*An African-American ESPN2 contributor stepped in it Thursday when he called Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III “kind of black,” and said of the athlete, “He’s not one of us.”
RELATED STORY: RG3 Hater Rob Parker Suspended for ‘Not One of Us’ Comments
The comments were made by columnist Rob Parker, who was appearing on the morning show “First Take.” [Scroll down to watch.]
Rob Parker
Griffin said in an interview published this week by USA Today that he didn’t want to be defined by the color of his skin. In discussing the issue of Griffin and race on ESPN2, Parker began by asking of Griffin: “Is he a brother or a cornball brother?”
When asked by others discussing the issue to explain, he went on to say: “Okay he’s black, he kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause, he’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you really want to hang out with…”
Parker later said: “We all know he has a white fiancée, then there was all this talk about he’s a Republican, which, there’s no information at all…”
Parker’s comments caused an immediately backlash around DC, even prompting councilmember and former mayor Marion Barry to speak out.
“I thought that we in the black community had gotten past that who’s black enough, who’s not black,” Barry told ABC7. “I thought that era was over with.”
“He’s an outstanding athlete,” Barry added later. “And it’s appalling that you have other black people talking like that.”
On Twitter Wednesday, Parker fired back at critics of his comments, and also received some support.
Meanwhile David Scott with ESPN public relations sent ABC7 a tweet that said: “The comments were inappropriate and we are evaluating our next steps.”
Parker’s comments come about a day after Griffin told USA Today’s Jim Corbett that he doesn’t want to be defined by the color of his skin.
“I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that,” Griffin told USA Today. “You want to be defined by your work ethic, the person that you are, your character, your personality.”
“I’m uncomfortable with where we just went,” Stephen A. Smith, the often outspoken co-host of “First Take,” said after a long hesitation following Parker’s comments. “It’s irrelevant; he can live his life any way he chooses. I don’t judge someone’s blackness based on those types of things.”
Watch the exchange on “First Take” below.
Robert Parker is an analyst on one of he sports talk stations here in Detroit, he did not have ot go there with those comments he should of kept his personal opinions to himself.
At times, I swear you don’t know shit or you’re just clueless. Keep his personal opinions to himself? That’s what he was on the show for! Frist Take is an opinionated show. Did you not know that? I don’t agree with what Parker said at all by the way.
I do not apreciate your comment Testic!!! wha the hell is the matter with you??? NO!! I have not seen the First Take show!!! BUT he could of given his opnion without saying the rest of the crap!!! that was unnecesary!! I am entitled to my opnion on what he said!!, regardless whether you agree with me or not whicH I could give a rat’s azz The next DAM time I comment on anything on this blog and you do not like it I appreciate ti if you do not comment!!! as a matter of fact you make alot of STUPID AZZ comments that I do not agree with but instead of calling you CLUELESS or mocking your intelligence, I do not say anything because I RESPECT!! your opinion, the last year or so I have found out what a COMPLETE AZZHOLE you really are.
Bitch you mad? I don’t give a fuck about me being an asshole. I’ve been called everything you can think of on this board. Shut the fuck up while a pimp is speaking! The shit I say on here is just for jokes. When you look at my comments they have a lot of truth in them. I just say things in a profane/explicit manner. You don’t have to respect my opinion. I gives a fuck about that. I don’t give a fuck about what you appreciate either. I’m going to check your bitch ass every time should I happen to catch you saying something stupid. The fact of the matter is, you ARE CLUELESS ON THIS MATTER! You didn’t know First Take is very opinionated.
LMFAO at you just finding out I’m a complete asshole. You better check your history on me on here. Bitch go suck a sick dick. You ain’t shit to me. I hope Santa Claus takes a mean shit in your stocking. Go to hell on a bobsled.
*Sings Yes Jesus Loves Me*
WOW!!! real class act aren’t you??? I am through talking to your stupid azz. check me all you want I do not give a Sh-t!! Gosh!! you are Stupid MF PERSONIFIED!!!
