Its good to see that folks are stepping up around this nonsense with the Clippers. Big shout out to ColorOfChange.org who have already been hard at work going after sponsors and hitting the Clippers where their pocketbook is. Thus far a number of corporations have already pulled their money.
With that being said, what should not be lost on us is the fact that Donald Sterling impacted folks above and beyond his harsh words. He’s a real estate mogul who discriminated against folks trying to get housing in LA.. The fines he paid in settling he lawsuits against him were among the highest in the country.
Sterling seriously hurt folks. he hurt hard-working average ordinary folks who found it difficult to get housing and the fact that he’s been allowed to operate in LA w/o too many sanctions and that he was being honored by the NAACP in a city where foreclosures and housing shortages are at all time highs, one needs to be asking, how many more think and act like Donald Sterling but haven’t been caught on tape?
If the NBA moves to kick him out of the League, we should be asking why hasn’t he been kicked out of the real estate world, with licenses revoked, permits pulled and those done wrong given free housing in return for his transgressions? We need to be asking what elected officials in LA County green lit any of his projects and why?? We need to know if he’s been given tax breaks or special consideration and perks from any of the cities where he owns property. All that needs to be rescinded. When we deal with that issue, that’s where meaningful transformation will take place.
With respect to the NAACP, LA Chapter president Leon Perkins held a press conference stating that Sterling was a guy who provided tickets for over 1000 young Black youth to come to the Clipper games and he donated some money to the chapter. Forget the basketball games, Perkins should’ve been asking what affordable or better yet, what FREE HOUSING has Sterling provided for the poor and underprivileged he is said to despise?
Sterling owns a lucrative piece of property in Beverly Hills that houses his office known Sterling Plaza. It has that has 7 stories. There was an article that came out a few years ago stating he was the only resident. Has he moved in any of those underprivileged families he sends to his games? Has he granted office space to some Black/ Brown businesses? That’s something he should’ve been pushed to do to make amends as part of his housing discrimination settlement.
The point I’m getting at is we must not fall into the trap of seeing Sterling and his words in isolation. He’s part of institutions that have long run roughshod over a lot of folks who don’t get to hold press conferences when done dirty. They unfortunately don’t have Snoop Dogg, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan speaking out on their behalf. But those folks should be uplifted and the companies and corporations headed by racist individuals like Sterling should be held accountable and made to truly compensate folks. Tickets to a Clipper game don’t cut it..
If Sterling is forced to sell the Clippers he will most likely get close to get at least half billion dollars for that team. He paid 13 million for them. He already worth 1.9 billion dollars. Homeboy will live comfortably. As for the people upended by housing discrimination, foreclosures, redlining etc in a world that Sterling is very much apart of, they may not be doing all that well. How will we champion their plight?? We know the name Donald Sterling, but do we know Thomas J. Barrack, Jr or Penny Pritker and the damage they done in the housing market?? Reflect on that for a minute….
There should be no surprises here. All black people need to understand they live on a prison planet and the largest business and owners work for white supremacy, which stands, with most of us non whites being victims and supporters at the same time. Mass Confusion.
What Sterling said on tape was obviously bigoted and deplorable.
But while the whole country is on this witch hunt ; the question I have is have none of you in the privacy of your confines while nobody was watching ever made similiar comments about any other race ?
Do we hold only powerful rich white men as the only people who are rascist and when they make remarks should feel the scorn ??
Are there not poor white rascists, asian , hispanic ? Are they less accountable ??
I have said many a rascist remark about all nationalities at one time or another including my own. Does that mean my property should be taken?
And though I do not respect people with a rascist heart, myself included if i lean that way at times,
Donald Sterling at least will say ; Yes i am a rascist and boom here it goes….much better than smiley faces or point the finger guy ; but then goes off when its safe with all his racial swear-words.
Our society has a major denial problem as a whole.
Sterling did not say “yes, I am a racist, here it goes”. He even tried to deny it was him on the tape. The reason she taped him is because he was careful to never say things this bad in public. She knew she had to get him on tape to get the media and the NBA to believe her. Sterling’s not some straight shooter, as you would evidently like to believe. He’s a coward that was outed for his twisted views.
according to Silver he didn’t deny it. Get your facts straight.
I like the hypocrisy of everyone. Have you ever made racist statement about any race in a private setting ? Knowing how you write you make Sterling look like a saint. I can smell a hateful heart a mile away dude. Your one of the point the finger guy but have never said anything derogatory yourself…Who is the coward yo ???
This is a great point, but it’s hard to imagine how his real estate holdings can be affected. Unfortunately the real estate industry isn’t nearly as concerned about public image and the city can’t really take too many steps against him without risking a lawsuit. Possibly communities can object to him building new apartment complexes, but if he’s just buying and selling existing ones, I don’t know how much they can do.