In a podcast aired in February, Piers Morgan faced allegations of ‘race-baiting’ from his guest, Blossom Brown, a prominent figure in transgender activism. Brown swiftly dismissed the notion of any racial bias on her part against white women, stating, ‘Black women cannot be racist to white women.’ Brown expounded on this, essentially implying that Morgan lacked the intellectual grasp to comprehend her stance due to his white privilege.
ESPN host Ryan Clark, a figure who has been vocal about his positions on matters of race and politics, has also stirred some controversy. Clark, after the reelection of Donald Trump, vocalized his endorsement of Kamala Harris, the Vice President who is widely criticized for her lack of clarity and action. He also lauded the Obama administration, painting an attenuated picture of ‘grace’, ‘elegance’, and ‘decency’, separate from the reality of political incompetence and scandals.
Clark’s critique of Trump, however, stirs critical introspection. He said, ‘Not everyone that supports him thinks bigotry is OK…,’ a statement reminiscent of the Democrats’ inability to understand why Americans could support a president whom they painted as an informed leader exhibiting strength and purpose.
Extending his commentary to racial and gender dynamics within sports, Clark discussed the contrasting careers of WNBA stars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. His critique targeted former NFL player Robert Griffin III, who had tweeted in support of Clark.
Clark claimed Griffin was ignorant of the struggles endured by black women in America, suggesting his lack of awareness was tied to his marriages to white women. ‘When is the last time you’ve had a conversation about what Angel Reese is dealing with?’ Clark questioned, insinuating that their interracial relationships precluded them from understanding the black population’s challenges.
Clark’s critique of black men who date or marry white women seemed sadly ironic considering his own tendency to criticize alleged bigotry. Here’s a staggering fact too – Ryan Clark himself shares a child with a white woman, stemming from one of his previous relationships, even as he hurls accusations of being blind to the diverse challenges faced by individuals of different races.
This thread of racial commentary has extended to political circles as well. An example being Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) who attacked Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), rejecting the factual assertion Donalds made about the stability of black families during the Jim Crow era. Crockett’s comments questioned Donalds’ understanding of history based on his marriage to a white woman.
Decrying Donalds’ perspective as ‘whitewashed’, Crockett’s stance brings to light the racial discrimination that doesn’t usually make it to the mainstream media. Do her implications of being ‘whitewashed’ due to interracial relationships extend to public figures such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris, or Don Lemon, who have all wed outside their race?
Spike Lee, a renowned director known for his political views especially his biased support for Obama, has in the past expressed his disapproval of ‘interracial couples.’ Back in 1992, Lee admitted that he would give interracial couples a disconcerting look, enough to make them uncomfortable. This antiquated attitude has remained unaddressed till today.
Lee’s unapologetic stance on interracial relationships does pose questions about his views on marriages like that of Obama’s parents, which was an interracial union. Does his discriminative mindset extend to such instances, too?
A Rasmussen poll conducted in 2020 found that the term ‘racism’ is perceived by 75% of American Adults as any discrimination by individuals of one race against another. Astonishingly, more respondents indicated that they thought most blacks were racists compared to any other racial group.
Only 18% considered most white Americans to be racists, while 25% believed most black Americans were. Only a small fraction considered most Hispanic-Americans (15%) and Asian-Americans (13%) to be racist.
The lack of significance of anti-black racism as a hindrance to success has been noted by Thomas Sowell who said ‘Racism is not dead, but it is on life support — kept alive by politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as ‘racists.’
Black politicians such as Crockett have engaged in divisive discourse that is subtly racist, without receiving any rebuke or consequence from leaders of the Democratic Party. It appears that the whisperings of bias and prejudice have been allowed to fester within these circles.
Clearly, prejudice and racism are not one-sided elements exclusive to one race or another. They are complex, multifaceted issues that transcend lines of color and creed.
The time has come for our society and its leaders to abandon the narrow-minded biases which serve only to divide us further. Equality should mean exactly that — parity and justice for all, regardless of one’s race, color, or personal choices.