Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Randy Moss and Terrell Owens - The Best Players in the NFL




I wanted to make this point (in the video) about Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. These guys get alot of heat for their "character", and the consistent pattern is that America feels that it has the paternalistic right and obligation to consistently judge the character of black males. People do not understand how this concept is universal: it happens to black boys in the school system, which is why they are nearly 5 times more likely than other kids to be placed in special ed. It happens to black men in the criminal justice system, which is why black men are tried and convicted at a much higher rate than men and women who commit the same crimes. It happens on the job market, which is why we don't get promotions as regularly even when our qualifications are the same. I go through it at Syracuse University, as I have been labeled a "dangerous black man" for being honest about racial inequality in America. Rather than ask itself why it has dozens of departments that have NEVER in over 100 years, granted tenure to a black male or female, it is easier for the administration to point their hostility toward me for being the one who brought such a startling fact to their attention.

I understand. Racism makes you do this.

Due to the long history of extreme racism that created the roots of nearly every institution in our society, many Americans today are unaware of just how powerful their racist history is in determining their outlook on nearly every aspect of American society. The outrage Americans had toward Michael Vick is very similar to the rage that Americans felt 100 years ago if a black man was accused of hurting a white woman. Americans felt that because Vick had been deemed a "monster", it was within their rights to take everything from him. The same was true of OJ Simpson. Not to say that these men were perfect,they are clearly flawed. But this notion that "a monster has no rights and therefore should be subject to vigilante justice" is nothing new, and has been historically applied to black men.

I am not surprised when I see the backlash that comes when I speak on issues in this way. Racism trains us as Americans to squash the voices of people of color, even when they are telling the truth.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prof. Watkins-
You hit the nail, right on the head.

But of course, as you know, the reasons for racism (in America in general, BUT especially in Syracuse!) go far deeper--there are of "aversive racism" (Gaertner & Dovido), where people who truly beleive they are NOT racist do in fact harbor feelings toward blacks such as fear, animosity, and they vigorously try to deny that thse are in fact part of *racism.* these people usually have little or no contact with anyone outside their own racial (caucasian) group. In dealing with this, I try to bring up Peggy McIntosh's "White Priveledge" to point out that, in fact THERE ARE great disapities between "being black" and "being white." Few whites realize this, and in Syracuse, it is ADAMANTLY denied by both the local population and the University.

In putting forth ideas, I think that one needs to convince the good people of Syracuse that *THERE IS A PROBLEM*----THAT is the first step toward working toward solutions.

I applaud you in your stand.

Peace, Hope and Justice

~(formerly) "the most dangerous white Black woman on campus"

Anonymous said...

I agree with what you said. Situations such as what is happening with Vick,Bonds, etc. provide white America an opportunity to vent itself and its racisim under a different guise. Let's be real if were Eli Manning or Peyton Manning instead of Michael Vick there would be no uproar. Continue to speak out. I wish more Americans, particularly Black Americans were speaking out. I attempt to speak out against racial injustice in America whenever the opportunity presents itself. Black Americans fail to understand if whites are allowed to get away with this injustice they will attempt to do it again and again. That's how it gets started.