ESPN commentator on RG3: “He’s kind of black, but he’s not really”

[Matthias]

What was Skip's response, or did they cut the whole conversation after Stephen A. responded?

[Mr. Scot]

Per PFT, ESPN has suspended Parker indefinitely.

[g5jamz]

Stephen A was like wth.

[teeray]

Could you explain in gentle terms? Because it sure seems like Parker is saying that someone's "blackness" is dependent upon how they act/what they do.

I was actually making a point to how "black" RG3 was perceived by white people and why people throw him out when claiming they have no problem with black QBs. Basically, that white people don't mind if you are black as long as you don't act to black.

And I will stop there because I got a temporary ban last time and I went into Huddle withdrawal.

[Darth Biscuit]

I was actually making a point to how "black" RG3 was perceived by white people and why people throw him out when claiming they have no problem with black QBs. Basically, that white people don't mind if you are black as long as you don't act to black.

And I will stop there because I got a temporary ban last time and I went into Huddle withdrawal.

Hmmm... yeah this is probably a tinderbox subject... but I will say that your comment about white people is a bit insulting. Please don't lump all in with some.

As far as RGIII is concerned in my personal opinion... he's an NFL QB, black, white whatever, doesn't matter. I don't view him any different than Cam, Luck, Manning or any of them...

I didn't know he had a white fiance'... it doesn't matter. Steve Smith's wife is white... who cares?

Honestly I have no idea how he "acts"... never really seen much of him... but the whole notion that how someone acts affects their "blackness" or whatever other physical attribute you want to use is just downright dumb, and in this context, racist.

[teeray]

Hmmm... yeah this is probably a tinderbox subject... but I will say that your comment about white people is a bit insulting. Please don't lump all in with some.

As far as RGIII is concerned in my personal opinion... he's an NFL QB, black, white whatever, doesn't matter. I don't view him any different than Cam, Luck, Manning or any of them...

I didn't know he had a white fiance'... it doesn't matter. Steve Smith's wife is white... who cares?

Honestly I have no idea how he "acts"... never really seen much of him... but the whole notion that how someone acts affects their "blackness" or whatever other physical attribute you want to use is just downright dumb, and in this context, racist.

I was using that in generic terms. Obviously I don't think all white people think a like. After all I am also white.

[Mr. Scot]

Griffin comes across as intelligent, articulate, sensible, polite and an overall admirable young man.

Someone will have to explain to me which of those characteristics makes him "less black".

[scpanther22]

What was Skip's response, or did they cut the whole conversation after Stephen A. responded?

From what I remember Stephen A said it wasn’t his place to question RG3 “blackness” but he believes every black QB should express some level of pride and acknowledgment of their roots.

[Mr. Scot]

From what I remember Stephen A said it wasn’t his place to question RG3 “blackness” but he believes every black QB should express some level of pride and acknowledgment of their roots.

From what I've seen, I don't think Griffin not wanting to be identified as a "black quarterback" has anything to do with denying his roots or denying those that have gone before him. I think it's just that he wants to be known primarily as a quarterback, skin color be damned.

And why shouldn't he?

For my part, I don't think he's going to prove durable enough to be a long term great QB. I certainly wish him the best though (except when he plays us). He's the kind of kid I think anybody can root for, even if he's not on your favorite team.

[scpanther22]

Wtf is a cornball brother? Is that the new version of Uncle Tom or something?

Basically, I'm not saying this is my personal view but the example i've seen countless times as a "cornball brother" is Tiger Woods. Parker and First take have talked Tiger woods like that in past shows.

[footballisasport]

He gets suspended for what he said but when Skip and all the other folks were making their usual negative black stereotypical comments against Cam did it, no one at ESPN ot the sport media in general had a problem with it. What is the message being send about the real hyposcrisy and control.

[Vagrant]

From what I've seen, I don't think Griffin not wanting to be identified as a "black quarterback" has anything to do with denying his roots or denying those that have gone before him. I think it's just that he wants to be known primarily as a quarterback, skin color be damned.

And why shouldn't he?

For my part, I don't think he's going to prove durable enough to be a long term great QB. I certainly wish him the best though (except when he plays us). He's the kind of kid I think anybody can root for, even if he's not on your favorite team.

This is the part that most white people will never understand. The thing that SAS was referring to was the fact that as recently as 50 years ago, black people were viewed as second class citizens. For a black man to triumph over the social inequity in our relative "starting positions", is a much bigger accomplishment for a black man than a white man. Black men start from a position of disadvantage and have to work their way towards relevance while white men start from a position of privilege based entirely on skin color. Starting field position is a good analogy. Black men start on the 20 yard line.... white men start on the 50. However, back in the day that disparity was even worse. Black men started on the 1 yard line. Progress is being made, but things haven't been set quite straight yet either. And before anybody chimes in about socioeconomic issues, I do know that there exist poor white people and rich black people. This changes nothing about my overall point.

