LeBron

by "Nibby" (nibby68)
Published 06/02/2017 at 10:10

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STARS: 8

Recently, LeBron James’ home in Los Angeles was vandalized. Someone spraypainted the N word on the front gate.

He spoke about the incident here. Worth watching.

it’s also well known LBJ does a ton of community work for his hometown Akron, Ohio and does a lot for young black people. His foundation is working to pay for over 1,000 children to attend college. Things like that. He mentioned it doesn’t matter how famous you are or how much money you have... hate crimes and racism are still a serious problem in the US (and all over the world).

It’s not just black people. Muslims, Hindus, Latinos, Jews, Asians, gays, lesbians, transgender people are all subject to this kind of bigotry. Many of them are forced to deal with it on a daily basis. I knew someone in graduate school who was transgender and he moved away from his hometown of Binghampton because people could not bear the fact he was different. I remember a Jewish classmate back in high school complain about someone making Hitler jokes to them.

Maybe I’ve told this story before but I had a terrible time in middle school through high school. See, my town is an upper middle class bubble statistically dominated by white people. When I was growing up here we were one of about 5 or 6 families in the district that wasn’t white. Not that there’s anything wrong with white people... but for instance I had a hard time making friends and such cause I wasn’t white enough. We had money but not country club money. My family wasn’t a member of the local bath club and we didn’t go on exotic vacations to Cancun or Africa or Europe every school break. A lot of my frustration back then came from not being able to break that barrier and never really finding a way to fit in.

But those issues were much smaller compared to what I dealt with on a day to day basis, going to public school as a Muslim kid post 9/11. I played baseball and soccer through our school during 7-8th grade. I quit, not just because I wasn’t very good, but the constant racist remarks and harassment I’d get. Those of you who played sports growing up know what a vile place the locker room can be. I got tired of being pantsed and felt uncomfortable having to change in the same room as these guys due to the harassment.

One day my father picked me up after practice in his Mercedes. A teammate yapped at us while I was entering the car “Which oil company does he own?” The license plate clearly said MD on it anyways. That kind of ignorance I dealt with on a daily basis. I wasn’t appreciated for the person I was. Instead I was labeled terrorist or sand nigger. One kid would see me in the hallway and immediately pretend to be a plane and fly into the walls. Some kid left a note on my table during lunch one day that said “I’m scared the terrorists will kill me, AKA Nibby.” I brought that to the school principal and told her “I know exactly who wrote this, I help him with his homework all the time.” “Oh, well I can’t really do anything about that.” The school administration and staff were bloody useless. They were more interested in maintaining their public country club school image than anything else. Same thing happened to my Hindu friend I grew up with in our school. There was another Muslim boy in my grade and he dealt with it too. We kinda stuck together, enduring it. A few years after high school, the Muslim guy’s younger brother hung himself. He was in 10th grade.

If you were the slightest bit different you’d be mocked. That’s fundamental problem that exists almost everywhere. And I am not trying to defend those who are racist but sometimes you have to keep in mind if that person grew up in a predominantly white community, they didn’t have that exposure to different cultures, skin colors, religions, sexual preferences and don’t really know the proper way to interact with them. But that doesn’t mean shouting bigoted remarks and such is okay. It never is.

Luckily since high school I really never had to deal with much racism directed towards me, but those experiences really make me wonder there must be thousands of children growing up who get bullied the way I did or deal with cyber bullying just because some of their peers don’t want to take the time to get ot know them. There’s a fundamental problem in our society whenever an explosion/shooting happens and the first question is “Was any terrorist activity involved?” The media has created this fear driven environment.

And I know there are plenty plenty plenty of activists who are white, brown, black, etc. who do a ton of work to fight against these problems. And they need to keep doing it and get recognized for it.

There’s nothing wrong with our differences and in fact I think it makes people a lot more interesting when you’re with a diverse group of people. People shouldn’t be so worried about judging people by race, religion, sexuality and moreso focus on does this person have good intentions, morals, heart...

Even if you’re the best basketball player in the world, you still have to deal with issues that everyday people deal with. And LBJ does so much work for black people and fighting racism and intolerance. By using his name and status as a top NBA player as a platform he serves as a role model for millions of children of color. He’s so much more than just a player. And that’s why (even though they lost last night) I’m rooting for the Cavs in the NBA finals.

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Replies (15)

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/02/2017 at 10:23, STARS: 3

I grew up in a fairly well off suburb, but I had the advantage of having some diversity in our community. Now that I have a child, my wife and I consider it important to be in a school and a church community that has a range of incomes and racial backgrounds. It’s great to tell your kids that race and money don’t matter, but nothing teaches like living it day to day.

