NBAPA Lawyer: Double standard exists regarding age limit for black basketball players and white athletes in other sports

[Beffiosa]

These racial topics never ends good because both sides are making statements out of unconscious incompetence. There are opportunities for all races, but there are no such thing as equal opportunity. Blacks are complaining that our cries are being ignored, and whites are complaining because the cries are perceived to be nothing but complaining.

As a black man, I want to see as much passion aimed towards fixing our own community and challenging ourselves to be beacons, and shine in the eyes of society as we put towards protesting injustice caused by whites. We don't want to be treated like animals but we are creating a jungle in our own community preying on each other instead of praying for each other. Why should our kids go to sleep by the sound of gun pop instead of the gentle sound of their pops reading a bedtime story? Why is hip-hop and gang members having a louder voice in our kids ears? We are partially responsible for how the world look at us, and until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and inaction, we will remain using racism as a crutch for our inability to make strides.

Please stop making excuses for ignorant people. You act like someone can't protest injustice and try to fix the community at the same time. Sorry, but when someone brings up the black community when the topic is about white racism they don't actually give a **** about the problems in the black community or fixing it. It's just a diversionary tactic to hide from their own racist feelings. It's idiotic and I can't believe people actually fall for that crap. Racism isn't a crutch to make strides it is a huge barrier, and there's numerous data that backs it up. Something as simple as a black person not getting a job simply because of her name despite having the exact same resume as someone with an anglo sounding name?

I said I want to see the same type of passion aimed towards fixing our own community as it is towards protesting. Racism is not a crutch, but it is often times used as such. I'm a black West Indian who went to medical school in London, worked in London and the United States so I know how hard and huge the barrier is for a black person especially one with an accent. We are handicapped from birth. I have worked within the black community and these kids are set up to fail because they have no tools on how to overcome these barriers so they take the other route. We are trying to get rid of symptoms and underlying effects without diagnosing the root of our conditions.

Racism is real but are we helping or helping to fan the flames? Are we promoting education to our kids or violence and a ghetto fabulous lifestyle? Which stripes hold more weight in the black community? The stripes of a black military general or the ex-con back from his 10 year bid because his case turned lawyers into judges? We need to put out a better message to our kids and that is all I'm saying.

[ceremony816]

White people have it easier. That's all I'm saying and it sounds like you agree. White privilege is obviously real and it makes it easier for us to succeed. We have fewer barriers. Less likely to get locked up or even shot and killed for a crime we didn't commit. Less likely to be discriminated against when looking for work or housing. Less likely to be looked down upon by the majority group in society. I could go on but so many posts in this thread simply pretend that these things don't exist and that black people don't have it harder. Saying that we have white privilege is not "excuse making" or anything of the sort. It's just part of our process in understanding that racial injustice and inequity exists, and we should all be directing our energies to fixing that instead of pretending that it's not real.

Watch this sometime, it's on Netflix

http://www.richhillfilm.com/

[ALL HAIL]

These racial topics never ends good because both sides are making statements out of unconscious incompetence. There are opportunities for all races, but there are no such thing as equal opportunity. Blacks are complaining that our cries are being ignored, and whites are complaining because the cries are perceived to be nothing but complaining.

As a black man, I want to see as much passion aimed towards fixing our own community and challenging ourselves to be beacons, and shine in the eyes of society as we put towards protesting injustice caused by whites. We don't want to be treated like animals but we are creating a jungle in our own community preying on each other instead of praying for each other. Why should our kids go to sleep by the sound of gun pop instead of the gentle sound of their pops reading a bedtime story? Why is hip-hop and gang members having a louder voice in our kids ears? We are partially responsible for how the world look at us, and until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and inaction, we will remain using racism as a crutch for our inability to make strides.

Please stop making excuses for ignorant people. You act like someone can't protest injustice and try to fix the community at the same time. Sorry, but when someone brings up the black community when the topic is about white racism they don't actually give a **** about the problems in the black community or fixing it. It's just a diversionary tactic to hide from their own racist feelings. It's idiotic and I can't believe people actually fall for that crap. Racism isn't a crutch to make strides it is a huge barrier, and there's numerous data that backs it up. Something as simple as a black person not getting a job simply because of her name despite having the exact same resume as someone with an anglo sounding name?

I'm with you God, but I don't think there is anything wrong with agreeing to truth, even in the midst of this type of discussion where people have ulterior motives of diversion.