I will keep it uncomfortably real right now. I LOVED RGIII’s story when I first heard about him at Baylor. On paper, this dude is such an outstanding representation of Black men. That said, I would be lying like a rug if I said finding out he has a White fiancee (didn’t know he was engaged til reading this article although I had heard he liked the pale girls), did not take away some of his luster. It’s disappointing. It just is. The more liberal of us will come on here and say “it doesn’t matter, stop judging, don’t be old-fashioned, etc” but the truth is not always kind. His Becky fasication does stick in the craw a bit. It does give him that “oh he’s the kind of negro ‘THEY’ like” vibe. Sorry!
Now, should the analyst have said this? Probably not a smart career move, especially in “mixed” company. There are some things you save for Black radio and some things you can say on Everyoone radio. These are not always the same thing. Sorry Parker, you might have just signed your own pink slip. #thinkbeforeyouspeak
TGen, how are you! Now, you loved Griffin’s story when you first heard about him at Baylor? Then you go on to say you didn’t know he was engaged to a white woman until reading this article? That’s fishy. EVERYONE that knows his “story” as you say knew he had a white girlfriend and got engaged. HE GOT ENGAGED TO HER WHILE HE WAS STILL PLAYING AT BAYLOR. It was all over college news. Just admit you jumped on RGIII bandwagon.
I Agree TGen. That was a comment for the Barbershop; He forgot he was in public.
So he can’t take advice from someone that’s not like “him”
Let’s just keep it real..if a person of non-color said this they would be fired…Parker is a disgrace to the community for devaluing the worth of education which we all can never get enough of..
Rob Parker, sir, you are an idiot. I once respected you and your commentary, but you have as we say, stepped on your own crank! Had no business what so ever making such a foolish comment. We black men, have a steep enough hill to climb in this society as it is. We certainly don’t need foolish comments like this distracting from the real battle with racism in America. Shame on you!
babycakes, so you’re not going to respond to me ever again? That’s a promise? I’m going to hold you to it. I hate it when muthafuckas like you say MF. LMFAO! You might as well say/spell out the real word. That’s what you mean. Class act? On this board? Bitch get a clue! There is no class/decorum on HERE. You should have known that. But going to back what I said before, you’re clueless. As stated before. I’m going to check your ass from here on out. You’re not going to reply so that will make things more funny.
FOR THE RECORD SO EVERYONE CAN SEE, I DID NOT START THE NAME CALLING. YOU DID. NOW WHO HAS CLASS? I’ll wait. Muthafucka you better have your shit together before you step to the kid. I give old school Joseph Walter Jackson beat downs.
On a completely different note, EUR has the uncanny knack for finding (and posting) the MOST unflattering photos of people (see RGIII above). What is THAT about ? O_o
OK, keeping it real. As TGen said, the knowledge of him having a white fiancée will take away from his luster. People can play the political correct game if they want, but it’s always somewhat disappointing learning that an athlete choose a white mate.
Now as far as his “blackness”, you are either black or you are not. And that’s only determined by your genealogy. RG3, like Tiger Woods, is black. And nothing that they do or say can change that.
Now on Stephen A. Smith’s comment:
I’m uncomfortable with where we just went.”
Then he went right there:
“I don’t judge someone’s blackness based on those types of things.”
So how do you judge a black person’s “blackness?”
His statement is just another form of Rob Parker’s asinine comments.
You are either black or you are not. There is nothing to judge.
Parker’s comments about RGIII were not appropriate. It is a sad thing to hear. It appears that many Black people are still judging each other on their “Blackness” – be it skin color or the way that they act. When some people say that they are not racists and then they totally form certain opinions about people when they find out the race of their spouse or their political party. It is so sad that Black people in America are some of the most racist people in the world.. Why? Because a lot of Black folks show prejudice to their own race.