Nice, why just sports? What about Booker T? George Washington Carver? Sojourner Truth? MLK, Jr. People who actually contributed to science and changed the political LANDSCAPE OF OUR GREAT NATION
Last edited by ZHawkman on February 16th at 6:56 PM.
Great job Dr. Midnight. Good point by Hawkman too. Most of what non-black people know about black history has to do with sports. We are here to talk about sports though, so I know where you're coming from.
Forgotten Fan is right, times have changed. It's no big deal anymore when it comes to your color. In my eyes, white, black, hispanic, Asian, or Middle Eastern it doesn't matter. We are all people and we all have the same make up. It's time for the color card to be thrown out the window
I see the last three guys are peterbed with your post but the reality is that part of what they are saying is right and some wrong. people will never throw the race card out the window, and chops22 anytime you post you insult your intelligence, but the cultures are assimulating, I just heard a song called "Honky Tonk Baduncka Dunk"
You can start by writing a post denouncing your black brothers for the gangsta rap that has invigorated a total disdain for personal success in exchange for bling, slapping women and poppin a cap in the cop. You can also add that speaking well and aspiring to success in school and business isn't "acting white". Yeah, whites have their crackers to, but to post that "Whites" need to accept things we already accept, while ignoring your own responsibilities, is dubious at best.
Remember; a book doesn't know the color of a person reading it.
Here I sit, a father of a 5 yr old, trying to show her the way. I tell her to speak with respect to all people. "Yes and no thank you", not "yep, yeah, or uh uh". She has already asked me about different colors of people that she sees. I just tell her that God makes us all different and yet we're really the same. I tell her that we all come from different places and families. I also tell her that people are mean to others for reasons that just don't make sense. I try to teach tolerance!
I have a problem. I have a huge problem. When I see pictures of Walter Payton, when I see MJ or Warrick Dunn, I see great men. I don't see Black men. I use these men as role models. So exuse me if this "White person" doesn't teach his child about Black history. I will teach her about history and those people who had a defining role in American History. Sure, that list will include Martin Luther King, Walter Payton and George Washington Carver. They are included not because of the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
You stated, "White people, this is for you too...our history is yours." You are correct. So is my statement, "People of all colors, this is for you too, our history is yours".
Ever notice that when its a leap year white folks hate black history month even more?
If it wasnt for guys like Lynn Swann,Jordan,Domonique Wilkins,Magic,Dr J,L.T,Wille Stargell,Grant Fuhr and others my life with sports growing up would have been very very boring.It is everyones history is some shape or form and it should never only be confined to just sports heros and legends.
First thing I want to say is...don't answer this back as "you're a racist". I'm married to a gorgeous black woman and we talk alot about racism. I hate racism as much as anyone else (yes believe it or not...white people hate racist #### as well). The only way for racism to end is for all races to to be get along and ignore the idiots that every race has that like to add fuel the racist fire and keep it going. I beleive in black history month and it's a great month and I beleive that there's alot of (embarrassing white people) that need to learn about the struggles of the past so you're right about that. Just know that there are white people like myself that respect black history. So there are quite a few of us that do listen and pay attention. Just understand that we're not all ignorant idiots.
Last edited by deano35 on February 17th at 7:24 AM.
YOU FORGOT DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS FIRST OPEN HEART SURGERY THAT was successful,ben banneker creator of the clock,garret morgan traffic light,gas mask,
charles drew blood plasma,and numerous others
I really enjoyed this post. I just wish that we didn't have to use this month as a way to get our history out. All races should be celebrated on their accomplishments, at all times. Having a sports history month would be able to conjoin all races at once, with the accomplishments that each person played in doing something spectacular. But then again, that would be in a perfect world....and I would be a milllionaire. Still, no reason not to hope it could happen one day.
Only people with a raging inferiority complex need to draw attention to the "color" o####reat person. MLK and Ghandi are two of the greats.
Thomas, Powell, Rice, Sowell, Williams, Page, I could go on and on with successful blacks in this country. But all anyone wants to talk about is racisim.
Race baiting poverty pimps have to fuel this never ending saga or they can't send out donation letters for their "cause", which never mentions the grotesque salaries their "non-profit" organization pays them.
