Type Casting
Wizards center Etan Thomas writes about stereotypes, referees and profiling.
Today, Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas begins his new regular column for SLAMonline.com. Agree or disagree with him, Etan promises to be honest, to speak his mind and hopefully to provoke thought and discourse. Welcome to his world…
by Etan Thomas
We were playing a home game against Cleveland, and after a timeout a referee with dark, slicked-back hair (who shall remain nameless) approached me. He said that he had heard that I write poetry, have a book, speak at universities, am into politics, etcetera, and he asked me if this was true.
I replied, Yes.
To my surprise, he responded: “You’re not as dumb as you look.”
I turned toward my teammate Antawn Jamison, who also heard the exchange, and we both looked back at this ref with eyes of bewilderment, as if to say that we couldn’t have possibly heard him right.
He saw that I was in no way amused, without even the slightest hint of a smile, and attempted to clean up his statement, saying, “Well I think it’s great, I could never do anything like that…” I simply nodded my head and returned to the game.
Sometimes someone can make a statement that is so unbelievably blatant that it renders you speechless, left without a response or reaction, until you think about it at a later date. This was one of those times for me.
I could have interpreted this as a bad joke by a referee who should be more focused on making the correct calls than telling jokes that aren’t funny. Or I could take this as a blatant slap in the face. I could make the connection to a larger problem in society that deals with obliviousness and stereotypes. Is it an unfortunate reality that many people are still dwelling in the pit of ignorance?
I have come to expect a certain reaction of surprise by my extracurricular activities, but this was different. Usually, I am met with words like, “You speak so well,” or “You’re so different, you’re not like the others,” which are all equally offensive to me, but this was on a different level. Why is it beyond the realm of imagination that I could possibly write poetry, have an interest in politics and can express my opinion in a public forum? Would this referee have made that same statement to Wally Szczerbiak, Steve Nash or my man Steve Blake?
Maybe it’s the dreads that threw him off. Or maybe it’s my size. But would he have had the same reaction to Darko Milicic, Rasho Nesterovic or Nenad Krstic?
This is something that I have always had to deal with throughout my life. I remember in high school I was constantly facing similar reactions due to the fact that I was on the Speech and Debate Team. (Made it to the finals at Harvard and led my senior team to a state championship in Speech and Debate.) In college I actually had a teacher tell me that I didn’t belong in his class, that this was Calculus, and shouldn’t I be in Rocks For Jocks or something?
A few summers ago, I went to a bookstore to purchase one of the sequels to Tim LaHaye’s “Left Behind” series. I was literally hooked on each one and was reading them as they came out. The lady behind the counter enquired if I was reading it for a class. I smiled and said, No, I graduated from college some time ago. Then she said, “You’re that basketball player, right?”
I replied yes, and she asked me if I had read all the books leading up to the one I was purchasing. I told her I had. And she said, “Well, it’s nice to know that some of you can read.”
There are certain statements that will always remain in my permanent recollection. This referee has just been added to that list.
I’m not looking to squeeze an apology from him; don’t even want one. Why would he apologize for the way that he feels? That’s like Michael Richards apologizing for his racist, hateful rant. Not likening the referee to Kramer, but don’t apologize for something you’re not sorry about. If you simply regret that people may look at you differently as a result of your feelings, well, that’s an apology you can keep.
Stereotype is defined as an oversimplified standardized image or idea held by one person or group of another. It is 2006, and while we have come a long way, unfortunately in many ways we have also regressed.
It’s sad that so many people are still governed by stereotypes. But I guess that’s the reality that is our present day society.
