Instructor: Dr. Lalia Hekima Kiburi
Spring Quarter 2014
Blog Question #3
Spring Quarter 2014
Blog Question #3
SHOCK! L.A. CLIPPERS OWNER TO GF: DON’T BRING BLACK PEOPLE TO MY GAMES…INCLUDING MAGIC JOHNSON: L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his GF he does NOT want her bringing black people to his games … including Magic Johnson … and it’s ALL on tape. TMZ Sports has obtained audio of Sterling making the racist declaration during a heated argument on April 9th with V. Stiviano … after she posted a photo on Instagram posing with Magic. Sterling rails on Stiviano — who ironically is black and Mexican — for putting herself out in public with a black person (she has since taken the pic down). But it doesn’t end there. You have to listen to the audio to fully grasp the magnitude of Sterling’s racist worldview. Among the comments: — “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” (3:30) — “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.” (5:15) — “I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” (7:45) — “…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” (9:13) Sterling has a documented history of allegedly racist behavior — he’s been sued twice by the federal government for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to Blacks and Latinos. He was also sued by former Clippers exec Elgin Baylor for racial discrimination — though a jury was ultimately not convinced and shot down Baylor’s case. Sterling has been separated from his wife Shelly for years. She remains a key player in running the team and sources tell us she’s “mortified” by Sterling’s comments.
1) After reading and learning from our seminar presentations on mating and dating across cultural lines so far this quarter, what advice would you give Mr. Sterling?
2) And what advice would you give to his now estranged girlfriend?
Mr. Sterling, I would advise you to make a public apology to every member of the Clipper franchise and to the NBA. I don't know how your publicist will help you redesign your public image because your true racist attitude was exposed explicitly, but if you make an effort to reach out to the general public, you may have an opportunity to gain some respect back.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sterling, you should really look into your heart to accept the diversity around you and realize the "black people" and multi-cultural Clipper fans in LA actually value the team based on the players skills, not on skin color. Your franchise would not have grown from your $12 million dollar initial purchase to the $560 million dollar net worth it is today without those "black people." You should be proud of your investments and how you've helped the lives of those with less disposable income than you, rather than seeing yourself and the all-mighty-powerful. People of our generation today value honesty and its best you shed your two-faced image.
Mr. Sterling's girlfriend: Why are you dating a person who believes your cultural background is inferior? You should stick up for yourself and not delete your picture with "black people" on Instagram. Why did you choose to expose him now after he's told your repeatedly in the past to not be at his games with "black people?" Did you attempt to black-mail him with the recording before you sent it to TMZ? Your recording brought awareness and proved blatant racism is no longer tolerated and will elicit social ramifications. But I also believe the recording was an invasion of privacy and you may have had alternative motives (to get money?) to exposing your boyfriend.
Regardless of your intent, I'd advice you to stand up for diversity and use your fame to fight for social justice and be the face of diversity in our nation.
To Mr. Sterling, I would suggest not only apologizing to the public, but also apologizing to Magic Johnson and his girlfriend personally. Not only has he offended those two people directly, but he has also offended many within the mass public. I feel that it is disrespectful to make those harsh comments, especially because he is part of an organization that has a large black presence. Although I know he deserves an opinion, he should have thought of a better way and less hurtful way to express it. Because of this, specific people and the public deserve some sort of apology.
ReplyDeleteAs for his girlfriend, I suggest that she re-prioritize her reasons for being with Mr. Sterling. If he can so easily make those comments with so much disrespect towards that group of people, what is stopping him from disrespecting her? After all, she is of the non-white minority that he seems to have an issue with. However, I do think she should not feel ashamed of her relationship or of the situation. She did finally expose him, which I'm sure took courage and bravery. Whether it was because she was tired of his treatment or for whatever reason, it is good she did bring up the situation because it got people talking about the morality and justice of the social issue. There is no way to make social progress without bringing the issues up. Even though the methods may be a bit extreme, it is good she is trying to bring awareness to the minorities that are often under-appreciated.
I am an avid fan of the NBA, and I have been following the Donald Sterling drama the second it surfaced the media and then the public. On top of being the most publicly disgraced man in the country these past few weeks, confirmed reports from close sources reveal that Sterling is currently battling prostate cancer. Although with some ambivalence, my human instincts tell me that I must ultimately sympathize with the man.