You have to show people that you're listening, even if they refuse to do the same.

Trust me dude, I feel your message, it's on point, but I think where we differ is that if I had to choose between Black people directly helping ourselves first or Black people protesting to change a legislative policy, I'm choosing self-help every time.

Doesn't this thread prove the difficulty in changing someone's mind, making someone see and feel the "Black" experience from a real perspective?

Why is it important to explain "racism" to those who deny its existence? Aren't there more important things to accomplish than taking on this seemingly insurmountable task?

Don't we as Black folks, at our core, have a problem with unity? Because of this far-reaching problem of unity, don't a great number of us struggle to build and establish strong, principled family structures?

You're right, 98% of the people who "go there" in these type of discussions have malicious intent, but, at this point, who cares!

We have way too many problems to solve to be wasting time begging, asking, and protesting for someone else to "please understand my plight".

[ALL HAIL]

These racial topics never ends good because both sides are making statements out of unconscious incompetence. There are opportunities for all races, but there are no such thing as equal opportunity. Blacks are complaining that our cries are being ignored, and whites are complaining because the cries are perceived to be nothing but complaining.

As a black man, I want to see as much passion aimed towards fixing our own community and challenging ourselves to be beacons, and shine in the eyes of society as we put towards protesting injustice caused by whites. We don't want to be treated like animals but we are creating a jungle in our own community preying on each other instead of praying for each other. Why should our kids go to sleep by the sound of gun pop instead of the gentle sound of their pops reading a bedtime story? Why is hip-hop and gang members having a louder voice in our kids ears? We are partially responsible for how the world look at us, and until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and inaction, we will remain using racism as a crutch for our inability to make strides.

Preach!

[Xyrax]

These racial topics never ends good because both sides are making statements out of unconscious incompetence. There are opportunities for all races, but there are no such thing as equal opportunity. Blacks are complaining that our cries are being ignored, and whites are complaining because the cries are perceived to be nothing but complaining.

As a black man, I want to see as much passion aimed towards fixing our own community and challenging ourselves to be beacons, and shine in the eyes of society as we put towards protesting injustice caused by whites. We don't want to be treated like animals but we are creating a jungle in our own community preying on each other instead of praying for each other. Why should our kids go to sleep by the sound of gun pop instead of the gentle sound of their pops reading a bedtime story? Why is hip-hop and gang members having a louder voice in our kids ears? We are partially responsible for how the world look at us, and until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and inaction, we will remain using racism as a crutch for our inability to make strides.

Please stop making excuses for ignorant people. You act like someone can't protest injustice and try to fix the community at the same time. Sorry, but when someone brings up the black community when the topic is about white racism they don't actually give a **** about the problems in the black community or fixing it. It's just a diversionary tactic to hide from their own racist feelings. It's idiotic and I can't believe people actually fall for that crap. Racism isn't a crutch to make strides it is a huge barrier, and there's numerous data that backs it up. Something as simple as a black person not getting a job simply because of her name despite having the exact same resume as someone with an anglo sounding name?

The bolded is so true. Its hilarious how often African Americans themselves fall for it too. Because its totally your fault that you made it out of the ghetto through hard work and dedication, got your degree, but cannot get a job because people are discriminating against you because of your name/race.

Clearly thats your own fault, and you should do the responsible thing by not mentioning the racism, and instead doing something about that rippity rappity rap music and 'black culture' and whatnot.

Trust and believe. ANYTIME someone takes an issue of blatant racism and tries to blame the victim, their intentions are absolute bull. Every single time.


Oh and if you think we don't do community outreach and improvement programs all over this country, then get off this message board and go read something, because we do. It is VERY possible to do two things at the same time.

[ALL HAIL]

These racial topics never ends good because both sides are making statements out of unconscious incompetence. There are opportunities for all races, but there are no such thing as equal opportunity. Blacks are complaining that our cries are being ignored, and whites are complaining because the cries are perceived to be nothing but complaining.

As a black man, I want to see as much passion aimed towards fixing our own community and challenging ourselves to be beacons, and shine in the eyes of society as we put towards protesting injustice caused by whites. We don't want to be treated like animals but we are creating a jungle in our own community preying on each other instead of praying for each other. Why should our kids go to sleep by the sound of gun pop instead of the gentle sound of their pops reading a bedtime story? Why is hip-hop and gang members having a louder voice in our kids ears? We are partially responsible for how the world look at us, and until we start to take responsibility for our own actions and inaction, we will remain using racism as a crutch for our inability to make strides.