SAS was saying that this dog fight from the 1 yard line to the 20 yard line needs to be remembered. It needs to be a point of pride for a black man. Because without the blood spilled by his ancestors, he wouldn't have been in position to have success. While you shouldn't define who you are wholly based upon race, it would be disrespectful to the civil rights movement to ignore the struggle of your people to get you to the place where you are now. To be PROUD of your heritage and not hide it away because that makes people more comfortable. To not let your race be a subject you shy away from because you feel inadequate as a black man in a white man's position historically.

The same reason we call Obama our first black president and not just our president.... because the acceptance by the American people of a person of color being in the highest office in the land represents a tremendous sea change from when only a generation ago, black people weren't allowed to drink from the same water fountains, eat at the same places, or ride in the front of the bus. To act as if those things never happened would be revisionist history.

[Matthias]

This is the part that most white people will never understand. The thing that SAS was referring to was the fact that as recently as 50 years ago, black people were viewed as second class citizens. For a black man to triumph over the social inequity in our relative "starting positions", is a much bigger accomplishment for a black man than a white man. Black men start from a position of disadvantage and have to work their way towards relevance while white men start from a position of privilege based entirely on skin color. Starting field position is a good analogy. Black men start on the 20 yard line.... white men start on the 50. However, back in the day that disparity was even worse. Black men started on the 1 yard line. Progress is being made, but things haven't been set quite straight yet either. And before anybody chimes in about socioeconomic issues, I do know that there exist poor white people and rich black people. This changes nothing about my overall point.

SAS was saying that this dog fight from the 1 yard line to the 20 yard line needs to be remembered. It needs to be a point of pride for a black man. Because without the blood spilled by his ancestors, he wouldn't have been in position to have success. While you shouldn't define who you are wholly based upon race, it would be disrespectful to the civil rights movement to ignore the struggle of your people to get you to the place where you are now. To be PROUD of your heritage and not hide it away because that makes people more comfortable. To not let your race be a subject you shy away from because you feel inadequate as a black man in a white man's position historically.

The same reason we call Obama our first black president and not just our president.... because the acceptance by the American people of a person of color being in the highest office in the land represents a tremendous sea change from when only a generation ago, black people weren't allowed to drink from the same water fountains, eat at the same places, or ride in the front of the bus. To act as if those things never happened would be revisionist history.

I think that is just it, most people don't know what to do with this heritage. The Civil Rights Movement should be something that all Americans, no matter what the skin tone, should be proud of. We should all honor this movement, yet it's mostly only seen as something black people should be proud of. When that happens, it becomes a seperating factor for us, something to divide people.

What I'm trying to say is, how do I honor the Civil Rights Movement and my ancestors? Is my heritage nothing more than a constant struggle of trying to be seen as equal or trying to catch up with the rest of the world? Because if I saw it like that, I would have some resentment about the world I'm living in. It would be hard for me to fully connect with others who are not my skin tone.

By the way, when talking about ancestors, at some point we all have the same ancestors. So instead of just black people honoring the movement as a special part of their history, all americans should take it as their own personal history. That is the only thing that will bring us together. There's nothing to be ashamed of, our ancestors were fighting for equality. Why should it be one group's burden to keep that heritage alive?

[footballisasport]

Clearly he must have missed the ESPN memo that states...We're only mocking and ridiculing one minority QB at a time and right now it's Cam.

Wow...we are going backwards in time. It's okay for folks like Skip and Charlie Casserly to push the boundaries of racism when it comes to Cam, by outwardly ridiculing and blatanly stereotyping him without shame and some even going as far as labeling him a ....you know... "thug," which seem to now be a another word for the "n" word. But, Rob playing the reverse role with RG III and he gets suspended...Go figure. He, should have know better. Just because they say we're equal, doesn't mean we can play the same games.

Don't worry when a cop pulls RG III over for stupid reasons and profile him, he will realize that no matter how he much he wants to see himself, the color of his skin is how he will always be judged by way to many in this society. Just ask Obama.

Reminds me of one of my good friends from college was a black guy that got made fun of by other black guys because he 'dressed white' and hung out with me, a white-ish fellow. I guess he wasn't black enough, or a 'cornball brother', whatever the fug that means. Racism is definitely two sided.

In all honesty, maybe if the Europeans had not re-define us and mold us into their image, we wouldn't be defining ourselves and our own as trying to be like them. There is something about studying African History that makes one realize how much we really were stripped of our identity and culture. Something many folks not only take for granted but seem to dismiss as if we should be grateful.Seriously?