Let’s clear up a few things, @bigegypt0417.
I’m not being entertained by sports. I’ve not paid attention to the NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL this year beyond a passing glance at the scores. I haven’t looked at my smartphone in months, having reverted back to a flip phone. Seriously reduces screen time and I highly recommend it. And, even then, it’s one of my boys who typically tell me, in passing, who won or lost. One thing this pandemic has done is having me focus on things much more important than sports. Faith and Family, primarily.
Let’s look at some numbers: Police kill twice as many white people as black people. Across the country, police kill roughly 250 to 300 black people a year. The overwhelming majority of those killed are armed and violently resisting arrest. Police kill at least as many unarmed whites as unarmed blacks. Thousands of black people are killed by black people every year, the majority of which go unsolved. #1 cause of preventable death for white males: accidents. #1 cause of death for black males: homicide by blacks.
Police killing black people who are resisting arrest is not a sign of systemic racism that LeBron James and Doc Rivers are saying. Poor police training? Yes, in part. Perhaps the police – who, let us not forget, are fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers themselves – are scared of being shot and, therefore, shoot first. Which, arguably, points to undertrained, undermanned, and poorly selected. But, systemic racism – as opposed to individual racism? I don’t buy it. Although, admittedly, I would believe an argument that there is systemic racism on a department level basis. But, point me to facts on a department level basis.
I have not once said that James Blake deserved to be killed by the police. I have not once said that George Floyd deserved to be killed by police.
So, why am I disappointed in the messages of LeBron James and Doc Rivers? Because they serve to further divide the African American community and police departments that those communities rely on for their own protection. They set back the national dialogue, not advance it. And, it doesn’t address the issues inherent in the African American community, it focuses on the minority, but loud, subset of African American deaths at the hands of the police.
When LeBron James says that black people live in daily fear of police violence and that black men are targeted for death by police, I cringe. Black people, especially and primarily those living in inner cities – not the Hollywood bubble that Lebron James enjoys living in – should live in far more fear of being shot at by their fellow African American then a police officer.
When Doc Rivers says that America doesn’t love the African American community, I wonder what message that says to the young, impressionable black man? That this is not his country?
Make no mistake. Celebrities have a powerful platform and a loud voice. I think they should use it. But, use it responsibly. These messages are knee jerk reactions and not well thought out. Perhaps their messages should be one of reconciliation, condemning the violence that has engulfed cities – Chicago, Portland, Seattle, New York, and now Kenosha. These message should be one of stressing the importance of education and nuclear families. Messages of stressing the need for dialogue and conversations between Police Department leaders and African American communal leaders. And, yes, messages of the need for better police training.
And, perhaps sports teams and (sports) celebrities should begin protesting and doing something about the far more pressing issue of black on black crime. Maybe that’s the answer – maybe that’s the ask player should ask of league owners. Help us get our voices and messages and money out to African American – and other minority – children. To keep them away from drugs and gangs. To build affordable housing away from the inner cities. To increase educational opportunities out of inner city public schools – and to help clean up public schools. To stress the need for nuclear families.
