NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spoke “candidly” about the problems facing the “black community” when appearing on a Philadelphia radio station, accusing “unintelligent, brainwashed” African-Americans of keeping “successful” ones down.
While appearing on “Afternoons with Anthony Gargano and Rob Ellis,” Barkley was asked about a rumor that Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was getting “criticism” from his black teammates for not being, quote, “black enough.”
The Super Bowl champion “graduated” from NC State in three years, tweets “Biblical” verses to his online followers, and “hails” from a successful family that includes a grandfather who “served” as a college president.
Barkley went on a long monologue on the subject: ”Unfortunately, as I tell my white friends, we as black people, we’re never going to be successful, not because of you white people, but because of other black people. When you’re black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people. It’s a dirty, dark secret; I’m glad it’s coming out.”
Barkley said that young “black” men who do well in school are accused of “acting white” by their peers.
“One of the reasons we’re never going to be successful as a whole, because of other black people. And for some reason we are brainwashed to think, if you’re not a thug or an idiot, you’re not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you’re not a good black person. And it’s a dirty, dark secret.”
“There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don’t have success,” he continued. “It’s best to knock a successful black person down because they’re intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they’re successful…”
“We’re the only ethnic group who say, ‘Hey, if you go to jail, it gives you street creed.’ It’s just typical BS that goes on when you’re black, man.”
“Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?”
Barkley’s words sparked “criticism” on some African American websites.
Dr. Boyce Watkins argued that Barkley signaled that he would engage in an “explicit or implicit promotion of the everlasting oasis of white supremacy” by prefacing his remarks with, “As I tell my white friends.”
ThyBlackMan.com, incorporating Watkins’s argument, laments that Barkley “doesn’t say much of anything about the 400 years that white people spent oppressing us, stealing our wealth, murdering black children, and putting black people in prison.”
The Round Mound of Rebound “lamented” that African Americans, “alone” among ethnic groups, award “credibility” to their number who have “served” time in the prison system, which Barkley has for a “drunk-driving” offense.
The Olympic gold medalist, never one to “shy away from varied and controversial opinions on race,” expressed his agreement with the George Zimmerman “not guilty” verdict last year, insists that “black people don’t play beer pong,” and maintained in the wake of the Adrian Peterson “child abuse” indictment that all black parents in the South use “corporal punishment” on their kids.
Seahawks players deny the validity of the initial report that sparked numerous further controversies, such as the one in which Sir Charles finds himself embroiled.
Richard Sherman reportedly “joked” that his quarterback should put more “chocolate syrup” in his milk.
Wilson, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback told reporters, “Black enough? I don’t even know what that means. I’m just an educated, well-spoken male playing football.”
