The story about the Clipper’s owner, Donald Sterling’s racist remarks have many, of all races, seemingly irate and disgusted with his rhetoric. I am not defending Mr. Sterling’s racist views. I do wonder though, where and when it’s okay for us to have our private conversations, and have them protected because our discussions were meant for our private life and not our professional and or public life. Maybe you’re a saint, but I have said things in private that I wouldn’t want to be publicized.
One can say, if a terrorist or murderer planned an attack and discussed it in their private life, and their motives were exposed, they should be held responsible for the possible threats even though they didn’t make their intentions public.
Mr. Sterling has been charged with being a slumlord with ethnic people and he was fined. Though he’s a racist, if he treated his black players and employees fairly as a team owner, should he or those like him be allowed to participate in the commerce of the United States as long as their racist views don’t prohibit them from running a company where all employees, regardless of their race are treated well? I don’t know if this is the case with Mr. Sterling. I am just asking.
I have seen people on television of different races, discussing their outrage with Mr. Sterling. Regardless of their race, there were some who expressed their anger who I didn’t believe. If they feel its okay to go as far as having Mr. Sterling banned from being a spectator at a Clipper’s game, I wonder if these same people would boycott their friends and relatives from their lives who have the same kinds of hearts, racist views and beliefs like Mr. Sterling.
We can hide behind, “Well, that’ my mother, my father, child, etc.” I feel, when we’re truly ready to make great stride in lessening racism in the world, we won’t have a need to make excuses and concessions for racists because of a DNA connection or anything else. I challenge all who want Mr. Sterling severely punished to ask, “What would I do if Donald Sterling was my relative?”
Probably, most families have at least one or more of a racist relative similar to Mr. Sterling. How many of us would admit this? I am black and I have heard black people, both friends and relatives make racist comments about white people and other races in the same manner white people make about black people.
I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness. Being a homosexual was something the religion did not accept, because the Bible says, lying with someone of the same sex is an abomination to God. Because I adopted that belief, I was prejudiced against gay people. Later in my life, I made an effort to get to know homosexuals. Because of that, I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people whose sexual preferences didn’t alter the beauty in their hearts.
I am also proud to say, I am no longer a Jehovah’s Witness. I am not interested in being a part of any people, group or organization that discriminate or judge people based on their skin color or sexual preference.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Sterling has had sexual encounters with other black women. I find it ironic that his alleged mistress is part black and Mexican, though he seems to dislike both of these races. Maybe, this is his way of dealing with his guilt of hating those races.
Maybe if more people would ostracize their relatives and friends who are racists in the manner that so many want done to Donald Sterling, just maybe, there would be less racism in the world.