May 5, 2014
Another Tale of Two Cities
By Dr. E. Faye Williams
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – As I sat and emotionally reviewed the issues and events of the week, I was tempted to classify this past week among the most starkly contrasting weeks we've had to experience recently. In terms of societal revelations, it was, most certainly, an interesting week.
My evaluation of the week was obviously shaped by having to listen to, on both radio and television, the non-stop broadcasting of the audio ranting of an ignorant, elderly racist billionaire. By a large margin, this was the most publicized story of the week. Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clipper basketball team, was given the media platform to spew-forth vile, rhetorical vomitus that left no doubt about the low status of black and brown people in his world.
What made his venomous statements hyper-hypocritical was the contrast of his personal involvement with the people he denigrated and the negative personal feelings about them that his words confirmed. Like the historical slave owner, Sterling's vile pejoratives describing how he feeds, clothes, provides housing and gives money to his players negates the PAID services that his players provide to his team. Uncomplimentary allegations exist asserting that Sterling would visit his team's locker room and examine/fondle his player's musculature in the fashion of the slave market customer examining the latest victims of kidnapping that would be sold into slavery.
The fact that he would comfortably discuss his feelings with his paramour was also clear evidence of the arrogance of his racism. After all, his girlfriend is the product of a bi-racial relationship between an African American and Mexican American. One wonders how he can condemn her for having black and brown acquaintances or forbid her from bringing "them, especially Magic Johnson," to any of his games. How can he justify admonishing her for posting photos taken with her black and brown friends on Instagram when he "allows" her (my emphasis) to join him on his owners bench? In this regard, his behavior is no different than the "Massa" who would rationalize his late night conjugal visits to the slave quarters as a part of his "natural privilege."
Naturally, I was more than pleased when Adam Silver, the basketball commissioner, announced the punishment he imposed upon Sterling. If you had the opportunity to read the press release I issued for the National Congress of Black Women, you will know that I felt his actions to be appropriate and timely.
After full consideration, however, I realized that this debacle of the basketball world was, ultimately, in the province of a few hundred millionaires and billionaires. Without regard to income, most of us find blatant racism unacceptable, but, when resolved, this problem will be resolved by and for the wealthy.
By contrast, although important to a larger number of Americans, the issue of the minimum wage took a back seat to the NBA. Again, this week we saw the actions of Republican legislators that have been solely instrumental in denying an increase in pay to countless Americans who are cavalierly called "working poor."
By estimates, 76% of the American public believes that American workers need a pay raise, but a minority cadre in the Senate and a recalcitrant Republican majority and Speaker of the House of Representatives have chosen to forestall any progress in improving the quality of life for millions of Americans. Additional estimates suggest that a raise in the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would impact over 28 million working Americans (?) and raise 4.5 million Americans out of poverty. The stimulus effect on the economy is unquestionable.
The contrast between Adam Silver and Congressional Republicans - as in the original Tale of Two Cities, this week has provided a view into the character of individuals that yielded "the best of times and the worst of times."
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, www.nationalcongressbw.org.)