Dialogue on Race… really?
We’re all familiar with the Don Imus comments regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team, and the fact that he’s now been fired by MSNBC and CBS Radio. He may or may not work again - though more likely, eventually, he will. We can debate the merits of the consequences he’s faced for what he said last week while “trying to be funny” - and as importantly, what he’s (in part) built his career on, which I submit played as large a role in his dismissals. But the point is, people are talking about it - and inevitably, we’ll hear how this incident will lead to the ubiquitous “dialogue on race in this country”.
Also of note, this Sunday, MLB will “un-retire” Jackie Robinson’s #42 league-wide and many players will wear #42 for a day - in tribute to Jackie Robinson officially breaking baseball’s color barrier sixty years ago. Torii Hunter’s everywhere offering his thoughts on it, which is fine. Others are weighing in also, which is fine. Some say that only one player per team should be allowed to wear the #42 - with the obvious exception of the Dodgers, who should all wear the #42. Others are saying that anybody who wants to, should be able. Still others contend that perhaps only blacks should be allowed - and at that, only blacks that can speak intelligently on Jackie Robinson i.e. they understand *why* his number is retired league-wide. That’s all fine. Everybody’s entitled to an opinion. And I’ve heard that this event will… yup… “open up dialogue on race”.
My question is this… does this “dialogue” ever really lead anywhere? It seems like whenever something with racial undertones happens in this country, we’re told that it will open up dialogue on race. Presumably that will lead to better race relations, a more enlightened society overall, and a better situation for all of us (especially those in the racial minority) in this society.
Now, race relations have certainly improved in this country’s history - although at a far slower pace than should reasonably have been expected. And there will always be a segment of the population that is bigoted/biased on the basis of race - or gender, or sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, or… hair color. Some folks will find *some* way to have a problem with others. I hope we all realize this is undeniable. Still, there’s clearly nothing wrong with minimizing the size of that population, and minimizing the impact of that population, by actual discussion that may lead to removing the ignorance that is usually at the root of these thought processes.
So, whenever something happens and we “open the dialogue on race”, does anything positive actually result? Maybe it does, I dunno. Maybe it’s just baby steps. Maybe every time something is said like what Imus said, and it gets the play that it gets… then a few more people wake up and realize that perhaps they need to change their perspectives on their fellow human beings. Then again… maybe not. As I said, I just don’t know.
I will say this: Count me as one guy who has been *very* impressed with the way that the Rutgers team and their coach have conducted themselves. Very, very impressed with the supremely classy way in which they expressed their feelings on what Imus said. Rather than stoop to his level, their choice of action/speech has only served to further expose how downright ridiculous Imus’s views are. Yes - his speech was hurtful as well, and I don’t mean to sidestep that. But his comments were downright ridiculous for anybody with an IQ half as high as Forrest Gump’s. I don’t know if he meant to hurt/insult anyone, though obviously he ended up doing so - but what he said was just way beyond ignorant. And again, these women have reinforced the stupidity of those comments with the way they have chosen to conduct themselves in the aftermath.
The university should be very proud of the young women representing them - regardless of what further dialogue, and more importantly societal change, may or may not result from this incident. And to close on a sports-related note, that Rutgers women’s team that made it to the championship game is graduating *nobody*, and had five freshmen this year. I don’t know about Don Imus’s future, but the women on this Rutgers team appear to have very rosy futures ahead of them indeed… on and off the court.
Okay, I’m done now.