ReplyDeleteNobody ever thinks their way of thinking is wrong. In a response from Sterling after being dealt the NBA's maximum sanctions and monetary penalty of a lifetime ban from any affiliation with the NBA and a 2.5 million dollar fine, he tells reporters “I wish I had just paid her off.” It makes me wonder if people should be punished for saying terrible things if that's actually the way they feel. The same way I was socialized to accept people from all different backgrounds is the same way Mr. Sterling must have been socialized at a young age to discriminate against minorities. To him, his beliefs are facts and expressing his opinions privately to who he believed to be a loyal partner. And so any contrary non-discriminatory act as of now from Sterling would only be to please the public. In short, I believe that Sterling is too old in age and grew up in too far back of a generation to change his view towards minorities. Thus, I wouldn't tell him anything critical or constructive at this point because I'm sure he gets the message from raging NBA fans and citizens of these diverse States.
V. Stiviano, Donald Sterling's now estranged girlfriend, should become an activist in helping young African Americans and Latino community speak out against issues of race. However, after listening to the entire audio recording, my opinion of her is that she is an instigator and a gold digger. She purposely set up Sterling for racist remarks, almost as if she had planned to hold the conversation for black mail purposes. She did, however, show the world that racist beliefs are still prevalent in a society that has no tolerance for racism. She showed that although a rich white man like Donald Sterling hires black coaches and players, Sterling still has a slave-owner's mindset of being content with profiting off of African Americans, but firmly disassociating themselves with black people. Additionally, I would tell Stiviano that she should be a better example for younger women, because there are too many cases of women being with older men for their money. This has its repercussions. Now that she is no longer with Sterling, she has no way of sustaining herself due to her overwhelming dependence on the former LA Clippers owner.
I have followed this issue closely the last week as it has involved the whole of the NBA, as well as athletes of other sports as well. I believe that whatever Mr. Sterling says in private should not be held against him, just because of freedom of speech. He has the right to say whatever he wishes in a private setting, and not have fear of anybody recording him. However, he is the face of the Los Angeles Clippers, and was rightfully punished for his backward thinking. I can't say that I'm surprised by Mr. Sterling's outburst, as he has been at the forefront of other racial scandals in the past. However, his personal views may not reflect in the business world, as the Los Angeles Clippers boast the highest minority hirings out of any other NBA team. I think that Sterling should come out and apologize for the comments he has made. However, I thought it was interesting to note that people focused on his racist comments more than the breach of personal privacy. It seems as if both are equally big things to talk about and discuss, not to put down racism. Mr. Sterling has been handed his punishment, and I don't believe that there is anything else that I need to say to him. As for Mr. Sterling's mistress, I would tell her to be careful of who she dates. V. Stiviano herself is a minority, and for her to listen to what Mr. Sterling said without any resistance is sad to say the least. However, props to you for coming out and eventually exposing Mr. Sterling. I would just advise her to be careful in the future, and not associate with someone who would put down minorities such as herself. This whole scandal should be put aside, and forgotten. The NBA took major steps this year, with the first active gay player. At the beginning of the year, they were at the forefront of change, what with encouraging Jason Collins to play again, after declaring he was gay. Now, this scandal has brought the image of the NBA crashing down, and I think that it would be beneficial for everyone to just forget about this whole incident AFTER Mr. Sterling apologizes.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Sterling, I would advise a public apology, and a personal apology to the Clippers, his girlfriend, and all of his fans. However, I suspect he does not have much of a fan base at this point, infamous for his racism in the past. The NBA is a league of many different types of people, including many African American players. These players, such as Magic Johnson, are incredibly talented and powerful, far more influential than Sterling. It seems as if his racism is rooted in long standing beliefs. Yet this does not discount the pain caused by his words. Players on the Clippers felt confused, angered, and hurt by Sterling’s remarks. These athletes dedicate their lives to the game, and should be treated with respect and honor. Hopefully, younger generations will realize the inherent racism in a person like Sterling, and not provide him with any power. I wonder how Sterling has been allowed to remain in the league so many years. How do African American coaches feel about his remarks? The comments mark a betrayal, consumed by hatred and intolerance. A person who does not value diversity and honor other cultures will not remain in power in the promising new age of equality.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Sterling’s former girlfriend, I would tell her to stand up for herself and not date this racist person. Sterling is also married, and I hope his wife will not tolerate this destructive behavior at many levels. The issue of privacy should be explored, as it is technically not legal to record someone without telling them and then release it to a tabloid such as TMZ. I imagine she either did not know how to solve the situation, or desired some type of fame from the act. We will probably not know her intentions; however, the results bring up a discussion about modern day racism and injustice.
