You have to start somewhere!

There has been an enormous outcry since the ugly remarks by Clippers Owner, Donald Sterling were released to the press.  There has equally been an enormous celebration on behalf of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for his swift action that goes beyond a slap on the hand in my humble opinion.  I have partaken whole-heartedly in both the jeers and cheers described.  I don't apologize for either of my reactions nor should anyone else.

I am well aware that Donald Sterling is not alone in his ignorance especially not as a member of professional team ownership.  As a former colleague of mine, ESPN's Jemele Hill, pointed out, if you think he was the lone bandit in his thinking as owner of the Clippers these past 30 years.... you are indeed naive.  You don't hold true to beliefs of that nature at the top of the food chain without it permeating and perpetuating into your organization and well beyond.  That said, I also do not believe this is how ALL professional team owners feel.

I have been engaging in a back and forth with individuals who say Adam Silver's actions were nothing more than a PR move.  That "the plantation is still safe".  I get where this frustration comes from, but I say, you have to start somewhere.  Adam Silver has been Commissioner for what, an hour (exaggeration of course) and he's made a major move.  He has established himself as not status quo and has required his league to take a stand as well.  A stand that if not unanimous could destroy the league all together.  I have read of the past racial missteps by Mr. Sterling, I even heard individuals personally commenting about how Mr. Sterling was one of the last people on the planet they would ever want to play for, so his latest transgression was far from surprising.  But until his transgressions reach a proportion of this magnitude not a whole lot can be done.

Now here's the other issue, another misdeed was done to make this misdeed standout, Ms. Stiviano will have to deal with her own situation with the release of an illegal recording, but I want to stick to one topic as not lose sight of the discussion.  Back to Mr. Sterling.

Just because some people know of an ugliness, doesn't mean ALL people know of an ugliness and even when people in a position to act know of an ugliness, you still have to have a cause within your own ranks to do something about it.  I don't know what Mr. Silver knew of Mr. Sterling prior to this incident.  I don't know what Mr. Silver felt about Mr. Sterling prior to this incident, what I do know, is that PRIOR to this incident, Mr. Silver WAS NOT in a position to do what he did Tuesday, April 29, 2014.

Mr. Silver assumed his role as Commissioner on February 1, 2014... Less than three months ago if you are doing the math.  Three months in, Mr.  Silver issued a lifetime ban on a bigoted owner and put an ENORMOUS amount of pressure on his league to take a stand for justice.  For now, Mr. Silver has at the very least caused the remaining NBA individuals of ignorant thinking to take cover.  They will not speak as boldly and will toe the company line.  Perhaps the next owner/owners of the Clippers will also do a little housekeeping of their own and clear the cupboards of Sterling thinking remains.  Does this mean that others who share Mr. Sterling's beliefs will up and change their tune, of course not.  The Civil Rights Acts weren't passed until 1964, that was some 288 years AFTER the constitution so don't expect everything to be fixed on tuesday.  Racism will take hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years to be removed from our consciousness, but it has to start somewhere.

People thought the election and subsequent re-election of the nations FIRST black President meant race issues were solved; again, that belief is naive.  This nation, this world has a long way to go, but every little effort that says racism is NOT OK, is a step in the right direction and those steps need to be recognized, celebrated and repeated.  I am a proud black woman and I am proud of Mr. Adam Silver's denouncement of racism Tuesday, April 29, 2014.