Comments on: Jeremy Lin, ‘Linsanity’ and Race

By: Elijah405

Elijah405 — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:38:00 +0000

I would have to totally disagree with your viewpoint that this blog ‘stirs up racial conflict’. Highlighting issues of race and class in DC which is a melting pot of cultures and the convergence of different classes of people provides an opportunity for thoughtful discourse on current issues. Hearing the perspectives of different people gives an opportunity for critical thinking and perhaps the ability to see things from another’s mindset. I also think that it’s very naive to think that a whooping 95% of interracial occurrences ‘go well’. I’m not really sure what that even means. Call me a pessimist or some may say a realist.

Lastly-the fact that a statement from one person would illicit such a guttural reaction amongst readers that ‘black people are jealous’ is laughable. I would wonder why you would take the comment of one person of a race and make it seem as if a ‘black’ people share the same opinion. News flash-we are not a monolithic people, just as Asians aren’t. That viewpoint framed as ‘reinforcing’ bigotry makes me believe that you believed in certain ‘stereotypes’ before you read posts on HuffPo. Perhaps now after reading this blog you can be introspective enough to change your own mindset.

By: Dreamy

Dreamy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:22:00 +0000

As for Lin getting more attention for his uniqueness… Sure, of course that’s a part of it– not just being Asian American, but by filling a role that runs counter to Asian stereotypes. Kind of like, oh, Barack Obama, and… Great? No need to stir up intra-POC conflict over the same old too-small piece of pie once again.

By: Dreamy

Dreamy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Not just one known for making controversial remarks– one who is trying to get a fight with an Asian boxer– against whom he has been trying to stir up sentiment FOR a long time, with the same sort of tired argument. Lest we forget– this man came to his fight with Oscar De La Hoya in full “Mexican” drag. Mayweather is the shock jock of the boxing world. I’m sure there are black folks who feel the way he does, somewhere, but he has zero cred as a thoughtful commentator on race and sports. Less than zero– he is purposefully making these kinds of comments for his own personal gain.

By: Your Conscience

Your Conscience — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

The fact is that your blog, regardless of your intentions, often actually stirs up racial and class anger by highlighting conflict. You may in fact be making the situation worse. If 95% of interracial occurrences go well, but you highlight the ones that don’t it skews readers to believe the situation is much worse than it is.

Also, an article like this creates a gut reaction among white and Asian readers like me that black people are jealous, reinforcing hatred and stereotypes. I was on the other hand very encouraged to read all the African Americans on the HuffPo site responding how much they disagree with this athlete guy (who is he exactly?).

By: Elahe Izadi

Elahe Izadi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000

Thanks for your comment. A bit of clarification as to why I included Mayweather’s comment: For one, it came from a famous athlete (who, albeit, is known for making controversial remarks). But more than that, the comment has sparked a rigorous debate of its own. I excerpted an Huffington Post article that refers to Mayweather’s tweet, so I felt it necessary to include the content of the tweet in order to have proper context.

By: Your Conscience

Your Conscience — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:18:00 +0000

What a sad and ignorant comment. Why do you highlight this? I am sure the vast majority of African Americans strongly disagree with this pathetic envy.

He played 4 years of college ball with no scholarship, earned an econ degree from Harvard with a 3.1 gpa, wasn’t drafted by any NBA teams, is almost a foot taller than his parents, and in his first four starts scored more points than Jordan, Kobe, Lebron or any other player ever did in their first four starts since the ABA and NBA merged 35 years ago. No one is doing that, “every day”.