Mr. Donald Sterling has a very closed-minded view about minorities and the ever-changing world around him. He does not quite understand that people cannot be put into boxes and categories and assumed to all be the same. He is living with a traditionalist mentality that everyone will disapprove of his relationship because it is interracial. Because of this he is even telling his girlfriend to “remove” her ethnicity, which is impossible let alone the right thing to do or say. Mr. Sterling has a mentality that is very ignorant and very impractical for today’s social world. As he is discussing media and broadcasting, he is typecasting all races and putting minorities into this box and acts as if being associated with them is a shameful part of his identity. He is trying to keep up this flawed image that he is dating within his own race, and is refusing to accept people of other nationalities because of the stigmas some people still associate with people who are not white. The few opinions Donald is valuing so highly which are jeopardizing his relationship are the opinions of the few conservatives left in a gradually accepting world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Donald’s girlfriend about everything she responded to in this long argument. He does possess a very strong passion against minorities to the point that he does not care if it tears his relationship apart. Donald categorizes all black people into one identity saying that if he was with someone she didn’t approve of that it would be an issue as well. What he does not seem to comprehend is that all people are not the same and cannot just be considered one entity that needs to be ignored, fixed or changed. Donald needs to come to accept that different races do exist and he will have to interact with them, even in public. He will never be able to “solve” or fix this issue, especially if he wants to continue being a successful businessman. If he does not come to change his views with the times, he is going to make a lot of enemies and lose a lot of business.
Like everyone else has said I think he needs to apologize to everyone for his behavior: his girlfriend, the public, the NBA, and to his team.
I would tell Mr. Sterling that he should keep his opinions to himself. While may people still harbor culturally insensitive feelings and beliefs, what separates racists from the general populous is when the words leave your mouth. He is probably too old to change at 80 years old. However, his actions may have a negative effect on younger generations. He should understand that his opinions are not socially acceptable and should be quiet, especially from his position of influence in the sporting world.
ReplyDeleteTo Sterling’s girlfriend, you’re so much younger than he is; I can understand that he was very generous with his money, but there are plenty of other potential sugar daddies to be found. You should not have to put up with his intolerant beliefs that affect your race. However, dating a man who has a proven track record for intolerance in my eyes is tacit approval of his beliefs; good for you for finally saying enough is enough and bringing his character into the open.
To Mr Sterling I would say to find a new profession. We all know that the racism that he avidly believes in is not something that will easily die overnight. His racist beliefs and behaviors have been documented throughout the years and show no signs of slowing down. While I do believe that a formal apology is needed, I am disgusted to say that I am certain any apology muttered would fall far from sincere. With this in mind, I would like to return to my suggestion that Mr. Sterling find a new profession. Not only is the NBA full of black players and other minorities as well, but the team the HE OWNS is as well. How can he justify owning a team composed of the very people he detests? His ownership over the team, in the face of his blatant racism, does nothing but promote the image of white supremacy over the minority. Again, I would say that Mr. Sterling is in the wrong business for the racism he so obviously feels.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Sterling’s girlfriend I would suggest, obviously steering clear of those like Mr. Sterling. What kind of person actively remains in a relationship with somebody blatantly racist against a part of her own race?? Obviously, Sterling made no attempts to hide his beliefs around her. She has been putting up with his comments undoubtedly from the beginning. Honestly, this makes her just as guilty as he is. Her invasion of his privacy, no doubt in the hopes of notoriety and her 5-minutes-of-fame, is nearly as disgusting as his comments themselves. Exposing Sterling was nothing; his racism has been exposed many times over already. While it has caused a spike in the media circles for a short time, even this will do nothing to prove anything as Sterling’s blatant racism has been left unchecked for years My advice? Lay low, avoid future Sterlings, and go learn something about your own cultural/racial background versus trying to expose big-money men belittling it.
To Mr. Sterling I don't believe I could say anything that would change his mind. I don't believe there's anything I could tell him after him having lived his entire life in this way. But I would tell him to consider what he says and why he says that. It may be that he has this mindset passed down to him from his parents and he just adopted it as a loyal son. Perhaps there is no reason for this discrimination and if he could realize that then he may come around to realize the errors in his ways. It might also be that he has had only negative experiences with African American and Mexican people and for that reason has come to hate them. In that case I would advise that he attempt to know the cultures and people of these races that aren't immediately around him because those that he encounters aren't good representatives of these races as a whole.
ReplyDeleteTo his girlfriend I would advise her to stay strong and not be influenced by a racist man. She shouldn't need to adjust her behavior, preferences, or friends to suit him and by listening to his demands she's only facilitating racism and negative attitudes. If I were her friend I would advise to break up with him but there is also the extra dimension that is the question of why she is in this relationship to begin with -money or love- that will ultimately influence her decisions and reactions.