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
06/02/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 1

I ’ m white and middle class, but grew up in a pretty diverse area. Probably 30% black, 60% white, and 10% other (predominantly south Asian, both Muslim and Hindu). Nonetheless, regardless of your background or skin color or religion, about 5% - 10% of the people did all the bullying and the rest were either targets, or they just tolerated it. I was in the second two categories. I wasn ’ t rich, my clothes were made fun of. I was called a “ fag ” more times than I can count. I seriously contemplated suicide from around age 10 through 20 because I never felt like I fit in anywhere — not really a nerd, not really a jock, not a metalhead or emo or surfer (this was FL, everyone had to be either a surfer or skater at the time).

My point is that I empathize — I believe most people are actually more classist than they are racist, which is why they ’ ll more willingly accept more diversity if those people come from a similar social class and follow their norms (sometimes derided as “ acting white ” etc). But bullies will find ANY chink in your armor that they can. It just happens that for POCs, it ’ s a lot easier and more obvious. Or for visibly disabled people or anyone else where the “ content of their character ” takes a back seat to the superficial.

Having been around a while, I can say I ’ m observing a lot less racism around me today than 20 - 30 years ago, but the incidents of it now are blown up a lot bigger, so people think it ’ s getting worse. Society is naturally getting more diverse around the US and I see my kids (6 and 4) with absolutely zero sense of other people ’ s skin color, even though we do have occasional talks about what racism is and why it ’ s bad.

"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/02/2017 at 10:27, STARS: 1

when i was at primary school i was like that, teasing the crap out of the odd kid (he was an Aborigine)

i didn’t do it when i went to high school

kid from Sri Lanka as a result is now my best mate

"Nibby" (nibby68)
06/02/2017 at 10:32, STARS: 1

I think with social media it’s really easy to Target people whether it is anonymous harassment or people pointing out racists online... That’s why it gets more blown up.

At the end of the day though all that matters is if you’re a good person

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
06/02/2017 at 10:37, STARS: 1

Yeah, it’s weird that as the online world has trended more towards sharing your real identity, it’s harder for people to write off the trolls. I’m generally anti-networking online because there’s just so much downside potential, and far too much opportunity for people to talk shit with impunity. Great post, by the way, thanks for sharing your story.

"EL_ULY" (uly)
06/02/2017 at 10:38, STARS: 3

recently my father and a crew of about 7 were at a construction site in a town north of Houston. Some sort of distribution warehouse where they pack and ship medical gloves, masks, scrubs, etc. Any who, it was lunch time and they where sitting there talking, eating their lunch when this one dude and his crew when up to them and said, “you can’ be here”. My dad in English said, “oops i’m sorry, we thought nobody was working in this spot right now”. The dude (28 year old wm) said, “we ain’t working, but wetbacks can’t eat lunch here.... or anywhere soon. Trump is here so ya’ll better start packing your shit”. Confused but calm, my dad asked if he honestly means those words, almost giving him a chance to apologize. The dude didn’t comply. My dad got his phone and called the construction supervisor and told him what was happening. He was in the area and showed up within seconds. He told the dude to come in is office with my dad. Once there, the supervisor (tall white male from South Africa) asked what was going on. The dude said, “I don’t want those wetbacks here. Come on man, we better stick together. They want to take us over”. At that point the supervisor goes off like crazy on the this dude extremely loud about how he’s known my dad for almost 40 years, a brief rundown of my dad’s loyalty, class, quality of work and that what he said to him and his crew is beyond idiotic. Most importantly though, how this whole area is now liable to be sued for discrimination or some sort of civil rights thing. Basically his entire company could face legal prosecution. The dude now pale and shitting his pants had no words. Supervisor asked my dad if he wanted to procede in letting the dude’s boss get wind of this and all that. My dad said no. He told the dude that if he did that, he would obviously be fired and all that stuff. My dad didn’t want to do that to the dude. He did ask for him to apologize to his crew individually and that’s all. The dude apologized to my dad and his crew.

I know I wouldn’t have done that but my dad told me that he saw that the dude had learned his lesson. He told me that there is no beef and if they do cross paths during inspection meetings, they wave to each other an he shakes his hand.

"Nibby" (nibby68)
06/02/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 1

That’s an awesome story and kudos to Papa uly for staying calm and patient. It’s unfortunate people think it’s okay to think and act that way but the best way is to overcome such circumstances with patience and kindness

"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
06/02/2017 at 10:54, STARS: 0

I believe most people are actually more classist than they are racist, which is why they’ll more willingly accept more diversity if those people come from a similar social class and follow their norms (sometimes derided as “acting white” etc).