Please stop making excuses for ignorant people. You act like someone can't protest injustice and try to fix the community at the same time. Sorry, but when someone brings up the black community when the topic is about white racism they don't actually give a **** about the problems in the black community or fixing it. It's just a diversionary tactic to hide from their own racist feelings. It's idiotic and I can't believe people actually fall for that crap. Racism isn't a crutch to make strides it is a huge barrier, and there's numerous data that backs it up. Something as simple as a black person not getting a job simply because of her name despite having the exact same resume as someone with an anglo sounding name?

The bolded is so true. Its hilarious how often African Americans themselves fall for it too. Because its totally your fault that you made it out of the ghetto through hard work and dedication, got your degree, but cannot get a job because people are discriminating against you because of your name/race.

Clearly thats your own fault, and you should do the responsible thing by not mentioning the racism, and instead doing something about that rippity rappity rap music and 'black culture' and whatnot.

Trust and believe. ANYTIME someone takes an issue of blatant racism and tries to blame the victim, their intentions are absolute bull. Every single time.


Oh and if you think we don't do community outreach and improvement programs all over this country, then get off this message board and go read something, because we do. It is VERY possible to do two things at the same time.

I'm one of the Black folks who, as you put it, "falls for it".

In reality though, I'm falling for nothing.

I know the game, and I know the angles that people take to "win" an argument.

I just don't give a damn about that argument. I don't care about saving face.

I care about truth, and I care about improving the lot of my people.

If that means And 1ing a post that says, "Black people need to accept more responsibility," regardless of what source from which it comes, so be it.

We do. We do need to be more responsible. We do need to change our mindsets. We do need to stop paying homage to ignorance. We do.

These facts are undeniable, and I refuse to deny them even if they come from the lips of George Wallace, J. Edgar Hoover, or David Duke.

[INKtastic]

claiming racism where it doesn't exist only causes people to pay less attention to valid claims of racism.

It his case the issue was simply too many players were coming into the league who weren't ready for the NBA and teams were spending too much money on "potential" that never developed. The league pushed for it to lower their risk, the players went along because it only meant more money and jobs for the players already in the league. Race was completely irrelevant.

[ALL HAIL]

claiming racism where it doesn't exist only causes people to pay less attention to valid claims of racism.

It his case the issue was simply too many players were coming into the league who weren't ready for the NBA and teams were spending too much money on "potential" that never developed. The league pushed for it to lower their risk, the players went along because it only meant more money and jobs for the players already in the league. Race was completely irrelevant.

See, but it doesn't really matter though. Those callous to the idea of unfair treatment will always be apprehensive to accept its existence ... unless it's completely overt.

It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to prove covert discrimination, and it seems the only way to prove even the overt variety is with a recording device (reference Sterling and SAE).

Hypothetically speaking, if there were no recording devices involved with the entrapment of the aforementioned people, most of the world, predictably, WOULD NOT accept allegations made against them in the more typical covert manifestations of their discriminatory mindsets.

[INKtastic]

claiming racism where it doesn't exist only causes people to pay less attention to valid claims of racism.

It his case the issue was simply too many players were coming into the league who weren't ready for the NBA and teams were spending too much money on "potential" that never developed. The league pushed for it to lower their risk, the players went along because it only meant more money and jobs for the players already in the league. Race was completely irrelevant.

See, but it doesn't really matter though. Those callous to the idea of unfair treatment will always be apprehensive to accept its existence ... unless it's completely overt.

It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to prove covert discrimination, and it seems the only way to prove even the overt variety is with a recording device (reference Sterling and SAE).

Hypothetically speaking, if there were no recording devices involved with the entrapment of the aforementioned people, most of the world, predictably, WOULD NOT accept allegations made against them in the more typical covert manifestations of their discriminatory mindsets.

It absolutely does matter, claims like this only make more people callous. It's like the boy who cried wolf on a larger scale.

[DemoleDemolezan]

I do think around half of whites in the US are pretty much sociopaths incapable of empathy. We can go kill a million plus people in a country like Vietnam or Iraq and they whine about a few thousand of our troops dying and how bad that is. Let's face it America is a cold ass place. Look at all the cops, judges, prosecutors, and city officials in Ferguson - siccing dogs on black people, falsely arresting them, sending racist emails, congratulating each other for ruining poor peoples' lives. This happens all over America, every day.

