The boys at TheBigLead.com have one of the most polarizing figures in sports journalism back for the 1-year anniversary of their last interview where Jason Whitock accused Scoop Jackson of “bojangling for dollars,” and blamed rap culture for being the “new Ku Klux Klan.”
Not sounding the least bit regretful for granting the sports blog site the interview before, Whitlock goes on to march to a similar beat in his interview but he seems more reserved this time around and less inclined to belittle his ideas by using name-calling and slights toward the colleagues he feels did him dirty. I respect that more than anything else.
Whitlock has many great ideas — wanting black foks to look inward before blaming society for racism, second-guessing stories no matter how close to the subject matter he is by way of geographic location or race, and most of all he seems to have hope a difference can be made, but more work needs to be done — and I wish he weren’t so polarizing in the black community. I have taken heat for being on his side with a lot of issues, the Imus situation especially, but I feel he’s on the right track but needs a forum to address his ideas.
I’d rather have someone like TheStartingFive or someone else put together a large discussion with Whitlock where argument points are dished out and received equally, as opposed to the ESPN-compiled panel with an audience. He has great ideas, but like most of the greatest ideas, they need to be molded into a message that can be accepted by his intended audience every black American. The thing is, he is aiming his ideas mostly at this “black America” that, after reading Eugene Robinson today, I have to ask the same question Robinson asks: Is there really one, unified Black America? I don’t think so. That could help explain why it’s hard for Whitlock to get his point off, when he is speaking to a varying group of individuals but putting all black Americans down as if they’re all part of the problem. Not the case.
At any rate, glad to see Whitlock’s still out and about preaching his message, and, at least for the moment, held out on calling out people in a rudimentary way and instead seemed thoughtful and insightful in the interview.
Kudos to TBL for the interview round-up.
3 Feedbacks on "Jason Whitlock, Round Two Interview At TheBigLead"
MODI
Tim, thanks for stopping by COSELLOUT. I have just been perusing your site and do like much of the work that you have put together. Whether we agree or disagree on every point (who does?) is not so important as i believe that i am of like mind in trying to address greater social issues through sports (also loved Welcome to the Terrordome BTW).
And of course, as is expressed in the Eugene Robinson link, it is silly to think that any race represents one monolithic group of opinion. having stated that AND my respect for your work, I simply believe that there as absolutely nothing redeemable that Jason Whitlock can contribute to our society and that he should be unequivocally condemned.
To fully understand the incredible damage that Whitlock has done is to read his vomit-inducing comment sections afterward. He provides a convenient cover for white bigotry. I can assure you that your point about whether Whitlock is “putting ALL black Americans down” is lost on his 90%+ white readership. His articles on jena were simply inexcusable which I have written about here: http://www.cosellout.com/?p=107
In any case, I will write a follow-up on Whitlock because I am extremely troubled by him receiving ANY validation beyond being the hack thast he is. Despite this very severe point of disagreement on this matter, I like your overall body of work and and have added you to my blogroll.
Tim
MODI —
Much appreciation for stopping by the site and dropping off your respect and, almost as importantly, your dissent.
Jason Whitlock is by far the most polarizing black sports columnist on Earth. He seems to bask in the title but as we both know, being polarizing hasn’t helped his popularity among black folks one bit. Of course, he’ll be the first to tell you he’s not out to win any popularity contests, but it becomes especially important considering most of his arguments, complaints and issues involve or surround the general black community.
Whitlock’s message — the wrongfulness of embracing violence, degrading one’s self and culture, and indulging on material things — deserves attention and discussion.
The problem lies in the way he adds racially sensitive name-calling (conjuring up dangerous, horrific ghosts of the past) and sensationalist plot twists to his pieces. And I agree with you when you point out in the Jena-6 article that he picks a point and diminishes all others. Another product of his version of sensationalizing his topics. Any town in 21st century America needs serious help when they are still hanging nooses. Racism is very much alive and thriving around the country.
Perfect example of lingering inequality still lingering in the minds of some Americans is when on any national stage where one black man or woman speaks out against an issue involving their own culture, bigots flock to the scene like ants at a picnic.
I’ve spoke of getting a panel together to discuss Whitlock’s messages and the way he delivers them. I’d love to get him in an open forum without the hatred and anger from the forums, and have an intelligent debate. Seems hard to do, like a hoop dream.
At any rate, I try my best to take in even the most outlandish and unpopular messages and make some sense of them. It’s not always possible, but damn if I don’t try as much as I can.
I’m looking forward to your Whitlock piece. I’ll chime in on the follow-up comment discussion.
MODI
Tim, your response is appreciated. …You state: “Whitlock’s message — the wrongfulness of embracing violence, degrading one’s self and culture, and indulging on material things — deserves attention and discussion.�
Yes, we agree. These issues deserve attention. And there is a time and a place and responsible voices who are doing just that. Jason Whitlock has proven himself NOT to be worthy of leading ANY responsible discussion. Let me offer this example. A woman gets gang-raped. A media blowhard writes an article about “what she was wearing� and talks about the need for young women to “dress tasefully�. I’m sorry, we are not going to have that discussion. It is an insulting discussion and anyone who wants to have it should be condemned outright and not legitimized in any way. …Now lets say in a SEPARATE forum independent of any rapes, someone is running seminars on professional and appropriate appearances. That’s is fine. But as long as we allow people to change the subject, more women will get raped. And that is exactly what Whitlock is doing with regard to instituional racism. Has Whitlock offered ANY solution to deal with the unequal juvenile justice system? No. He won’t even have the conversation! In other words, accept it! Ultimately, he is sending the message to white bigots in Jena and everywhere else, “don’t worry about dispensing equal justice… it’s all Mychal Bell’s daddy’s fault. This is simply unconscionable.
Tim, while I deeply appreciate the spirit of what you are trying to accomplish with an open forum idea, Whitlock simply is not worthy of any stage about any discussion about any social issue. He is devoid of merit. There is no issue that Whitlock has raised that 1000 other more responsible people have raised who are much more worthy to be included in a forum. Someone like Michael Eric Dyson routinely tackles every point you raised AND is a fierce opponent of institutional racism. But the media likes to put black folks in the “personal responsibility box� or the “fighting racism box� as if these two items are somehow mutually exclusive.
Personally i am a youth services worker by day where I communicate issues of personal responsibility to teens (of all races)– often high school drop outs… and by night I am a blogger who does whatever little I can to fight the much more powerful institutional racism that permeates our society. there is a much bigger picture and Whitlock simply REFUSES to see it.
Whitlock talks a lot about fatherhood… well for two years I have worked in for The National Partnership for Community Leadership who is one of the national leaders in promoting assisting young men develop as fathers. Amongst other things every year is a national conference in June with a few hundred people. The fact of the matter is that these types of initiatives have had their funding drastically cut in the last 6 years because anything that is outside of the realm of simply “promoting marriage� does not get funded for religious reasons. (Not to say marriage isn’t vitally important, but healthy co-parenting outside of marriage is just as critical)… I know many individual who are very worthy of forum slots that have genuine interest beyond their own personal careers and fame.
Tim, i’ll be honest. It is hard for my blood pressure to stay even when discussing Whitlock. He has done so much to perpetuate white bigotry at worst and white indifference to systemic racism that he may as well be David Duke’s right hand man. And any review of any comment section of one of his Jena articles would confirm my words…
But like I said Tim, after reviewing your blog, I completely understand your spirit of where you are coming from and it is one that I share with you, but as far as strategy goes… sometimes the road to hell is paved with good intentions…
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