It's Not Always Racism!

Here we go again! Another manufactured scandal over a sound-byte! Once more the media is working themselves into a frenzy and fanning the flames of controversy, for ratings. (I'm talking to you, CNN). This time the forced outrage is aimed at a remark made by Dallas Mavericks owner  Mark Cuban during an interview with Inc. Magazine.

He said, in part: “I mean, we’re all prejudiced in one way or another. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it’s late at night, I’m walking to the other side of the street. And if on that side of the street, there’s a guy that has tattoos all over his face — white guy, bald head, tattoos everywhere — I’m walking back to the other side of the street. And the list goes on of stereotypes that we all live up to and are fearful of. So in my businesses, I try not to be hypocritical. I know that I’m not perfect. I know that I live in a glass house, and it’s not appropriate for me to throw stones.”

Sorry – I don’t hear a racist here. I don’t hear ignorance...or hate. I hear a real person trying to have an honest dialogue about an American reality. If we cannot speak the truth about our fears and prejudices – if we can't tell it like it really is - how are we ever going to get past those fears and prejudices? We can find common ground in our shared hope for the future but we won't get there by hiding what we feel., by being afraid to say what's on our minds. Ignorance and hate thrive in the dark. They are spread by whispers. Let's shine a light on what we honestly think about race and prejudice and bigotry and each other. Let's talk openly about these things. We might surprise ourselves with just how alike we are in our perceptions.  

Sorry, I do the same as Mr. Cuban if I'm walking alone late at night. And I tell my daughter to, too. And I know I am not a racist. All the media-types feigning offense at these words are willfully misinterpreting what is being said. And ignoring the mention of a tattooed white guy. Frankly, any reasonable person no matter what their skin-color will feel trepidation in such circumstances. It's called judgment - and yes, we exercise judgment based on quick impressions all the time. We used to call it trusting our gut – our instincts – now we call it profiling. Some call it racism.