The white supremacy embedded in America's psyche is very real. I understand that you and others like you don't see it - fine but that's a pretty absurd position. Do I have to give a history lesson here?

I do call blacks who support white supremacy Uncle Toms. I don't think that's racist - it's a brilliant analysis by Malcolm X about how a group that is powerless has a few members who decide to "switch sides". The Uncle Ruckus syndrome is real - I'm not angry at people who have it but yes black self hatred is a "thing".

Go ahead and google the racism studies. Read the mother jones article. The science is pretty much accepted now by neurologists.

I agree about not looking for sleights all the time. I don't.

50% of white Americans are sociopaths? Really? I hope you are being hyperbolic or speaking figuratively.....

Here's what i'm talking about:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/0 ... -arrested/

To reach their conclusions, Hetey and Eberhardt conducted two experiments involving white subjects. In the first, white people were asked to watch one of two videos containing mug shots. In one video, 25 percent of the mug shots were pictures of black men, while in the other video, 45 percent of the mug shots depicted African American males. After watching the video, the subjects were then asked whether they would sign a petition calling for one of California’s strict sentencing laws to be eased.
The result: “Over half of the participants who’d seen the mug shots with fewer black men signed the petition, whereas only 27 percent of people who viewed the mug shots containing a higher percentage of black inmates agreed to sign.”

Half or whatever is debatable but it's clear: a sizable percentage of white Americans are incapable of empathy towards blacks and are either actively hostile or passively are ok with blacks being mistreated. Make of that what you will.

No. "half or whatever" is not debatable. It simply isn't. End of conversation. Now, this is an interesting study and it certainly raises some questions and the need for further study. But, I don't think this one study proves anything unequivocally and I am sure the authors would agree with me. With that said I am not denying that there is a problem. There most definitely is. But to say that half of white people are sociopathic just makes you look ridiculous. Stop it.

[King Ken]

Racism is a huge problem for American society but that card doesn't play here.

Racism/systematic/prejudice/etc is not a card. It's an extreme problem and saying something like a "card" proves your creditability on this topic as it is hypocritical. Economics is the main ole to systematic racism and this thread has to touch on to it or else it's going no where. There is the reason why the MLB has the strongest union while haven't the smallest % amount of college graduates of the three major sports. It's no surprise the NBA receives the smallest sympathy as well.

Moving On:
After receiving PM's and posts from different members, I decided not to post on this thread that has become an embarrassment of sorts. I have seen posters saying their Jewish as if that's an ole to disprove racist content. Sorry but there is noted fact that most Jews today see themselves as white and have assimilated themselves in the white supremacist culture as well as practice injustice in their Israel as well as Hollywood, educational and financial institutions as well as their youth in fraternities as in the case in the University of Maryland. That's just based on prejudice, not dealing with discrimination and evil practices like Donald Sterling for example.

More embarrassing is Black posters playing the "We is our own worst enemy" and "We'z makins white folks uncomfortable" Stepin Fetchit types. You embarrassing clowns, you do not get the big picture. Do you not realize that solving the problems in "Chicago" is more than just removing guns. It's a not a community or a neighborhood but more of an animistic environment where survival is the main mean and everything around you is hell on earth. To quote Lupe Fiasco song "Deliver":

"The Ghetto was a physical manifestation of hate
And a place where ethnicity determines your placement
A place that defines your station
Remind you brothas your place is the basement
White people in the attic
Brothas selling dope, White people is the addicts
White folks act like they ain't show us how to traffic
All that dope to China, you don't call that trappin'?"

That's just talking about Blacks who happen to live in the "hood"

Blacks in the middle class are fighting the same fight with different scenarios and gets worse results as a lack of awareness that they are at war and have not given their children the armor to compete or defend themselves. Getting an education has become synonymous with for to a governed institution and getting a piece of paper or a professional document and license giving you the right to legally practice in your place of residence. To those Blacks who figure being a doctor, lawyer or entertainer will change that, I have news for you. It doesn't, your plight might not be what our weakest link has to go through but it's a revelation that will blow your mind and make you quickly realize that even with a doctorate, or being the only Black man at a hedge fund company that your life doesn't mean nothing if you don't have an economic network which Asians, Hispanics, Indians have in this country and you simply don't.

