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We know about Donald Sterling’s horrible history of discrimination in his basketball team and in the housing he owns. Why do you think as a nation and community we get very upset with someone voicing racist opinions and not always get upset when they encourage or act with racism in other ways?
I believe the media has a way of influencing public perspective on very sensitive subjects. If the media wants, they could make an immigration reform pass, if the media wants they can make Obama be impeached. In other words, the media has become the fourth branch of government who has the power of controlling American citizens. I find it very interesting that Mr. Sterling’s actions were not widely exposed and condemned but rather his words were. I do believe that if the media wanted to condemn the one percent’s actions, they could.
The fact that we make racism part of our daily lives is what will make the problem never go away. It is time to take a stance and break the civil oppression. Time to see less minority citizens be part of the criminal justice system. Let’s be the change that we would like to see. Rather than complaining, let us take action and stand up to be people like Donald Sterling. We are just as American like those who call this their land. Let oppression be no more!
Fernando, 17
People get upset more with hearing racist opinions from those in power or who are rich and famous because those people are being watched by the world. Since they are and we, everyday people, are not being watched by the world, we feel as if this they owe it to us to act responsibly and not voice negative opinions about other groups. It’s also because we don’t personally know Sterling, but we can easily know of his character. It’s hard to approach a stranger with similar attitudes because unlike Sterling, strangers can directly react to your criticism.
Maria, 17
I think people have reacted this way towards him because it came as a surprise. Plus, nowadays, racism is something we don’t see very often because people of color are a majority, not a minority anymore. So people who are racist out there will be scared to show themselves. This is why people acted this way towards his aggression.
Chi, 18
I think we get very upset as a nation and community when someone is voicing racial opinions because we hear the person. We don’t get upset as much when someone promotes racism in other ways because we may think that the person who said that is either lying or wants the other person to be framed with a negative vibe against the public. I think it’s a case of you have to hear it to believe it.
Elder, 18
Racism and discrimination have the potential to create grand adversity between people. We generally disapprove of all sorts of racism and discrimination, but we do more so in cases where those with power abuse those who we classify as “innocent.” In Sterling’s case, the power he has as well as his reputation in basketball infuriates those who have listened to his leaked tape. How can a man who owns a basketball team of almost all black men have that kind of attitude?
Benny, 18
We get so upset because of course there is always going to be racism everywhere but when it comes to a well-known man, it has a bigger impact because more people know about the issue. I think that also in this case sports being a topic that people care about makes it more dramatic.
Lisbeth, 17
When higher power people commit racist acts, there is little victims can do because they can just buy their way out. Money talks.
Robert, 19
I think people are more outraged by others saying racist remarks than by people actually implementing racist behavior because it is a lot easier to tell that it is racist. Someone being mean to someone else can happen for many reasons and it’s not always linked to race. However, if someone says, “I hate Black people,” it is a lot more obvious that race is the cause of the conflict.
Donna, 19