An Untitled Poem…
Stereotypical ignorance
Mentally oblivious
Patterns of darkness woven through the web of reality like charlotte
Snatched and carted out of the pockets of mentalities like wallets
You sentenced me to a lifetime of inferiority
Echoing the sentiments of society
Pouring out of your mouth like a leaking faucet
Your true belief was caught
You think that you can judge my mind when you can’t read my thoughts
You’ve tossed your prejudgment into my sea of normality
Relegated my personality to be forever entangled in an imprudent coil
Without the salt evolving preservation one’s outlook can spoil
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I just wanted to link to the following as we should all keep focus on progress and should not get caught setting ourselves back because one person has racial issues. I did notice that Fox has taken full aim at our people again since they cannot discredit Democrats anymore. Watch them take a chance and fall here…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cuX2uYOi4g&eurl=
That sounds like something any old guy would say to a young guy
sounds like the old guys I used to work with when I was in high school doing maintenance
If I grasped something they were teaching me theyd say, ‘youre not as dumb as you look’
coming from them it was meant as a compliment
their way of saying ‘good job’
they also would say random insulting things to whoever they accepted within their group
‘where you from? Moorpark eh?, only 2 things come from Moorpark, steers and queers and I dont see any horns on you’
taken out of context that would be some seriously insulting stuff
but for them it was just their way of showing acceptance of you, if you never were insulted by them then you surely knew that they didnt like you or trust you
Now I wasnt there, so I have no way of knowing what the context was
but reading it just as it was written by Etan, thats what the insult reminded me of
an old guy complimenting a young guy
but once again I wasnt there
things like tone of voice are a big factor
and only Etan heard the way it was said to him
I feel like sometimes people are conditioned to expect certain things out of people
The whole ‘jocks’ thing from one of his teachers was nasty and stupid and inappropriate no matter what the context
the same thing with the lady implying that many basketball players couldnt read
and maybe experiencing those types of things would make you on the lookout for more unacceptable behaviour
whatever
I wasnt there so I dont really have an opinion
just putting that out there as far as Kramer goes
he’s a racist
but who really cares
Now I think he’s a giant douche-bag
most of America probably does
this nonsense of suing him is ridiculous though
its one thing to be a racist douche-bag
another to act on your racist douche-bag ‘ness’
I’m not willing to set a precedent and threaten free speech itself by fining Michael Richards
we’d have to start levying douche-bag fines all over the place pretty soon
I live in Riverside CA so I’d make trillions off the ‘bro’s’ here alone
the word ‘nigger’ is prevalent in America today
As far as proliferation of the word in modern america goes, blacks take more responsibility than whites (I’ll go with the word black rather than african-american cause there are many dark skinned men and woman out there that have roots in places other than africa, and I’ll go with the word white because its easier than euro-americans or new native americans or whatever because thats just getting way too confusing)
I myself loathed and abhorred the word throughout most of my life, even when I was a teen in high school and listening to N.W.A with my friends and the word slipped into their lexicon I still refrained
but you know who finally got me to use the ‘N’ word
Dave Chapelle
that man is just too hilarious and you cant help but quote lines from his skits
after watching hours of Dave Chappelle, (and Paul Mooney ironically enough) the word became part of my lexicon as well
Paul Mooney?
I find it difficult that the man who recently played ‘Niggerdamus’ is now refraining from the word-
the mans taking a stand though and I can respect that
but to all the Jesse Jackson Maxine Waters lets go sue people bandwagons
if you want the ‘N’ word to disappear
suing a few white douche-bags isnt going to do it
the word is made popular by black america, not a few random white racists
and I think this mass hype about this incident illustrates and proves that
anyway
I should stick to music making and stop attempting to illustrate my thoughts
I tend to ramble like Grandpa Simpson
I’m white, I don’t use that word. If black people want to use it, it’s up to them. I hear it so much that I’m desensitized to it.
Anyway, the point is revisiting the use of the word is perhaps a good thing and I’m really glad to be able to do this on a BBall website! My two favorite passions: social commentary and the NBA. How cool is that?!
What really amuses me is how defensive everybody gets when someone questions their intelligence/aptitude/ability.
Notice how i said ‘everybody’ and not ‘you people’. Because that would make me racist…right?
the whole thing is, you can’t be so affected by it, to a point where you’re walking around with a chip on your shoulder. its called having thick skin. you know your true worth, so what does it matter what others think of you. you know better.
and don’t say something like, ‘i do have thick skin. i have to deal with this every day. walk in my shoes’ or whatever. because if you did have thick skin, random ppl’s simple statements wouldn’t get to you.