The war is an economical one. What about Black on Black crime could be address with resources, if you have nothing. How do you survive? If you don't have proper education? How do you get a good job? If you have education but your Black tail doesn't have a network like the white kids? How do you get a job? If you have a job but want to start a business, who do you market to? If you don't have you own race to market to, you need others to come out of their element to support you. If they don't support you due to their "beliefs" how do you profit? Congratulations, you just figure out part 1 of our 1000 part problem called solving white supremacy and it's impact of those impacted the most, Black people of the world. Good bye.

[Neutral 123]

NO. As far as it is ever being applied to teach kids a lesson about racial privilege that example SUCKS unless its purpose would be undermining its own thesis. Because in any such example, a few black kids should be in the front rows, too, and the rows furthest to the rear should be mostly composed of white kids with an extra black kid or two. Yet, the doctrinaire antiracist will first and foremost insist on imposing a racial dichotomy. If you are a white kid in a back row who objects that a racial lens is not the best way to understand the unfairness, is itself unfair by lumping the white kids in the back with the ones in the front despite their vastly different circumstances, then you will be scolded for not appreciating that the black kids in the front are positioned inches behind their white front row neighbors, for not noticing that your seat in the rearmost row is actually several inches closer to the basket than the seats of black kids sharing your row. "But...it's still 20 ******* feet away." Which, like any objection, only serves to demonstrate your own blindness to how good you have things as a white student, since white students are disproportionately closer to the basket on average. "But I'm not. Don't I count?" No, your individual condition does not count, you are a mere anecdote, the only thing that counts is that you surrender to the antiracist dogma that there are essential differences dividing the races reflected in every instance of a disparate impact per statistical averages. So, **** that example in the context of this thread.

Well one, it should be common sense that there aren't simple two lines, one close and white, and one far and black. It is common sense that there is even some overlap. The reality is that even low income whites, tend to have higher levels of accumulated wealth than blacks with considerably higher incomes. The analogy demonstrates that there are generally less obstacles that most whites will encounter in life. That's not to say that all whites have it easy, or that there aren't some blacks that do have it easy, but overwhelmingly, blacks will face obstacles that most whites will not face. You are confusing missing a short shot, with being forced to take a long shot.

What's funny though is that if whites, especially the poor ones could move past their racism, they could likely help demand reform that could stem the tide of 3 plus decades of stagnant wages for the working class. Unfortunately these drones would rather waste tome defending their racism to their own peril. Oh well.

[Neutral 123]

claiming racism where it doesn't exist only causes people to pay less attention to valid claims of racism.

It his case the issue was simply too many players were coming into the league who weren't ready for the NBA and teams were spending too much money on "potential" that never developed. The league pushed for it to lower their risk, the players went along because it only meant more money and jobs for the players already in the league. Race was completely irrelevant.

See, but it doesn't really matter though. Those callous to the idea of unfair treatment will always be apprehensive to accept its existence ... unless it's completely overt.

It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to prove covert discrimination, and it seems the only way to prove even the overt variety is with a recording device (reference Sterling and SAE).

Hypothetically speaking, if there were no recording devices involved with the entrapment of the aforementioned people, most of the world, predictably, WOULD NOT accept allegations made against them in the more typical covert manifestations of their discriminatory mindsets.

The truth is, a lot of these people are masters of deception. Control the message, you control the truth, you control the reality. This is why I do not support the public airing out of black people. It only serves to justify their racism, the mistreatment and make it much more difficult for things to improve for black people. In Ferguson, black people were literally being robbed by the state. Losing jobs, their freedom. If some turned to crime to try and escape their circumstances, I won't support that route, but I'll be damned if I condemn them for it, or look at it as some sort of racial pathology. It is a miracle that black people are not as sick as their oppressors.

[BudTugly]

Racism is a huge problem for American society but that card doesn't play here.

Racism/systematic/prejudice/etc is not a card. It's an extreme problem and saying something like a "card" proves your creditability on this topic as it is hypocritical. Economics is the main ole to systematic racism and this thread has to touch on to it or else it's going no where. There is the reason why the MLB has the strongest union while haven't the smallest % amount of college graduates of the three major sports. It's no surprise the NBA receives the smallest sympathy as well.

Sorry, I disagree. Sometimes it is just a card, as it is in the discussion pertaining to the NBA having an age limit. As serious and real as racism is in this country let alone around the world, it's extremely unproductive to fall into the trap of believing that everything is racist.