My advice for Mr. Sterling is that he needs to find a new occupation and just lay low for a while. Although I believe that his remarks were incredibly racist and should have never been brought to the public, I somewhat understand that he is from a generation where there were different beliefs regarding the color of skin. Despite the lack of importance of skin color in present day, Sterling grew up being taught to discriminate black people. Because this belief was engraved into him for so many years, it is hard for him to change his beliefs, even if he truly is trying to be a good person. I also think that it is very unfortunate for him that his girlfriend is the one who exposed him. He was having a completely private conversation with somebody that he trusted to confide in. If everyone's personal conversations got exposed like this, then there would be much more scandal in media.
ReplyDeleteMy advice for Sterling's girlfriend is to stick to her beliefs and try to stay out of the media as well. There are probably several assumptions stating that she just used Sterling for the money and intentionally turned him in. It may be that she truly felt strong about her beliefs and didn't know how to handle the situation. Regardless, she has to try and stay out of the drama and stay true to herself and her beliefs.
I would advise Mr. Sterling to reconsider his opinions and statements after truly exposing himself to the stories and ideas similar to those we consider in class. Hopefully, he can then accept the reality that there is no racial order, that it is impossible to avoid different ethnic groups in the modern world due to globalization, and will make a sincere public apology. If that doesn’t do the trick, he needs to immerse himself among the very people he debases and avoids; the more tangible contact he makes may help realize that there is absolutely no reason for segregation and discrimination, and that the very idea of doing so is disgusting.
ReplyDeleteAs for his girlfriend, I would advise her to really reflect on her relationship with Mr. Sterling. There are serious ramifications to her moral values and to her public image from associating with such strong racism; it goes for anyone, not even because of her own ethnic background. The best thing for her to do is do her best to empower herself and all the other ethnic minority groups, whether through disassociating from Mr. Sterling or making firm statements about her opposition to Mr. Sterling’s beliefs.
To Mr Sterling, I would advise him to actually look deeply into the culture that we are in today and the fact that the culture is definitely changing. Especially in the terms of sports, there is much diversity in the players that are playing and the fans that support the games. Even though he keeps on insisting that he does not have any hate for minorities, he definitely does. His girlfriend brings up the point of Larry Bird and he cannot and will not answer whether that would be alright or not, and if he had answered that it would have been alright, he would have admitted that he was racist. If one were not racist, one would let their girlfriend take any picture with anyone unless it were compromising to the actual person. Also telling your own girlfriend that they are supposed to be a delicate white or delicate Latina is rejecting the black part of her that you do not want to see. She understands that there is racism in the world and even though she may look white and Latina, she accepts the black part of her and contrary, you cannot accept that part of her. All in all, the culture around us is rapidly changing and in a word where racism is highly looked down upon in urban areas, Mr. Sterling may need to reassess his thoughts and actions or else face the consequences
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Sterling's girlfriend, my advice for you is to leave Mr Sterling especially since he is not accepting of who you are, an entire part of your identity. Another reason is that he is trying to place you into a box that he thinks is acceptable for both him and the society that he thinks society is and completely not taking into account the fact that you are your own person and you have certain beliefs that are more accepting of others. You have your standards and beliefs, yet he does not accept them even though you are making completely valid points and he cannot answer them because he knows that once he answers the questions that you are putting out there, he is acknowledging that he is indeed racist and in his heart does not want to accept it.
I would advise Mr. Sterling to immediately issue a public apology for his ignorant racist comments. Based on his past racist behavior, I don’t think the general public was surprised by this occurrence, but nonetheless, he needs to fix it. He made comments that offended multiple racial groups, and as a relative large figure in the world of athletics, he needs to remedy the situation. Everyone is definitely entitled to their own opinions, so I don’t feel right about strictly suggesting that he change his views; the thing that was so inappropriate about this was the manner in which he expressed those beliefs, and the way in which he has also done this in the past. It is unacceptable for him to have said those things directly to his girlfriend, and it is also unacceptable for him to have made public comments of this nature in the past.
ReplyDeleteI would first commend the girlfriend for holding her own against Sterling during that conversation. She was staying true to her beliefs without dropping to his level and becoming offensive. I would obviously suggest that she no longer associate with Sterling if he has such ill feelings toward her ethnic background. There is no way that a relationship could work under those conditions. She could very easily turn this into an opportunity for empowerment. Since she is now under the spotlight of the media, she could turn this into a positive thing by focusing on her racial pride and that could potentially help younger generations who may be struggling with similar issues.