Best "Boxer" ever: Ali
Best "Fighter" ever: Marciano
The title of your blog tells me all I need to know about the way you think, why is it "white people and ere'one",sell this "black history month" stuff to someone else, it polarizes instead of uniting, it says you need a month to sum up all the accomplishments of one race..Myopic at best! SHEZERO..."white folks" hate leap year...I know you're trying to get your "dig" in, then follow up with "thoughtful commentary"...and if it's everyones history, why do they make a "special" month of it then it goes away. I agree with Morgan Freeman.and before you go getting all worked up, I have biracial neices and black relatives that preach black history year round, as it should be. Not some special event once a year!
foozle, I hate this month.Not because of what its titled,but because IT IS TITLED TO BEGIN WITH!! And I get to hear "white folk" say things like "great its leap year another extra day for those......." or "what about a white history month,oh that would be racist wouldnt it but a black ones OK'.I live in the south where they still fight the civil war and where you can still find racists by the truck load.Im up for it being called February,and thats it.No "dig" here.
Last edited by SHEWATCHCHANNELZERO on February 17th at 11:25 AM.
I know I've hit a nerve when I get praised and ripped in consecutive posts.
First, I hope that the people who criticized my post at least read the whole thing. I doubt that most people know every single person I wrote about.
More importantly, one of the greatest things about sports is the triumph over adversity. Well, Hollywood wouldn't dare make a movie about some of the aforementioned heroes if it wasn't real life. Those stories are worth telling.
I hope to push a button or two and spark real discussion, not "Yeah, bro - stick it To The White Man!" and not, "This is so passe!" Neither is true.
As to the people who wondered why I didn't bring up S. Truth or Frederick Douglass, or Daniel Hale Williams - or for that matter Garrett Morgan, Lewis Lattimer, or the late Ron McNair (whom I had the pleasure of meeting a few times) - this is a sports blog, so I have some obligation to be topical. Also, so many of our trials have been played out on the ballfield. As much as we want to pretend that sports is about merit and merit alone, it often wasn't the case.
Finally, when I mention a Doug Williams (for example) or a Jack Johnson, it isn't just the name or the feat that needs remembering. It is the whole context. Too many of us want to whitewash uncomfortable truths until enough decades go by that we can say, "Oh, that was another time." Sorry, that won't happen in this blog!
And I am not doing it to bash - it's to be honest. That is the history that we ALL need to learn. Not just the parts that make people feel good. We ow
Banfongu, I have mentioned in other posts my issues with excesses of hip-hop, perhaps you should go back and reread them. Will I focus more on that later? Probably. You could write it as well if you wish.
There was a lot I need to go back and look up. Good article.
No mention of what Bryant Gumbel had to say? http://www.sportingnews.com/yourtur n/viewtopic.php?t=63192
Also, I've heard the Clemente clan mention Roberto with respect to a Latin History Month. I have no problem with a Latin, Asian, Irish, Italian, Jewish, ####, Women's... it doesn't matter. I appreciate the fact that all of it is American History. But nothing wrong with acknowledging the diversity as a part of it.
P.S. Bryant should learn about Vonetta Flowers (http://www.nbcolympics.com/athlete s/5058655/detail.html) and Shani Davis (http://www.nbcolympics.com/athlete s/5056846/detail.html). Black athletes can come from Alabama and still make the Winter Olympics...
First, you know I'm a die hard TW fan so the remark about him questioning the dark side is just wrong. He probably knows more about the history of his sport than 99% of other sportsmen in the world and ALWAYS gives credit to the BLACK men that went before him. And I want to know when you're going down to OC to volunteer some tutoring time at the new Tiger Woods center?;)
Second, BLACK people need BLACK History too. So thank you for some education. It's hard to give up black history month when learned academics are still posturing that black people are inherently intellectually inferior. I could ignore it if they weren't trying to institutionalize it into things like the school system. And that is the irony of entertainment, ie sports, music, arts. Somehow artists/sportsmen don't get the genius moniker very often, though I believe them to be the true geniuses... no need to do research to catch the biggest bass... right? So my hat off to ALL sportsmen this month. They can truly understand the lack of universal appreciation for their accomplishments because the world sees them as just doing what they love. Meanwhile, people with letters behind their names have people thinking they're smarter while doing what they love. God gives us all gifts. It's all about what we do with them, if allowed. History is supposed to help us continue to accomplish and keep us from repeating our mistakes in the same way... Just like when parents remind kids (even grown ones) that they weren't always so (you name it) to keep us humbl
nice post, I do believe that observing black history month and obseving Martin Luther King's birthday holiday are good american traditions to spread good news to many people who otherwise might not know the many and brilliant contributions to America and the world by black people.
