The answers have been shown to be one that is not absolutely clear, according to Kenny Smith. Former NBA player Kenny Smith declared that this week, he would conduct a call to action for NBA players to do something about the problems that has persisted in the United States that effect Black Americans, in particular murders conducted by police. He appeared on an ESPN Radio hosted by Dan Le Batard to speak about what he plans to do with NBA players. During the interview, he was asked repeatedly what he plans to do, but his answers were either vague or non-tangible–which has come to be expected with Black figures that have something to lose. Murders committed by race soldiers pretending to be police officers—by committing acts of genocide–in the United States against black people have been going on for over 100 years. However, in today’s climate, you can Facebook live stream these crimes, while justice remains to be unserved.

There is no consequence for the actions of race soldiers pretending to be police who murder citizens of the United States. Kenny Smith claimed that what he plans to do could be done in six months. The NBA in particular has a high rate of players who have no interest in doing anything tangible. We are bombarded with players engaging in less than delightful behavior. After the NBA finals, it was discovered that Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had a party on a yacht that seemed to feature women in bikinis, but none of the women in attendance were Melanoid women. It has been labeled the “white girl only” party on social media. Over the weekend, a few power players in the NBA made Facebook post and tweets about what should be done (in response to the police killings of innocent Black people). While they gained a lot of retweets and likes, there have been no solutions that would pose a direct strike to the system of white supremacy and how that system is affecting the African American community. Also, the vast majority of these tweets and Facebook post showed they were quick to apologize for actions that have nothing to do with the empowerment of Black Americans collectively.

Why are they called “race soldiers? The term “race soldier” was a term coined by Neely Fuller Jr to describe white supremacists who are ALLOWED to get jobs as police officers. These race soldiers’ main objectives are to harm people of color, and most importantly, Black people. To further solidify the case that these are race soldiers, in 2006 the FBI sent out a memo warning city officials that their police departments have been infiltrated by white nationalists around the country.

One has to wonder how were these white supremacist allowed to become police officers? And how far down the line does this exist. If white supremacists are allowed to become police officers and they are allowed to get away with these crimes against humanity, then that means the police unions, the mayor, and other elected officials support them. This fact is blatantly obvious when race soldiers such as Daniel Pantaleo, Darren Wilson, and Asian police officer Peter Liang (who murdered Akai Gurley in New York City) are not charged. For professional athletes who want to do something, I would not suggest they boycott the NBA by not playing. I would not suggest they become shadow investors for empowering causes throughout Black Society. Find someone they can trust and help that person infiltrate the system to change the current conditions. We have enough basketball camps for kids; we have enough non-tangible ideas to last a lifetime. If professional athletes would like to do something, creating a mechanism of protection for Black people would help a lot. They could connect with grass roots organizations that are PRO BLACK, and collaborate with organizations in the inner cities who are trying to help Black people become economically sustainable with employment options and educational opportunities. The Black economy needs to be boosted as far as the access to sufficient employment opportunities. I do not believe in giving away money, I believe creating an option of access, which is something that the Black community needs.

If this becomes a circular instance of nothing being done, I would suggest that the general population of Black Americans end their support of the NBA or any other league dominated by black athletes. The black male professional athlete is 6% of the population, but makes almost 40% of the wealth in the United States collectively. If players are afraid that speaking out will get them black balled from the NBA or any other league, then it’s a safe bet to conclude that they are more than willing to work for white supremacists. No human being should be angry or worried about the loss of finances for helping other human beings who are in need. The idea that Black athletes supporting the communities from which they came is a bad thing gives credence to the notion that they are part of a slave system that has been created to ALLOW a small group of Black people enjoy wealth and empowerment but are not allowed to let that wealth and empowerment trickle down to the communities that brought them up. That is not something that is promoted or discussed with any other race of people’s wealthy class. Being that these things are not being persuaded in other communities shows you that there is a system of technical oppression that is being infiltrated amongst the African, Black American, and throughout the African Diaspora as a whole.

The Black Consigliere

For a number of years, the league has celebrated such occurrences as MLK Day and Black History Month. However, the Sacramento Kings organization took steps that have been deemed questionable in the eyes of many Black fans, and especially one particular Black player. Demarcus Cousins is a five-year vet who plays center for the Kings. Known affectionately to fans as “Boogie”, Cousins is considered one of the NBA’s elite players, perhaps one of its most outspoken as well.

Earlier this week (Feb. 1), it was announced by the Kings organization that they had planned to give away shirts commemorating the “Year Of The Monkey”, in conjunction with February 8th’s Chinese New Year. Cousins, sensing the suspicious intentions of his team’s marketing campaign, immediately stepped forward to announce his distaste for the t-shirt giveaway.

