I will never forget the three 5-year-old boys who saw me pitch during high school.
It was one of my best starts — six shut-out innings. I walked out of the dugout feeling pretty good about myself. But these three kids stepped in front me, pulled their eyes lids horizontally to imitate Asian eyes, and said, "Ching, Ching, Chong, Chang."
Granted, they got my name right on the fourth try, but still, it hurt. How did 5-year-olds know how to be racist? Were they even doing this out of any ill-will? They were so innocent, yet I couldn't sleep that night. I began to think everyone viewed me the way these kids did — except these kids just didn't know it was wrong to be so up front with their thoughts. To me, it was a harsh reminder that racism still exists, somewhere within the folds of society.
It is one of those issues we like to dance around. One wrong move, and you will forever be tagged a racist. After the Don Imus incident, it's just flat-out stupid to make any jokes with racist undertones. But these isolated incidents are not what really matter — they are not what rub us the wrong way. When someone says something so outrageous and offensive, we can just say it's another psycho out there trying to be heard. We can call these people ignorant, and move on.
What makes us twist and turn is the reflections of society we see in these incidents — the linings of truth. People often accuse others of racism, but it's not the accusation that carries the weight. Accusations are subjective. What carries weight is the truth of society speckled in throughout the accusations.
The New York Times published a page one story last week about a study that showed that white NBA referees called more fouls against black players than white players. The waters were once calm. But now, it is a beastly storm brewing in the background, ready to unleash Noah's flood.
The NBA offered its own study. They refuted the original study's claims. But that's like asking a murderer to prosecute himself. The sports talk show hosts and the newspaper columnists offered their wisdom. The players responded. The fans responded. But in the end, there is still one question that remains.
Is it true?
No one wants it to be true. Everyone knows NBA referees really aren't racist — or at least they aren't consciously racist. They don't see a Dwight Howard hack and a Dirk Nowitzki hack any differently. They don't let Steve Nash get away with a charge Chris Paul couldn't get away with.
But this is what it comes down to: what are the pictures that Americans have inside their heads when it comes to people of other races?
Racism still exists in America. Much of it is hidden behind light-hearted jokes and "honest" conversations. But it's there. And once it a while, it peeks its ugly head out and we all freak out.
This NBA study rubs us the wrong way because it is like those 5-year-olds coming out and showing us the racism that still exists in our society — and it shows us how deeply embedded it is in our culture. It is unconscious, hidden behind layers of hegemony. Racism peeks its head out just a tiny bit, and we hate it. We hate it because we created it.
I don't know if this study is accurate. But, if it is true, what should the league do? What should the refs do? Should NBA refs look to call fewer fouls on black players to even out the difference? I can't tell you what they should do. It's a tough call — one I am in no position to make. But I can say that this study has done so far.
It has reminded us that just 50 years ago, there were separate water fountains for white and colored people. It is a reminder that only 150 years ago, slavery was rampant. Folks, 150 years is not that long ago.
We have been selfish, hateful, stupid, and bigoted in the past. We changed. Someone noticed we acted this way, someone said it needs to change and then we went about changing it.
If white NBA refs really have a bias against the black athlete, they didn't know it. Someone had to tell them.
Being conscious of our actions allows us to be educated, and therefore gives us the tools to progress. But far too often, we run away from the 5-year-olds yelling racist comments and avoid a more accurate consciousness of the world. We're afraid of being hurt.
My hope is that the NBA takes a real good look at this study and figures out whether there is something there. I understand why they have to say this isn't true. It's a PR move. But behind closed doors, they must be open to the possibility that there is some truth to this study.
The storm is brewing. But like Noah's flood, it will come and go; it will wash away deep-rooted evils in our society by putting it out in the open for us to destroy the very thing we created. And in the end, things will be better.
Society is progressing. This is a part of it — albeit a small part. But, in the meantime, remember that life is good, remember to love, and enjoy the playoffs.
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