Kenny Smith's open letter to Charles Barkley about Ferguson

DerekJohnson

ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/kenny-smith-charles-barkley-ferguson-open-letter-exclusive

MikeDamone

All this bullshit and no one ever mentions the root cause of most of the problem. The failed war on drugs that has been implemented by and continues to be carried out vigorously by the US Government. The government has done more damage to the black community than any individual, company or other institution could ever do in 1 million years. So now we look to the government to "fix" the issue with the cops, the very group that fucked us in the ass to start with? How dumb are we?

PurpleThrobber

MikeDamone said:

All this bullshit and no one ever mentions the root cause of most of the problem. The failed war on drugs that has been implemented by and continues to be carried out vigorously by the US Government. The government has done more damage to the black community than any individual, company or other institution could ever do in 1 million years. So now we look to the government to "fix" the issue with the cops, the very group that fucked us in the ass to start with? How dumb are we?

Collectively, pretty dumb.

Tequilla

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

MikeDamone

Tequilla said:

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

I've had people explain to me that the northwest is more racist than the south because at least in the south its out there. We just hide it and people don't know where they stand. I've had this told to me many times. I guess people in the south need to make shit up to feel better about themselves.

ThomasFremont

MikeDamone said:

Tequilla said:

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

I've had people explain to me that the northwest is more racist than the south because at least in the south its out there. We just hide it and people don't know where they stand. I've had this told to me many times. I guess people in the south need to make shit up to feel better about themselves.

I've also heard this "theory."

People are dumb.

CuntWaffle

MikeDamone said:

Tequilla said:

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

I've had people explain to me that the northwest is more racist than the south because at least in the south its out there. We just hide it and people don't know where they stand. I've had this told to me many times. I guess people in the south need to make shit up to feel better about themselves.

I've been told that I "don't understand" because of fortunes I grew up with (ironically by people who grew up with more fortunes that me).

MikeDamone

ThomasFremont said:

MikeDamone said:

Tequilla said:

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

I've had people explain to me that the northwest is more racist than the south because at least in the south its out there. We just hide it and people don't know where they stand. I've had this told to me many times. I guess people in the south need to make shit up to feel better about themselves.

I've also heard this "theory."

People are dumb.

So if a person is racist but never actually does or says anything racist...does it matter? And how would you know? People say a lot of shit to make themselves feel better,

ThomasFremont

MikeDamone said:

ThomasFremont said:

MikeDamone said:

Tequilla said:

Kenny's also right on a number of the root causes ... if you were able to merge Kenny's and Chuck's comments together, you'd go a long way to the solution.

While I 100% agree with Chuck when he says that "he isn't a role model," the reality is that as a public person he has influence - significant influence in fact.

Kenny makes a great point that there are a number of people in this country that still remember what a segregated South, etc. looks like. They remember not being treated as equals.

We're lucky on the West Coast that this kind of thought isn't anywhere close to as prevalent as it is in other parts of the country. We live in an area where you are judged by your actions, accomplishments, and abilities.

Where Kenny really needs to go one step further though is taking a strong stand though in speaking to how people can find another way. That starts with prioritizing education and eliminating the blaming of others or victim mentality.

I've had people explain to me that the northwest is more racist than the south because at least in the south its out there. We just hide it and people don't know where they stand. I've had this told to me many times. I guess people in the south need to make shit up to feel better about themselves.

I've also heard this "theory."

People are dumb.

So if a person is racist but never actually does or says anything racist...does it matter? And how would you know? People say a lot of shit to make themselves feel better,

I've never killed any Jews, but maybe I'm a Nazi.

How can anybody know where I REALLY stand???

RaceBannon

I ran into plenty of blatant racism in the Northwest. Check your white privilege

MikeDamone

RaceBannon said:

I ran into plenty of blatant racism in the Northwest. Check your white privilege

how much is plenty?

RaceBannon

MikeDamone said:

RaceBannon said:

I ran into plenty of blatant racism in the Northwest. Check your white privilege

how much is plenty?

Good n

HoustonHusky

Kenny is a moron for mentioning Sharpton...pretty much discredits anything else he has to say:

"but you are often quoted alongside the likes of Al Sharpton and even President Obama. I would hope that Sharpton or President Obama would never be referenced with you when picking the next NBA Champs!

The body of work that our Black Civil Rights leaders put in by planning, executing and activating does not justify you being in the conversation."

Some background:
http://thefederalist.com/2014/08/22/al-sharpton-mr-respectable/

I'd agree and disagree with Mike...govt has helped screw up the black community but I'd say its done more to harm it through breaking up families than just the drug war. The illegitimate birth rate is something like 70% yet its never talked about as the main source of the problem in youths growing up without any real connection or drive to integrate into general society.