Photo of the shirts that were slated to be given away to fans this past Monday

According to the Sacramento Bee, the team actually had placed the “Monkey” t-shirts on seats in Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena in the hours leading up to that evening’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Fans in the dominant society were outraged by Cousins’ stance on his team’s promotion, engaging in slanderous and sarcastic posts via social media. Below are just a few examples of the backlash that Demarcus Cousins received from white supremacists and suspected white supremacists alike.

#SacramentoKings deem 4000yr old Holiday insensitive? Donald Sterling effect? #demarcuscousins Valentines allowed? pic.twitter.com/XqZv44zdlQ

— Juan Dios (@whatdyouxpect) February 3, 2016

Same as the whole #DeMarcusCousins and the #YearOfTheMonkey bullshit! Chill. Overly sensitive society, who's 2 afraid 2 just call some1 out

— William Brett (@scenesetter91) February 4, 2016

By yanking the lunar year t-shirts, the Sacramento Kings have shown that they value Blacks over Asians. #SacramentoKings #demarcuscousins

— Johan (@johanbaka1) February 3, 2016

Pretty sure the #ChineseNewYear has been around longer than #BlackHistoryMonth get over it #demarcuscousins sheesh!!

— Joel Martin (@fatzmcboom) February 3, 2016

If you're offended by a purple monkey, you're a bitch. #demarcuscousins #nba #noteverythingisaboutrace

— Lenny (@mice_eatcheese) February 2, 2016

While people outside of Black Society were in an uproar over the teams’ decision to scrap the giveaway, it should be noted that the originally planned date of the giveaway coincided with the first day of Black History Month–a month in which all of the NBA’s players are already wearing pre-game warm-up shirts in honor of.

Given the longstanding history of white supremacists’ false claims that Blacks and monkeys are related and/or resemble one another, it was necessary that the shirts were not given to the general public. It was an even better move that the team’s best player (who also happens to be Black) stood up in opposition to what his team wanted to do.

B. Clark

“They (workers of Schwanke-Kasten) locked the door and told me to go away. After I rang the doorbell twice everyone went to the back. No one answered the door or told me what was going on,” Henson wrote on his Instagram account that was later removed for some reason. Henson was followed by two police cars, which parked across the street and watched him for approximately 5 minutes.

After being interrogated about his reasons for being outside of the jewelry store, cops eventually explained to the store’s employees that “it was safe” for him to come into the store to look at a watch that he (Henson) wanted to see. “The employees finally came out of the back and proceeded to conduct business like they previously were as we walked up,” Henson wrote on the now deleted Instagram post.

The cops ran his license plates, and eventually the Milwaukee Bucks power forward was escorted inside the store by the officers.

According to a statement written by the store owner on Monday night, Henson’s vehicle was deemed “suspicious” because of the license plate, which was issued by the dealer.

Henson also wrote in the Instagram post that “This was one of the most degrading and racially prejudice things I’ve ever experienced in life and wouldn’t wish this on anyone. This store needs to be called out, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Here’s John Henson’s reaction to the situation.

B. Clark

The decision to take Mayweather’s title came as a surprise for many, and has rightfully caused outrage from the members of his camp. The story that broke yesterday has re-opened the door of speculation among Melanoid people, particularly members of Black Society who are avid sports fans. For years now, Mr. Mayweather has been the subject of excessive criticism and scorn, which many believe stems from the simple fact that a young Melanoid man such as Floyd Mayweather is fully aware of his talents and impact on the sport of boxing, and makes no apologies about the storied career he has successfully tailored. Another reason of hate for Mayweather is perhaps the reason that is the most glaring: the immense fortune he has amassed from his prolific boxing career. In conjunction with Mayweather’s enviable boxing winnings, one Melanoid man has been a highly instrumental figure in making this happen. His name, you ask? Al Haymon.

Haymon, whose shrewd acumen has been an asset to Floyd Mayweather (Haymon also serves as an adviser to Mayweather), has long been a man in an authoritative position in the world of entertainment. Despite the power moves, Mr. Haymon is for the most part a low-profile figure, instead preferring to call the shots from behind the scenes…”like a boss”. Haymon’s business savvy could be one that Melanoid people in sports take notes from.

Al Haymon (shown on the left) is often recognized as boxing’s “mystery man”, but he’s no mystery to his famous mentee.