MLB's union vs the NBA player's union is not evidence of racism. Decades of housing lending prejudice and the ridiculous drug war is. The NBA openly discussing a change to their standards regarding age is not racism. Tom Cotton stating people in GitMo can "rot in hell" is.

It is not a choice of admitting that every accusation of racism is correct, or being in denial. This is a false dilemma which actually takes away from very real issues and disenfranchises people unfairly when they are simply trying to get involved. It's the exact same problem we have when black people (and others) won't accept that white people (or others) get to have an opinion on racism. Unless there is an open dialogue nothing positive can happen.

In regards to the NBA age issue, I don't think it's racist at all for the league to try to impose some standards. The reason is I can't see how some other race is benefiting from the standard being set. For every dollar an 18 year old is not making some vet 34-35 year old is. There is not a bunch of old white players who would be set aside to make room for young black ones.

Now, it's true that this standard helps owners and GMs, who are mostly white, protect themselves from drafting or paying guys who are too young to have proven to be worth the pick or contract. But it's also true that many, many young men are being exploited by agents into making decisions which are not good for the player at all. A great many of these young men would be much better served by staying in school. Most of these young men are black and I assume a lot of the agents are white.

Finally, there is nothing preventing men or women of any age, color or whatever to go pro in basketball. It's just one league. Anybody can play in Europe or China or what have you. If the NBA wants to set some standards, it just makes people mad because that league makes the most money. But they aren't keeping anybody from doing what they want to do. It's not the same as having a different dining room for some race or making people go to the back of the bus.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts. I hope we all can move forward towards a time where everybody has a fair chance at the dream we all share.

[bgwc]

Serious question - everyone is talking about white privilege and black disadvantage. What about everything that falls in between (asian, hispanic, etc.)?

I know this is a stupid question probably, but even say back during segregation when there were black and white schools, which school would asians and Hispanics and other ethnicities go to?

[Yoshun]

I'm not so sure why it is so hard to believe this may be race related. It could be a coincidence that almost every single one of the players who entered the league out of high school were black, it may not be though.

[King Ken]

Racism is a huge problem for American society but that card doesn't play here.

Racism/systematic/prejudice/etc is not a card. It's an extreme problem and saying something like a "card" proves your creditability on this topic as it is hypocritical. Economics is the main ole to systematic racism and this thread has to touch on to it or else it's going no where. There is the reason why the MLB has the strongest union while haven't the smallest % amount of college graduates of the three major sports. It's no surprise the NBA receives the smallest sympathy as well.

Sorry, I disagree. Sometimes it is just a card, as it is in the discussion pertaining to the NBA having an age limit. As serious and real as racism is in this country let alone around the world, it's extremely unproductive to fall into the trap of believing that everything is racist.

MLB's union vs the NBA player's union is not evidence of racism. Decades of housing lending prejudice and the ridiculous drug war is. The NBA openly discussing a change to their standards regarding age is not racism. Tom Cotton stating people in GitMo can "rot in hell" is.

It is not a choice of admitting that every accusation of racism is correct, or being in denial. This is a false dilemma which actually takes away from very real issues and disenfranchises people unfairly when they are simply trying to get involved. It's the exact same problem we have when black people (and others) won't accept that white people (or others) get to have an opinion on racism. Unless there is an open dialogue nothing positive can happen.

In regards to the NBA age issue, I don't think it's racist at all for the league to try to impose some standards. The reason is I can't see how some other race is benefiting from the standard being set. For every dollar an 18 year old is not making some vet 34-35 year old is. There is not a bunch of old white players who would be set aside to make room for young black ones.

Now, it's true that this standard helps owners and GMs, who are mostly white, protect themselves from drafting or paying guys who are too young to have proven to be worth the pick or contract. But it's also true that many, many young men are being exploited by agents into making decisions which are not good for the player at all. A great many of these young men would be much better served by staying in school. Most of these young men are black and I assume a lot of the agents are white.

Finally, there is nothing preventing men or women of any age, color or whatever to go pro in basketball. It's just one league. Anybody can play in Europe or China or what have you. If the NBA wants to set some standards, it just makes people mad because that league makes the most money. But they aren't keeping anybody from doing what they want to do. It's not the same as having a different dining room for some race or making people go to the back of the bus.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts. I hope we all can move forward towards a time where everybody has a fair chance at the dream we all share.

