a cornball brother? … Well, he's black, he kind of does
his thing, but he's not really down with the cause, he's not one of us. He's
kind of black, but he's not really the guy you'd really want to hang out with,
because he's off to do something else. … I want to find about him. … I don't
know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée.
Then there was all this talk about he's a Republican, which there's no
information at all. I'm just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue.
Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like, 'I've got black
skin, but don't call me black.' So people wondered about Tiger Woods."
Now I wonder about Parker. ESPN’s First Take is a show that
uses confrontational and colorful personalities to draw interest and
discussion. If this was the most engaging thing that Parker could say about
Griffin on a television show, I want to know more about his record of journalistic
accomplishment and thought-provoking writing.
Race is the easiest and most flammable fuse to light in
America. I live in the Deep South. I cannot count the number of times that I
have heard local, marginally talented radio talk show hosts reach as far as
possible to exploit a perceived or actual racial component in a news story just
to have something to talk about or to get people talking. This is all too often
proceeded by the garden variety pissed off braindead redneck calling in and
spouting off a short sighted cliché in an attempt to be witty.
That is eventually followed up by an angry black person
venting at the host and/or the callers and others offering every insipid
comment in between. At the end of the show, we, the audience, have learned
little or nothing and solved or gained a broader insight on nothing. It is
uninspired, uninteresting, and unremarkable.
 |
| There's that cornball, snowflake brother, RGIII and his trophy white woman! (smh) If you haven't picked up on the sarcasm, this is my Foxtrot Yankee to Parker and everyone who thinks like him. 3 |
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LAZINESS
Parker’s offensive comments have, in a backhanded way,
reaffirmed my belief in today’s America: all men are created equal. Parker’s
incendiary, thoughtless, and, frankly, stupid comments have demonstrated that
black commentators can make equally foolish, shocking, and offensive statements
about black people as their white counterparts. It also demonstrates that black
commentators can show limited competence in facilitating a thoughtful
discussion and be in a high profile position in journalism like white
journalists with limited upside. Clarence Buggs, a local black radio personality
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, often says on his show that black people often have
to be, “twice as good to be considered equal.” Parker helped to thwart that
notion.
Robert Griffin is having one of the most successful rookie
campaigns in the history of the NFL. He has helped resurrect a once dominant Washington
Redskins franchise that has not sniffed the postseason since the 2007 season
and, since 1977, has only reached the playoffs once under a Head Coach other
than Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs (Norv Turner, 1999). He, Indianapolis Colts
rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
are having early success that has fueled a healthy and spirited debate over which
rookie signal caller is the best. On top of that, Griffin seems to be a very
intelligent, mature, tough football player and a nice guy.
There are a number of relevant angles from which a sports
reporter can discuss Griffin and engage his audience. Parker chose all of the
slimy, sensational cards out of the Jerry Springer playbook. He called Griffin
a “cornball brother” (a euphemism for “Uncle Tom”), said Griffin is “not one of
us” (if he was before, I doubt he wanted to be a part of anything Parker was a
part of following that comment), evoked Griffin’s trophy white woman (his fiancée
and college sweetheart, Rebecca Liddicoat) and possible affiliation with the
Republican Party – the true indicators of a boot licking, buck-and-shuffle,
crossover sellout!
 |
| I'd love to see Parker tell Griffin that in person. 2 |
UNCOMFORTABLE
If some of my words are making you uncomfortable, good. I
hope they do. Racial tension, hostility, and animosity are the offspring of our
country’s original sin: slavery. It is not a subject to be handled
irresponsibly. It isn’t a get out of jail free card for media members to use
because they are incapable of preparing to engage their audiences with better
subject matter. When it is discussed, it is to be done with sensitivity,
respect and consideration for everyone involved with the topic. Parker skipped
all of these criteria, rolled out of his hammock, and plucked the low hanging
discussion fruit of race with no consideration of the reaction of Griffin or
his audience.
ESPN correctly suspended Parker after his ill-conceived
comments. It is difficult enough to be under a microscope in America. It is
tougher to be a black NFL quarterback and under a microscope in the public eye
(if you don’t believe me, reconsider if you thought about any reaction to that
statement at all). We don’t need any “cornhole brothers” like Parker
benefiting by making it tougher because of the color of a man’s skin.
 |
| What a cornhole. 1 |
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1) Image from www.theblaze.com
2) Image from www.kuhvet.com
3) Image from www.blacksportsonline.com
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