No way. My mom lived in state housing when I was growing up, so I’ve lived in some of the poorest areas of our country. I also have family members who are doctors on the east coast and have spent summers at east coast beach clubs. I’ve lived on both sides of the economic line and I can tell you that race most definitely comes before class. I’ve seen white millionaire doctors and white people on welfare systematically try to put down minorities. Go look at the black and hispanic neighborhoods of LA and tell me that class takes precedent over race. Trump being elected president largely on account of working class whites is also another blatant example of how race trumps class. James, a millionaire, having to deal with the N word being painted on his house is another example.

Society is naturally getting more diverse around the US and I see my kids (6 and 4) with absolutely zero sense of other people’s skin color, even though we do have occasional talks about what racism is and why it’s bad.

Not recognizing differences between cultures within our society is not a sign that we are becoming more diverse. It’s the opposite. It’s seeing everything as the same. Recognizing different cultures is not a bad thing; it shows you have an appreciation for things that aren’t the same as you. My kids are also four and six, and go to a bilingual school where they are speak one language half the day and another language the other half. They also receive a pretty extensive education about a variety of cultures within our society. They recognize that people are different colors and have different cultures and languages and experiences. They also know that we are all just people and that this variety is what makes where they live so great. Not recognizing diversity does not illustrate how America is becoming more open or diverse, it illustrates how certain segments of our country are trying to make everyone the same.

Also, what Nibby is describing goes beyond bullying. It’s a systematic attempt to subjugate an entire group of people based on their race/ethnicity/religion whereas bullying is an attempt by one individual to make themselves feel better by intimidating another individual.

"EL_ULY" (uly)
06/02/2017 at 11:01, STARS: 1

They are getting empowered now doe. Seems to be a lot more of the whole “Trump is president now, time is running out” sort of BS. I understand what my dad did. Honestly, it happens at least once a month in the Texas construction world that is dominated by immigrant workers.

I would of fuckin socked that bitch right there and then lol. I would have made him beg for mercy because I feel that they will never learn any other way. They wouldn’t think twice to hurt or kill us as they’ve done already and will do so much more often now I think.

I understand now lowing to their level and all that and trust me, i;m ultra calm and friendly. I avoid confrontations like I avoid the gym *rimshot*. But idk man.... things are getting worse and more violent

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
06/02/2017 at 11:04, STARS: 0

It ’ s sort of like “ melting pot ” vs “ pot of gumbo ” analogies. Do we want some homogenization? Sure. But too much is definitely bad. I act a lot differently in a professional environment than with my friends or family. Psych people call that “ high self monitoring ” and it ’ s not necessarily a bad thing to change the way you act and talk based on the situation. Just don ’ t fake it too hard or it looks ridiculous.

To your last point, I don ’ t think bullies (I don ’ t mean Trump, I mean schoolkids) are trying to enact some kind of Fourth Reich. They don ’ t have that kind of strategic thinking. They ’ re just trying to pick on kids who are different than them. That said, adult bullies are the real danger because they hold real power. We just elected one.

"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
06/02/2017 at 11:09, STARS: 0

Your dad is a better person than me for sure. If your dad had him fired it would have just bolstered his bigotry.

"EL_ULY" (uly)
06/02/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 0

indeed. The way it went down is hella rare and I know I wouldn’t have done that much to defuse this. It happens at least once a month for him or his crew in the Texas construction world, which is completely dominated by immigrant workers. Workers that pay taxes, are peaceful, genuinely nice people that just want to earn some money while ironically being the backbone of the economy.

"Nibby" (nibby68)
06/02/2017 at 11:18, STARS: 1

There’s a Ted talk from a Muslim college student look up The Muslim on the plane Ted talk

"EL_ULY" (uly)
06/02/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 0

PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!!!

"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
06/02/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 0

Society holds much more power than one guy. Trump’s election is a reflection of elements within our society.

Kids using terms like “sand nigger” and accusing whole groups of individuals of being terrorists are going far beyond simple bullying. I knew kids in high school that used the same terms but never actually bullied anyone. However, they still tried to perpetuate the idea that certain races were superior to others.

The melting pot analogy is a farce used to discourage diversity. America has never been a melting pot, it has always been a vegetable stew. I’m a third generation American and I and many like me still partake in traditions and retain some of the culture from our ancestors’ place of origin. I work in an orthodox Jewish community in the middle of Arizona and they’re still practicing a culture that’s thousands of years old. Go into any big city in America and you’ll see communities representing cultures from all over the world.

Shit, my city is surrounded by Indian reservations. Ask the Navajo is America is a melting pot. Certain organizations (the US Cavalry and various churches...) tried to make it one and they failed.