Yes, That Tweet About the NBA Was Racist
Michael Fertik
Serial Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist michaelfertik.substack.com "Robinhood of the blogosphere, Sherlock Holmes 2.0 of Databanks" - Handelsbatt
“Let’s be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/possible exception of increase in streetcrime” - @PatGarofalo
If last night’s tweet from Minnesota Representative Pat Garofalo didn’t raise your eyebrows, please stop and reread it.
Readers of this space know that normally I use these opportunities to talk about the pitfalls of social media – how quickly one tweet or Facebook post or ill-timed blog can reverberate around the world.
And, indeed, that’s the case here. Earlier this morning, there was some coverage, not too much and mostly state-centric. Now, the story has grown legs and is off to the races. Representative Garofalo is the subject of additional commentary in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Sports Illustrated, The Daily Beast and more. And it’s completely, utterly fair.
In cases of viral posts, I often try to emphasize that this is why one must be cautious beyond nearly all measure when posting.
But there is a difference between this example and the garden-variety we often see. “Streetcrime,” as it's used here, is coded language. It means black. When Representative Garofalo attempted to clarify, suggesting he was merely referring to the high arrest rate within the NBA, that explanation holds zero credibility. Black men comprise more than 76 percent of NBA players; players of color total 81 percent. It’s hard to imagine just what he was referring to if it wasn’t race.
It also comes at an interesting moment in sports and race. It was just a short time ago that Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was tagged with the “thug” label in the run-up to the Super Bowl just for making some loud statements. Yet at virtually the same time, he noted, an on-ice brawl two seconds into the game between the Canucks and the Flames didn’t garner any significant attention and certainly no color-coded commentary. That’s important grounding, good contextualization, for how we should understand what’s happening now.
I generally believe in second chances – especially in the rapid-fire world of social media, and especially for public figures, who speak so much and whose words are so often parsed to death. However, when given a chance to make a genuine apology and to explain himself with humility, Rep. Garofalo issued a statement and tweeted, “To NBA players and others who are unfairly categorized by my comments, please accept my apologies.”
Unfairly categorized?
Apologies require ownership. They resonate when sincerity is present. Garofalo had the opportunity to express both – and fumbled hugely.
His original tweet invited us to collectively ask, surely you don’t believe what you’re saying? We waited and hoped for something better than we received. This lackluster follow-up reinforces our original instinct: that this person in power doesn’t understand why what he said was shameful.
Photo: iStockphoto
Dear "Honestly Curious": I like the data some people included in these posts below; however, two points stick out in my mind. I think the crux of the article is appropriateness as an expression from one culture to another in the workplace. In the business of communicating, as Mr. Garafalo seems to be, should he be making (even as a joke) those types of statements? I work in finance. When I hold meetings with company officials of Caucasian descent, should I say, "well, thanks for being here to sign this contract. I trust that you all won't try to embezzle it like the robber barons who claim to have built this country. hahahahahahaha!" Sorry, but it is TOTALLY unintelligent on my part, and culture training, if not DISMISSAL, would be the right followup to my comment. Again, the issue is appropriateness for the situation. If he so desires, he can sit around the dinner table with you and say whatever he likes about his slanted view of other cultures, however misguided. But the law prohibits that behavior int he workplace. Lastly, I will say that, after taking statistics classes, you may want to learn about slant, bias, and margin of error on stats. Stats aren't what they're cracked up to be and shouldn't rule intelligent thinking. Thanks for asking an honest question.
Mathematics teacher
10 年I think sport is an alternative to being left on your own on the street, exposed to all kind of people, some with nothing better to do than commit crimes...
Retired
10 年You have two problems here. Maintaining the "legitimate social order," and, the rise of covert racism among the middle class (It's just not PC). It's rather disconcerting to for the hard working Euro and African middle class to see individuals engaged in "entertainment" in its multiple forms, to achieve the heights of disposable income and notoriety, without doing what we consider to be "hard work". So, code speaking is a possible reaction for protest, and to remind us of our "superior" place, and their "natural" place, in spite of their good luck. Look at the percentages and context and you decide. As for "Race", there is only race, the Human race. All physical distinction is a result of geographic isolation, and environmental adaptation, over millennia- see Darwin. Below the skin, and upon genetic examination we are all from common, related ancestors. So, "race" is a social comment about________ (you fill in the blank). As, multiple wars have shown us, from Bunker Hill to Afganistan (and possibly Russia) we, as citizens must pull together against the threat of foreign empire, or the growing tendency among us towards oligarchy, or internal political craziness. Under either possibility, We, the common citizen, are the fonder as we maintain means to separate ourselves, for stupid reasons.
Art teacher at Holy Redeemer School
10 年I'm not about to defend the tweet, but there is a certain amount of truth to it. How many are a fan of the NBA and how any are not. I do believe that there are many more non-fans than there are fans. I know that I would take no notice if the NBA suddenly ceased to exist. But, I do have to mention this. Last season our motley crew in Minnesota apparently didn't have the proper quota of black players on the team. Local black leaders came out of every closet to complain about too many white players on the team. I just wanted all to know that this garbage runs both ways.
Senior Scientist at
10 年Yes, Some of Those Who Read That Tweet About the NBA May Be Racist