You can’t read into everything ppl say. whats sad is, instead of ppl developing thick skin, they just get jaded.
I am a Missouri-born and raised white male and I remember in high school a black friend and I had a huge laugh at the local redneck ignorance where an individual had spray painted the word NIGER on a rock in a prominent spot in town. We had a great time talking about the country and speculating about the ignoranance and racist individual who provided us with such great entertainment with his poor spelling. It occurs to me that while race is still a very critical issue we have to remember that it may not trump class. Yes it is true that George Bush doesn’t care about black people but more than that, he doesn’t care about poor people. I think class is THE big one that this country needs to tackle and we need to lift our poor brothers and sisters of all races. As for those individuals that think politics and sport should not mix, I say they are inseparable. Waiting for a basketball Ali,
Hush D
This was a pleasant surprise upon visiting the site today. Your book is on my wish list. Great writing. What’s interesting about stereotypes to me that it doesn’t matter how intelligent you are. Some people still find a way to say dumb and nasty stuff. After a rough experience in high school, I had grow up a bit to realize that stuff wasn’t my problem, it was theirs. That stuff used to eat at me, like the pixie on Chappelle’s Show. I thought everyone was watching me and judging me. Once I let it go and felt comfortable being myself regardless, I was a lot happier.
Etan never definitively stated this was a race-based issue…he is asking provocative questions to make us think…join us in thinking and if you disagree explain why. That will work better than calling him a dummy. And you will have the strength of your argument to support you. Hush D
I own every Chappelle Show DVD and listen to NWA, and I’m not black. “People think stereotype is wrong and stupid but really who here honestly don’t have any stereotype at all?” What’s that supposed to mean? Just live with it? I’m sure Dr.King would LOVE that attitude. “So he has some ideas in his head about black atheletes and musicians and he developes a stereotype and now he’s supposed to be a racist?” UMMMMM….how ELSE do you become racist?!
Do you meet people of many races, interact with them on an equal cultural level, treat them as brothers, and then decide to be a racist one day?…NO “Like it or not SLAM, you are protraying that good basketball players have to mean mug people and wear jewellery and tattoos. I know it’s not what you intend to do but that’s the message you are sending to most people who are not into reading and watching NBA everyday.” So if you dont smile like hell on a magazine cover, most of America will see this to mean that you want to MUG someone?! Great reasoning here.
Sam, that new Clipse is whatsup.
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Once you live enough and/or step outside your native water (as in a fish out of water) you realize that you are an ambassador for what people perceive you to be. As an American living / working / loving in France I have to answer for any and every American numbskull in politics, media etc. You also get an earful of the kindly ignorant – “wow you’re from America? I bet everyone must be cool in America…” When I don’t know folks or don’t feel like it, I claim to be from Belgium just to avoid hearing an earful from folks. It’s obviously different to try and claim a different height, or hair length, or color of skin… _________
Point being everyone has “impressions”, first impressions, ingrained impressions, hard-wired impressions, learned impressions, forced impressions. I see you on the street and I think something – plain and simple – you see me and you do the same. They don’t have to be judgments, prejudgments (aka prejudices), biases or worse – but they exist. We all have them. _____________ Now, how you go about communicating with people, relating to/with them when you open ya big fat mouth is a whole ‘nother can-o beans. _____________ Ok, I could go on but the suds on my toes are itching – peace and hairgrease (dread-juice?)
PS. Etan, you read much Ralph Wiley?
1) its a way for us to take something completely derogatory and turn into a symbol of solidarity, like the Black Fist.