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ReplyDelete1) Donald Sterling’s comments are extremely offensive and full of hate. It is even more unsettling that he would make these comments while taking part in an interracial relationship. Before providing Sterling with advice, it would be especially helpful to understand where this hate stems from, considering his girlfriend is both Black and Mexican. Sterling’s age is definitely a factor in both his remarks and willingness to adhere to advice encouraging social change. Some advice to provided Sterling in hopes of altering his mindset includes that of Sterling self-assessing his behavior and taking a walk in the shoes of those whom he offended. For Sterling, time is pertinent to his complete acceptance of other races. While he may claim that he isn’t racist, his remarks were not fabricated, signifying that he truly believes his words. It may be too late to change Sterling’s perceptions, but it isn’t too late to use this incident as a platform for social change.
ReplyDelete2) When it concerns Sterling’s girlfriend, V. Stiviano, my advice would definitely to break off the relationship, and distance herself from his negative and bitter nature. She should also use this experience to stand up for and promote social change. While her relationship is a terrible model for interracial relationships, she should still advocate for these types of mating and the overcoming of racism.
I advise Mr.Sterling would have to make radical changes on his racist views if he wishes to maintain a healthy relationship with his girlfriend and with the public. He should not be bothered if his girlfriend simply takes pictures with black people she admires and posts them on Instagram because he doesn't want her to associate with these people. By not wanting Stiviano to associate with black individuals or other minorities publicly is an obvious sign of racism. Stiviano has family members who are Mexican and black as she is mixed, she should be able to take pictures with whoever she wishes regardless of their skin color or cultural background. Furthermore, as an owner of a basketball team composed of blacks, it's ridiculous to utter such racist phrases such not bringing "them to my games". As a business professional in the NBA, it is absolutely a disgrace and sad that he could utter such remarks. Even though the audio file was a private conversation, his tone of voice was noticeably racist and he should apologize to the public for his atrocious remarks. He deserved being banned from the NBA as his behavior cannot be tolerated in our culturally diverse society. If he wishes to regain an ounce of respect from his girlfriend and the public, he needs to embrace multiculturalism and deeply apologize for his actions.
ReplyDeleteI would advise V. Stiviano to look for someone else if Sterling does not immediately change his racist ways. I find it difficult to believe she would be content with dating somebody who expresses horribly racist remarks against blacks and minorities. As a mixed Mexican and black girl, I presume it would offend you to be in an interracial relationship with somebody who expresses such hatred and intolerance for people of your race. Furthermore, you should not have deleted that Instragram picture of you and Magic Johnson. You should be able to post any pictures of yourself with whoever you desire. If you choose to leave Sterling, it is completely understandable and you should seek to be in a relationship with someone who is culturally accepting and understanding of our modern multicultural society.
Regarding the Sterling controversy, there are a few issues with both sides. Obviously by popular opinion Sterling is in the wrong. While he may have the right to act and have the viewpoints he desires, he should not by any means impose them on anybody else as aggressively as he did. Also, he, as a long time business man that must deal with the public and portray himself along with his business in a way most appealing to the public, should know much better. On the other hand, it was a private conversation and making it public without his permission is not okay. Regardless of the topic, private conversation are meant to be private and a breach of privacy is not okay if no one is in harm's way. Because of this, I believe Sterling simply is who he is and that's that. However, if he wants to continue as a successful business man, he has to make a radical change. Likewise, if he wants to be a decent human being that treats others as he would want to be treated, he would have to make a radical change in his viewpoints and opinions. Sterling has the option to do whatever he likes; he is a billionaire, he can buy an island and live alone/ with his family, continuing to hold his views or he can right his wrong and become a better person. The choice we would all advise him to do is open his mind and not be such a racist bigot.
ReplyDeleteAs for his girlfriend, I would advise her to re-evaluate her life goals, especially in regards to the people she maintains a special spot for in her heart. If she's okay with Sterling only being racist to other Blacks and Mexicans as long as he likes her, that's her choice. However, if she were proud of her roots and cultures, she would want to pick at the situation piece by piece and figure out what is going on in Sterling's mind or find someone new all together. Just as everyone else would recommend, she should find someone else, however, if she finds that his other qualities supersede his racism and can live with it, then that's her choice as well.
I found Sterling's comments to be offensive and insensitive. He is blatantly excluding a specific group and is trying to use his authority as the owner to justify this. That is not okay in any way. I think that he should apologize for this and try to make amends with the public or at least make an effort to show that Clippers games are an accepting environment for everyone.
ReplyDeleteAs for the gf, I would say for her to stand up to him and do what she wants; not what he wants. She should be able to bring whoever she wants to games, regardless of any specification, especially race. That is so absurd that he would try to monitor that. I also think she should look for a new boyfriend.