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Is Charles Barkley Racist?

Hantlers

Hantlers

Well-Known Member
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke candidly about the problems facing the black community when appearing on a Philadelphia radio station, accusing “unintelligent,” “brainwashed” African-Americans of keeping successful ones down.

While appearing on “Afternoons with Anthony Gargano and Rob Ellis,” Barkley was asked about a rumor that Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was getting criticism from his black teammates for not being, quote, “black enough.”

Barkley went on a long monologue on the subject: ”Unfortunately, as I tell my white friends, we as black people, we’re never going to be successful, not because of you white people, but because of other black people. When you’re black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people. It’s a dirty, dark secret; I’m glad it’s coming out.”

Barkley said that young black men who do well in school are accused of “acting white” by their peers. “One of the reasons we’re never going to be successful as a whole, because of other black people. And for some reason we are brainwashed to think, if you’re not a thug or an idiot, you’re not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you’re not a good black person. And it’s a dirty, dark secret.”

“There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don’t have success,” he continued. “It’s best to knock a successful black person down because they’re intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they’re successful…”

“We’re the only ethnic group who say, ‘Hey, if you go to jail, it gives you street cred.’ It’s just typical BS that goes on when you’re black, man.”
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https://dailycaller.com/2014/10/25/ch...en-down-video/
 
I would consider what Barkley said one of the issues a black individual has to face in American society that other individuals would not. Not sure if there is the same dynamic amongst, say, Hispanics.
 
There are just somethings that a certain race can only say to other people of their race. It's a double standard sure, but it is what it is.
 
Darkwing Duck said:
I would consider what Barkley said one of the issues a black individual has to face in American society that other individuals would not. Not sure if there is the same dynamic amongst, say, Hispanics.
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I went to elementary school in a poor neighborhood. It wasn't cool to do well in school and it wasn't cool to speak well. It had nothing to do with color. When someone did speak well and tried hard in school we called them a wannabe Eastsider. Again, it wasn't as much a color thing because although there were a lot of Latinos and Tongans as well as a few black people and Asians, it was still mostly white (It's a pretty solidly Latino neighborhood now). We identified as Westsiders and expected each other to act like Westsiders, not preppy Eastsiders.
 
Gameface said:
I went to elementary school in a poor neighborhood. It wasn't cool to do well in school and it wasn't cool to speak well. It had nothing to do with color. When someone did speak well and tried hard in school we called them a wannabe Eastsider. Again, it wasn't as much a color thing because although there were a lot of Latinos and Tongans as well as a few black people and Asians, it was still mostly white (It's a pretty solidly Latino neighborhood now). We identified as Westsiders and expected each other to act like Westsiders, not preppy Eastsiders.
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Yeah, it's prevalent as children. I don't think it lasts past that as adults except in black "culture."
 
Darkwing Duck said:
Yeah, it's prevalent as children. I don't think it lasts past that as adults except in black "culture."
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Well, in 6th grade I moved to a more prominent, pretty much all-white, neighborhood and it was a pretty big culture shock. Doing well in school was expected and doing poorly was more likely to put you on the outs with the other kids than to make it seem like you were cool. Fortunately the same week I moved there a kid from Kearns moved there, too.
 
I think Barkely's remarks have plenty of merit but it isn't as absolute as he makes it out to be. I don't believe he is racist so much as he is overly simple minded.
 
Personally, I believe Sir Charles' comments reflect his individual experiences as a young man, more than that of what is actually happening today. Not to say he is wrong, but I believe the situation today is better than when Chuck grew up in da hood.
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*I remember Chuck's story of how he was poor as a child, but he always ate good in the summer, because of the fruit trees that provided free food in his neighborhood.*
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I also believe this attitude among AAs is mostly a regional phenomenon, as opposed to a truth that exists among AAs nationwide. In other words, in areas plagued with poverty, I believe this frame of mind exists, not only in AAs, but also in Caucasian and other races as well.(among whites, we often use the term "The Man", when referring to authority) Poor people often resent those who achieve success, and I don't believe it is solely a black thing, even if it may be more prevalent among AAs.
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In response to the original question, Barkley is a human, and has the same sort of cognitive shortcuts that other humans use, including various shortcuts about race. So yes, he has racist thoughts, just like any other human.

30-40 years ago, smart white kids were often referred to as dorks, nerds, or geeks in a derogatory fashion; this was not just a black issue. However, there was intersectional play between the notions of selling out/Uncle Tom/etc. and the notions of doing well at school which probably made it more severe for black people. I think that as computers became more ubiquitous, this attitude has slowly begun to change in all communities, including the black community. It's happened to the degree that geek and nerd have actually been reclaimed to a degree (for example, one of my favorite sites is BoardGameGeek).
 
One Brow said:
Did you notice the anti-intellectual movement in mainstream American culture? It lasts well into adulthood.
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I caught all kinds of hell for trying to revive the chess club at my high school. And I still caught hell when playing chess on my college club. Even now I hear stories of it at my Thursday night chess club meetings among a lot of 40-something men and women. I am interested in the psychology behind that kind of a response.
 
One Brow said:
In response to the original question, Barkley is a human, and has the same sort of cognitive shortcuts that other humans use, including various shortcuts about race. So yes, he has racist thoughts, just like any other human.

30-40 years ago, smart white kids were often referred to as dorks, nerds, or geeks in a derogatory fashion; this was not just a black issue. However, there was intersectional play between the notions of selling out/Uncle Tom/etc. and the notions of doing well at school which probably made it more severe for black people. I think that as computers became more ubiquitous, this attitude has slowly begun to change in all communities, including the black community. It's happened to the degree that geek and nerd have actually been reclaimed to a degree (for example, one of my favorite sites is BoardGameGeek).
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Revenge of the Nerds.
 
LogGrad98 said:
I caught all kinds of hell for trying to revive the chess club at my high school. And I still caught hell when playing chess on my college club. Even now I hear stories of it at my Thursday night chess club meetings among a lot of 40-something men and women. I am interested in the psychology behind that kind of a response.
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Thanks for the reminder.
Time for me to go to the chess thread and call you all nerds
 
what was the issue/statement that Charles Barkley caught all kinds of flak for some years back? I think it was probably at least 10-12 years ago but I'm not sure - - and I don't recall if it was a racially-related comment, or gender/sexist based or what, I just recall that it was a bit of a hot topic at my book group meeting at the time.

I checked to see what was on google but nothing I saw seemed to match my recollection of the issue (though since I don't recall the issue, I guess that's a bit of a dubious statement!)

Anyone have any idea here?
 
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