Over the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed two disturbing events involving black professional athletes. First was the death of Washington Redskins cornerback Sean Taylor following a break-in at his home. And last week in Indianapolis, Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley and a group of associates were shot at while out partying. A member of the Pacers staff was shot in both elbows during the attack. These tragic events are a reminder of the targets that many black professional athletes have on their backs.
For years, there have been numerous media reports of black pro athletes being robbed, attacked or shot at while at their homes or out for a night on the town. Many athletes have brought unneeded attention to themselves by flaunting their wealth while others have been targets based solely on their status. This seems to be a very prevalent issue primarily when it comes to black professional basketball and football players.
Many are quick to blame the athletes for being too flashy with their money, cars, jewelry.etc. Also, black athletes are criticized for their entourages and their inability to cut ties with troublesome friends from their past. Some like to put black pro athletes and rappers in the same category as being magnets for trouble because of their perceived flashiness and love of “the good life.”
While all of these factors contribute to this problem, it ultimately is unfair to solely blame the athletes for enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Majority Mind Question
Are the problems black professional athletes face a reflection of the cultural issues that African-Americans face as a whole or is it a problem solely within itself?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I definitely feel as though black professional athletes are targets, not just among their communities, but in the entire country. Mike Vick for example was sentenced for 23 months for financing dog fighting. This got to me a little. I'm all about animal rights, I have a dog myself and I think dog fighting is terrible, but 23 months? Come on how can he get that much time when other celebrities are getting caught driving drunk and get a slap on the hand? Does it have anything to do with race? Maybe, maybe not. But I feel once again they sought to make an example out of a black athlete who probably didn't realize the gravity of what he was involved with.
To answer the question, I think that the problems these athletes face is a reflection of cultural issues and racism. In response to them being too flashy, it's what they think they are expected to do. Look at the media.
Uh-huh. So what's the appropriate penalty for someone who subsidizes an organized, ongoing enterprise based on vicious cruelty to animals, participates himself in killing dogs by drowning or hanging, and then violates the conditions set on his bail by smoking up?
23 months sounds about right to me.
Post a Comment