2) some white people don’t understand the difference in which black people use it, so rather than understand, they try to blame it on hypocracy. Or, are so racist they are actually mad that a group is taking a term meant to demean us and slander our spirit as a culture and making a positive out of it…and
3) In the name of progress, why do they (speaking generally here) even want to be able to say it? Some of my best friends since grade school are white. I really appreciate them, because they in-turn appreciate the power behind that word and understand that in the wrong hands its dangerous. My homeboy got a mixed baby by a white girl…I was talking one day and said the word “cracker”…she said I really wish you wouldn’t say that. I can respect that.. but then I asked her, “well, is it the racism behind it, or just because Im talking about white people in a derogatory way”. She answered ” because of the racism”. And I looked at her and said “but its okay for me to say nigga all the time?” to which she had no response, cuz we laugh about it. Why do we laugh about it? Because my friend Blue and I have demonstrated how members of a culture can take a derogatory statement about them and turn it into a term of unification. Then I looked at Young Cob’ (yes, named after Kobe) and he gave me the Black Fist…I almost cried yall… I dont have any real racist tendecies besides using slang terms for shock value, but I treat everyone I break bread with equally til ya get on my shitty side. Is racism here? Yezzir!! Is it gonna stay? More than likely, until we really tackle the issue instead of making excuses for our own ugly actions or trying to hide behind the curtain of PC like its Oz or somethin. In the words of Jesse, “Keep hope alive” and in the even wiser words of Malcom “by any means necessary. Put it all together and you get “Keep hope alive by any means necessary”. North, East, West, South…put it all together and it spells NEWS. I really hope Etan keeps on with that good work. And next time a dude goes for a dread just shaolin finger jab ‘em in the eye…
I recently saw cornell west speak and was blown away (for anyone interested go buy his new book). This man will invade your mind, rip you apart and open your eyes. The overwhelming thing from his speach has been vibrating in mind since that did stick with me is change of this magnitude will only happen with the dying of the old oppressive system and with a change in the thinking of the new generation. So we need to start with our children and young people. The other thing that stuck with me is he kept saying that we need to show these young ones an abundance of love always.
Etan, thanks for sharing.
The term Nigger is derrogatory in the worst way towards Black men and women as in its origin, it was used to dehumanize us. You don’t have to be deep into your books to know that ALOT of Black men and women have died over the use of that word, and in some cases trying to liberate us from the oppression of that word and the inferiority it breeds. For that alone, we should check ourselves before firing any more ‘nigga this, nigga that’ off of our tongues.
We need to stop accepting this all too comfortable place of inferiority that has been bestowed upon us (and that we are all only too happy to perpetuate) and redefine who we are and what we may become. There are plenty of other terms of endearment we can use instead of bastardizing our inherent greatness. We’re NOT niggas, Niggers or any other negative term put on us by those who would seek to oppress us in some way. As for that Kramer cat? He only revealed into the mainstream what many of us know ‘lies underneath the surface’ of alot of white men anyway. The sad thing is, we are still generations away from being able to do anything about it – and going in the wrong direction. In ending, white people, don’t be scared of us just because of what you don’t know. Get to know the content of each individual character (there’s good and bad both sides of the fence) and remember one person (whether good or bad) does not carry the weight for a whole race. Y’all probably won’t even hear me on this though.
As a result all articles follows the same pattern where you rarely discuss anything that doesn’t happen on the hardwood and never anything that might harm the NBA. Scoop Jackson is the only one I’ve seen who actually dares to speak his mind and write articles with originality and critisism. The Slam articles, even though they are well written, have sadly become very repetitive. I think it would be cooler if you guys allowed yourselves let loose a bit more and write whatever comes to mind.
But I enjoyed reading the words of Etan Thomas. He and Gilbert Arenas are like a breath of fresh air. They actually have their own thoughts and say things we haven’t heard before. They’re like Casino Royale in the James Bond series.
I think it’s unfair to imply that the ref was thinking about race though. I myself am short and quite pale and I’ve often heard “you’re not as stupid as you look”.
The ref may have made a bad joke, but that doesn’t mean he deserves to be put on the internet, accused of being a racist.
Maybe Thomas needs to realise the fact that he actually IS different? I mean: which other NBA player(black or white) owns a state championship in speech and debate, and writes poetry?
And why is he comparing the ref’s statement to the shocking and obvious racist rant of Michael Richards? Walking through life looking for comments from white people that you can somehow interpret as racist, is to me an “unbelievably blatant” and “stereotype” way of thinking and living. I’d also like to comment on the use of the “N-word”. I think The US is the only place in the world where people use it on a regular basis. The funny thing is that using the word is only accepted if you belong to a certain race. Here in Norway (and in most other parts of Europe I think) we have the exact same word. But here you never use except if you’re not a nazi or something similar (which luckily very few are). Actually I don’t think I’ve ever heard it being used here in a serious way.