The NBA, which to many has been thought of as a Black sport for the past three-plus decades, is no exception to the need for Black ownership. Although Michael Jordan serves as the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, the sport which is known as perhaps the world’s “Blackest sport” is severely lacking Black owners to take the reins of some of the other 29 NBA franchises.

NBA legend Michael Jordan has served as the majority of the NBA’s Charlotte franchise since 2010.

During the 2011 NBA lockout which saw the NBA’s owners and players reach a rift in collective bargaining, there were discussions of some of the league’s highest profile players (with most–if not all–of the players in mention being Melanoid) form new basketball teams which would barnstorm around the country, putting up their own money to rent out venues and use their immense talents to put on what would’ve been a highly entertaining display of basketball for fans across the country. The rumors of the basketball players leaving the NBA’s negotiation tables for the prospect of putting their fortunes (and ownership of their basketball related business affairs) even prompted well-known veteran journalist Bryant Gumbel to speak on the restrictive nature of the NBA’s hierarchy. Here is what Gumbel had to say:

“[Then-NBA Commissioner] Stern’s version of what has been going on behind closed doors has of course been disputed, but his efforts were typical of a commissioner who has always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer, treating NBA men as if they were his boys. It’s part of Stern’s M.O., like his past self-serving edicts on dress code and the questioning of officials. His moves were intended to do little more than show how he’s the one keeping the hired hands in their place.”

Gumbel’s criticism of then-NBA Commissioner can be seen in the following video.

The NFL is now generally regarded as America’s most popular sport. The professional football league, which boasts an approximately 70 percent Black population as of the beginning of the 2014 NFL season, has no Black owners residing over any of the league’s 32 franchises.

There is a shared belief in some circles of Black Society that harbor disapproval for Melanoid people being involved in entertainment in any capacity, including sports. However, professional sports, just like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, etc. is a business just like any of the previously mentioned examples that represent various sectors of the economy. While many of us in Black Society have come to a consensus that it is no longer a recommended notion to encourage our youth (particularly our boys) to choose a career as an NBA or NFL player, it is possible that the conversation with our youth can be slightly modified to encourage them to strive for ownership/management positions in sports instead. If much of the entertainment that the dominant society consumes and watches is based on marketing influenced by Black culture, shouldn’t it be wise for us to aim for ownership in entertainment-driven industries such as sports?

In the late 1990’s, a popular mainstream media publication featured a very distasteful report that showed a collection of players (with the majority of the players being Black) in the NBA at that time who were being bombarded with paternity suits at the time. Of course, this particular article only helped reinforce negative stereotypes and imply that Melanoid men are incapable of being stand-up fathers to their children.Over a decade and-a-half later, a similar white media attack has loomed over the Melanoid men of the NBA who assume dual roles as athletes and responsible fathers.

Brian Windhorst, an ESPN reporter who’s also known for his extensive coverage of NBA superstar LeBron James, was on hand in Oakland, Calif  last night to interview recently-crowned NBA MVP Stephen Curry for a postgame press conference. Mr. Curry’s small daughter, Riley, was in attendance with him as he answered the standard monotonous barrage of questions required by every player to answer after games. Check out Stephen Curry’s daughter, Riley at the press conference:

Riley, being the small child that she is, became slightly playful and restless during the interview, and apparently, her innocent gestures during the press conference offended Windhorst, who took to Twitter by proclaiming his distaste for Curry’s daughter’s presence at the press conference table. He further elaborated upon his frustration by stating that all children should be banned from press conferences. Windhorst wasn’t alone in voicing his displeasure. The following Tweets show that his ESPN colleague, Ramona Shelbourne, felt the same way.

@joybenedict @WindhorstESPN Brian is right. It's unprofessional … But they are soooo damn cute no one has the guts to say anything

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 20, 2015

In this article, several Twitter users sided with Brian Windhorst, providing nitpicking commentary on how the players bringing their children to press conferences should be banned. Curry, who honored his father (former NBA player Dell) during his MVP award acceptance speech, did what many of us do not get an opportunity to witness often: A young Black professional athlete paying homage to his father, who played an active and supportive role in the athlete’s upbringing.

The NBA, which is apporximately 80 percent Black, and its players who are fathers who are easy targets as it pertains to this silly demand form Brian Windhorst. The majority of the children who sit with their fathers during press conferences are relatively quiet, and Riley Curry was an innocent exception. The objective of this story is that many of these white media figures take issue with these young Black men openly showing love and support for their children, which goes against their white supremacist written narratives about Black dysfunctional fatherhood. Not only does this apply to Black NBA players, but Black fathers in general.

by B. Clark