It's all apart of systematic racism is what you don't understand. Just because it might effect the poor African ppl doesn't mean if something effects the rich African ppl, it isn't racism. Racism is not a small box that has to be qualified for approval. Racism is anything where TPTB are purposefully either ruling or the people of that belief believe that the power/money etc should stay in the dominate society hands regardless of the situation and it's merit. The dominate society here and over the last 450 years has been the white supremacy system and this was done by the Catholic Church after their win v. the Moors. I could go into detail with that but it's another topic for a different day.

Simply put, if you do not understand the system of racism or you do not care to address it as it doesn't benefit you, then you really have no input on what it is and isn't. The only thing you can do is credibility back your claims which you are trying to do which isn't working as you show blatant naivety on anything regarding racial issues as a sidebar if it doesn't hit your approval. Sorry my friend, but we simply do not need your approval on anything race related.

True be told, no white institution prepares these Black potential NBA players for the NBA lifestyle outside of training or regime relating to the actual sport. Same for Black collegiate athletes as well. Not even the Black ones. At least the Black ones make you acknowledge you are Black and everything that comes with it to modern day perception but if they fall woefully short as many systems in this country. No white institution prepares them for what they are about to encounter in the real world as a Black person. No, I haven't seen one white school that has done so and most never intended too and I rightfully understand.

Back to the main point, there is no such thing as "card" for race topic as simply put, you and your people have no call on what you feel oppression is.

[King Ken]

Serious question - everyone is talking about white privilege and black disadvantage. What about everything that falls in between (asian, hispanic, etc.)?

I know this is a stupid question probably, but even say back during segregation when there were black and white schools, which school would asians and Hispanics and other ethnicities go to?

Everyone is effected by Systematic white supremacy. It so happens that there is one melanated group that is targeted far more and hated as well as owed far more than anyone else. I could create a list of how it effects different groups and even subgroups within their structure. This term privilege and disadvantage is disingenuous. That would mean I can as a Black person be privilege to all that white supremacy has to offer as a benefit when clearly that isn't the case if I am the richest Black man or the poorest. I have had privilege upbringing and I am still be affected by white supremacy. Let's call it what it is. This play nice with words is pussyfooting from the truth. Do not be cowardice as a man but do not be hardheaded either.

There wasn't that many Hispanics or Asians outside of a few states. I would have to research that.

[Black Jack]

50% of white Americans are sociopaths? Really? I hope you are being hyperbolic or speaking figuratively.....

Here's what i'm talking about:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/0 ... -arrested/

To reach their conclusions, Hetey and Eberhardt conducted two experiments involving white subjects. In the first, white people were asked to watch one of two videos containing mug shots. In one video, 25 percent of the mug shots were pictures of black men, while in the other video, 45 percent of the mug shots depicted African American males. After watching the video, the subjects were then asked whether they would sign a petition calling for one of California’s strict sentencing laws to be eased.
The result: “Over half of the participants who’d seen the mug shots with fewer black men signed the petition, whereas only 27 percent of people who viewed the mug shots containing a higher percentage of black inmates agreed to sign.”

Half or whatever is debatable but it's clear: a sizable percentage of white Americans are incapable of empathy towards blacks and are either actively hostile or passively are ok with blacks being mistreated. Make of that what you will.

No. "half or whatever" is not debatable. It simply isn't. End of conversation. Now, this is an interesting study and it certainly raises some questions and the need for further study. But, I don't think this one study proves anything unequivocally and I am sure the authors would agree with me. With that said I am not denying that there is a problem. There most definitely is. But to say that half of white people are sociopathic just makes you look ridiculous. Stop it.

Be honest: you're just not persuadable. I posted a scientific study and you just don't want to consider the evidence. There's a mountain of studies, many on the mirror-neuron-system showing how whites' brains do not react to seeing black or asian people doing something but do when seeing a white person doing it. I'm not going to waste time arguing with you as your mind is already made up. Anyone reading this can google "mirror-neuron-system racism" for more info.

[BudTugly]

Back to the main point, there is no such thing as "card" for race topic as simply put, you and your people have no call on what you feel oppression is.

And you're calling people racist. I suggest you spend some time on learning to empathize with others, since trying to force others via debate to empathize with your viewpoint is never going to work.

It's really sad to see somebody respond with pretty much the exact specific talking point I was decrying.

In case anybody reads this who isn't already personally invested in selling something, my point was that making everything racist takes away from the very real and pervasive issues that do exist, and that disenfranchising large swaths of people from having a take on the issue defeats the purpose of Dr. King's dream.