Why is it different on your side of the pond? Is it because white Americans deserve to be punished for what their ancestors did? And how is it possible for ANYONE to use the n-word without supporting racism? Obviously there are still problems, with for example the shootings in New York a few days ago. But isn’t it time to work AGAINST racism?
But i guess we’re in different situations.
I think lil sis is dead wrong, that man would have to be all kinds of evil to attempt to use racist remarks to provoke tech’s, the notion seems somewhat ridiculous to me. And if he was that evil he wouldnt have followed the statement with ‘I think thats great, I could never do anything like that’ the man was straight up complimenting you Etan, in the way that crusty old white dudes compliment young guys Racism will always exist because stupid people will always exist, but you as an intelligent person need to realize that the sooner you get this chip off your shoulder the happier your existence will become. It sounds to me like the whole thing was a misunderstanding. I hope I’m not creating Winston and the Telescreen hate out there, I’m not trying to be mean to anybody, thats just how I see it. And I do realize that I wasnt there to witness it but its Etans account of the situation that makes me feel that way.
By now I’m not even concerned with what someone calls me. I’m more concerned by how I’m treated. F the N word. Like a previous poster stated. If I get reated like a second class citizen..now we have a problem.
To Slam: Get more writers like Thomas and Zirin and I may subscribe!!
To All Y’all that left comments here: Dave Zirin has been tootin’ Etan Thomas’ horn for years!! Run, don’t walk, run to your nearest bookstore and pick up his book: “What’s my Name Fool”. If you really are a true sports fan…….you will be glad you did. If you don’t, you are really missing out….it is an awesome read!! Peace all.
“1786, earlier neger (1568, Scot. and northern England dialect), from Fr. nègre, from Sp. negro (see Negro). From the earliest usage it was “the term that carries with it all the obloquy and contempt and rejection which whites have inflicted on blacks” [cited in Gowers, 1965]. But as black inferiority was at one time a near universal assumption in Eng.-speaking lands, the word in some cases could be used without insult. More sympathetic writers late 18c. and early 19c. seem to have used black (n.) and, after the American Civil War, colored person. Also applied by Eng. settlers to dark-skinned native peoples in India, Australia, Polynesia. The reclamation of the word as a neutral or positive term in black culture, often with a suggestion of “soul” or “style,” is attested first in the Amer. South, later (1968) in the Northern, urban-based Black Power movement. Variant niggah, attested from 1925 (without the -h, from 1969), is found usually in situations where blacks use the word. Nigra (1944), on the other hand, reflects a pronunciation in certain circles of Negro, but meant to suggest nigger, and is thus deemed (according to a 1960 slang dictionary) “even more derog. than ‘nigger.’ …
” ‘You’re a fool nigger, and the worst day’s work Pa ever did was to buy you,’ said Scarlett slowly. … There, she thought, I’ve said ‘nigger’ and Mother wouldn’t like that at all.” [Margaret Mitchell, "Gone With the Wind," 1936]”
quoted from: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php The Compact Oxford English Dictionary:
“nigger
• noun, offensive: a black person. — USAGE The word nigger is very offensive and should not be used. — ORIGIN from Spanish negro ‘black’.” What does this prove? That the word “nigger” has been an aggressive insult from its inception. I am not arguing that the word’s gradually increasing use has rendered it innocuous. I am only saying that this process may be underway. And that I think that the word, eventually, will be reshaped by American Culture into something different. I believe that will be a positive development.
Still, I’d say probably you should less vindictive about other people though. I mean, probably the Ref was just tryin’ to be overly-friendly with you. It’s just that he had done the wrong approach.
I’m suggesting that should it ever happened again next time, you should communicate how you feel with the other person so that he/she could understand your feeling. Maybe he/she doesn’t mean it that way.
Nice Column BTW…
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