Rampid Racism
May 5, 2014
Racism today seems to contradict every aspect of basic American civility. Just take Donald Sterling for example, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, who caused uproar in the media recently by making a racist comment toward African Americans. Sterling not only blatantly disrespected these minorities, but apparently felt little remorse for his statements afterwards.
Sterling allegedly made inflammatory comments towards African Americans in a private conversation with his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, asking her not to broadcast her association or companionship with African Americans, additionally asking her to stop bringing African Americans to NBA games. Stiviano recorded and later leaked the conversation. Sterling recently stated that he wishes he had just “paid her off,” which would have been a wiser choice indeed, as he now faces $2.5 million fine, a permanent ban from the NBA, and a request to sell the team by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
This is also not the first time Sterling has been affiliated with racial profiling. In fact, according to the New York Times, Sterling is notorious in the NBA for inflammatory comments toward some of the staff. In addition, he has adopted a similar manner to his housing tenants, once having a settlement for $2.3 million for calling a Hispanic tenet “filthy.”
One would think after years of reforms and changes in racial society, most would have come in terms with the idea that no one race is superior to another. In a nation as diverse as the United States, it is dismaying to see that discrimination is not only present, but also extremely common. In this particular incident, however, it is almost amusing to see Sterling, an owner of a basketball team that consists of 81percent minority races, degrade African Americans. It is ironic for him to make these comments to his half Hispanic, half African American girlfriend.
Moreover, it was simply wrong for Sterling to make such comments, of course—but the more pressing concern that arises from this situation is that many share Sterling’s intolerant mindset. After strenuous work from past generations in attempt to demolish discrimination, people still look down upon certain races. This comes as no surprise, but the closed-mindedness of his comments are appalling nevertheless.
