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Originally posted by ChuckElias
Quote:
Originally posted by Love2ref4Ever
I think we need to be mindful of other people's race,
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I thought we were supposed to disregard people's race altogether, not be mindful of it. (I can play the PC game too!)
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I am wondering how many African American officials may have felt that when describing Ted Valentine Rut could have been more professional.
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I don't know. Let's ask one. HEY RUT!!! Did you feel that you could have been more professional in describing Ted Valentine?
Believe me, we ALL love and respect Teddy V. Anybody who tosses Bobby Knight and then gives him his third T before he leaves gets a plaque in my Officiating Hall of Fame.
I don't think there's any shame or stigma in being called a black official, if one is, in fact a black official. Just my personal opinion. Of course, I'm not black; so I may just be full of hot air.
Chuck
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Let me say this if you have not already read what I said. I am Black first!!! Before I step onto the court being Black or African-American is what people are going to judge me by. After that you see that I am an official. I can take off the strips or the Blue Umpire Shirt, but I can never take off my skin. It is what I am, it is what I will be until the day I die. And what I am and what I will always be, will be the color that I am. And considering that I have partners that are Black that I work with on a regular basis, we do not just put away what we are because we step onto a court. It makes me proud considering that two of the most respected officials in the business are Black/African-American. Now that might not mean a thing to anyone else, but someone that has grown up learning the history of this country and the history of American Black people, it gives me great pride that two individuals have gone thru what they have and have still achieved. I would love for us all to hold hands and to sing songs and quote Martin Luther King Jr. would be great. But the reality is that everytime I step onto the court and I am the only Black face in the entire gym, it matters to someone. And if it did not, I would have never had the things happen to me in a short period of time where race seemed to be the only thing. And that is not just dealing with white people I might add. But that is another story all together.
Peace