By Jared TrexlerIn order to escape the metaphorical chains of servitude clasped tight to their ancestry, both Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy had to be successful.
They weren't coaching just for their own careers, but for the livelihood of African American coaches everywhere.
Win big and the underlying notions of justly deserved bigotry and stereotypes of genetic inequality would all fade behind the confetti marking a champion.
Or so we all thought.
Yet, if the build-up to Super Bowl XLI has taught us anything, it's that two African American coaches meeting in sports' biggest game won't erase the unimaginable opinions protruding from many attending this week's festivities.
Suits and ties genetically disposed of Eastern European descent, men and women born and raised behind the belief in 20th century societal roles, will never fully accept men like Smith and Dungy.
That's why tattered Confederate flags still fly in the deep South. It's why America voted George W. Bush into the White House for a second term.
Steps have been made, but don't let any member of the media searching for a heartwarming, significant story angle convince you Smith and Dungy's arrival in this game proves the American football family, or even the majority of NFL higher-ups, are ready to give African Americans their just due.
"It says very simply that for as far as we've come, we haven't come very far," Golden State Warriors executive Al Attles told InsideBayArea.com.
Yes, Mike Tomlin was hired in Pittsburgh, but by a man almost solely responsible for a rule that pushes black candidates through the door. And yes, more African Americans are getting their shots at prominent coordinator and front office positions.
Yet, in a day in age where Barack Obama is trying to convince the nation he is not 100% African American during a run for the presidency, two head coaches in a league where 70 percent of its players are black aren't being discussed as successful head coaches.
But rather black ones. And that's the overwhelming problem.
No one is asking Peyton Manning how it feels to be white? Or even Lance Briggs how it feels to be black?
However, when two men of authority are of a race suppressed for generations, progress is the sexy word.
Members of the media talked about the move forward with both coaches extensively on Media Day in Miami. The same media who asked Washington Redskins quarter Doug Williams before Super Bowl XXII, "How long have you been a black quarterback?"
Still, everyone fails to realize the absurdity of all this. Progress would be not talking about it at all.
You can contact Jared Trexler at jtt128@comcast.net
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The Phanatic
10 comments:
So if you voted for George Bush you're a racist? That sounds like a prejudice remark to me since I voted for Bush (in hindsight I probably wouldn't have voted at all since Kerry was terrible also), but I don't consider myself racist at all, I have several friends of different ancestry and get along fine with them. Typical liberal. "Anyone who doesn't agree with me is either stupid or racist". So I guess in the upcoming election if you don't vote for Obama (who I hope wins the Democratic nomination over Hillary)are you racist?
I didn't utter the words "racist." Yet it's a proven fact that the deep South is still stuck socially in the past...as a whole group. Some individuals aren't -- but more than not. New-age tolerance isn't preached as clearly. No southern state below the Mason-Dixon line went Democratic in 2004, the party that predominantly focuses on equal-rights movements socially. That was what I was stating in my column.
Thanks for the continued support.
I just listened to video that proves Williams was asked the question.
"It's why America voted George W. Bush into the White House for a second term."
That sounds to me like you believe Bush voters are intolerant. Maybe something more on the order of Southern voters, who are known to hold different views on the subject of race, helped Bush into office is what you should have said.
And just cause you didn't utter the word "racist" it doesn't mean that isn't what you are thinking.
There are plenty of intolerant people on both sides of the fence. White, black, asian, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, rich, poor, conseravtive; liberal; all have members that hold intolerant beliefs of those they see as different.
It seems that in this country anymore, though, that if a white person ever decrys a black person for anyone that person is immediately labeled as a racist.
But blacks get away with murder sometimes.
Remember Mayor Street (the worst mayor this city has ever had) saying several years ago that "the brothers and sisters run this city".
Can you imagine Ed Rendell saying something similar? He would have been ridden out of office within a week.
Race is still such a big deal in this country cause there are groups out there that still insist on seeing minorities as victims and want to use that image for their own gain. And what is celebrated in the black community, athletes and entertainers, two professions that, if successful lead to tremendous wealth, but are very hard to make a success out of, which leads to failed dreams for many. But those who study hard and try to do well in school are often ridiculed by their peers, leading to further failure. Look at Condaleeza Rice, just cause she chose a path that is not in accordance with the standard wishes of many black leaders she is ridiculed and called a sell out, instead of being an example of a black person that raised herself to one of the most powerful positions in the country.
I'm not saying that racism doesn't exist in this country, but there are too many out there that make way too big a deal out of everything accomplishment that a minority achieves.
Aside, from my little rant, good stuff you guys write and keep it up, I look forward to more.
First yellow journalism, then plagiarism, now racism... You guys are really professional.
So people of Eastern European decent are racist?
blacks in the super bowl? you gotta be kiddin' me!
Dick Jablonski
First off we wouldnt have these problems if only white male land owners were allowed to participate in sports.
You guys should be embarrassed.
It is a big deal that two black coaches are in the Super Bowl you dolt. It has nothing to with racism though.
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