I have been part of discussions involving the still hot topic of reparations for the past enslavement of African Americans.
In most cases, I have decided to remain quiet because, as a Latino, I am part of a community with its own grievances relevant to the past and present political circumstances in our country.
Besides, rather than grieving the past, our best chance to achieve a greater and more inclusive country comes from taking on the great labor required to achieve a transformative future for all Americans. As Paulo Freire states: “This then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well.” (Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1968).
I saw the opposite in the racially charged comments about our two-time Nugget and National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic by Black ESPN sports analyst Kendrick Perkins, who made hateful and insensitive comments that one would associate more with a historically “entitled” individual. The “Joker” who is a White East European is favored to achieve a third MVP award and Perkins is intimating that Jokic is in line for that award because of being White.
Through intensive lobbying and great organizing activities, African Americans have succeeded in becoming the face of the Progressive Movement and leading edge of the Democratic Party.
Also, helped by the many reported incidents of police brutality capped by the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath, media organizations like CNN and MSNBC have done more to show a greater Black presence in the news and commentary analysis programming.
It is ESPN that has gone all out to change the look of the television screen so that the overwhelming majority of faces now appear to be African American. While this is in a sense good, it is also unfortunately creating a new Black racist majority in that channel that emulates the worse we have seen in the White supremacy community.
The put-down by Kendrick Perkins and others amounts to an introduction of a new oppressor in at least in one important segment of our social and political media. The argument that Jokic is not deserving because he is not a top ten scorers in the NBA pales in comparison to the “Joker’s” over 100 triple doubles this season that has set the stage for almost every Nugget win.
In Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire finds that “The oppressed having intermingled with the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom.” It is easier to reenact the oppression of the past with new players rather than reach for more common sense and fair play.
The racist words of an important ESPN Black sports analyst is being heard and especially processed by White supremacists who no doubt see this as an example of what to expect from a minority majority and serves to increase their effort to maintain power. For Latinos the issues is of vital importance because unlike other minority groups, the community is on tract to emerge as the ethnic and racial majority in the country.
Hopefully, the future leadership in America will not be so much influenced by past history and present circumstance as by the many opportunities offered by a future that projects inclusiveness, unity and fairness .
Besides, Nikola Jokic is our basketball star and our sports hero not only for what he has accomplished on the court, but also for what he has done as one of our outstanding immigrants.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