There are sources of info during these times that otherwise would be less visible
just an out of the way question... lemme know when i lose anyone.
I hear people rage against gangsta rap. with some exceptions, its targeted at a demographic OTHER than the group doing all the complaining. from the outside, it may seem violent and disrespectful. but its just music. Gansta Rap -which i argue died in 1992 when it went commercial -is no worse than the latest Horror flick or Schwarzenegger movie. how many people has he dismembered in full digital glory along his route to the Governorship of California? 50cent makes music for 12% of the population. luckily for him more whites buy rap than blacks cuz we (blacks) dont have enough people help his album go platinum. He 'might' finish his career with 4 or 5 records. but Action flicks and Horro flicks are everywhere. Revenge of the Sith was far more violent than Candy Shop; and Darth Vader has action figures. Yet i still hear you crying about Gangsta Rap...
fatmaw, one day we're gonna mess around and agree on something - just you wait.
but in reference to the Rap music - the kids that listen to it can tell the difference. the music itself if more of a result of the problem rather than the cause of it.
i know a lot of people resent Black history month. i resent it too - every expects me to know everything. but the truth is that the things taught for those 28 days dont always get taught everywhere. once our histpry curriculums catch up with times, we might be able to abolish it.
I think, deep down, we agree on quite a bit. I have never had an issue with Black History month. I really don't. If black people want to do that, what's the harm? I just feel, that in return, white people should not targeted as racists if they don't necessarily agree with it. Honestly, and I know this was discussed in this editorial, but what would black people think if white people did have White History month? I think the whole argument about Black History month is rediculous. I don't see a problem with it at all.
I love the "White History Month" non-argument. Wite History Month happens Jan - Dec. Black History Month is nothing more than an attempt to actually tell more of the real history of our country. Maybe some people get real uncomfortable about some elements of the past. Maybe some people hate having to move outside of their comfort zone. Tough.
The reality is that Black History month is for everyone - including us "educated" black folks. The stories of Africans in America are sources of inspiration, courage, wisdom, and most of all LOVE.
Thank you for taking the time to write about the great contributions of African Americans in sports!
Morgan Freeman was right...but to shove Black History down "we the people's" throats does nothing more than further racial tension.
For every "great" black your name, you'd better include these other "noteworthy" blacks in your precious history month.
O.J. Simpson
Mike Tyson
Latrell Spreewell
Ron Artest
Kermit Washington
Al Sharpton and Tawana Brawley
2-Live Crew
hank...you can also name just as many whites, probably more actually, who don't exactly have great reputations. Your prejudice is very unattractive. I'm a white man, but even I am smarter than that!!
What has this turned into? Why are we running lists of the worst people of each race? The fact of the matter is this, bad people come in all shapes and sizes, and colors. Good people also come in all shapes and sizes, and colors. This is the root of the problem. Dr. Midnight writes a post highlighting the achievements of black athletes, and we turn it into "Which race had the worse evil men?" Instead of bashing each other, we need to celebrate the achievements. Progress is never going to be made until both sides can see that the other has something to offer as well. Everybody has something to bring to the table.
igrace...I understand that. But those who try to blame one race for something...need to be reminded that it isn't a "race" thing at all. And that's all we're trying to do...just help them to see that there are good and bad people of all races.
fatmaw - I just don't understand why that's necessary. Instead, let's show him the positive contributions that have been made by each race, which is what Dr. Midnight is attempting to do here. If this person (hankaroo or anyone else) is so blinded by hatred that he can't see that good and evil transcend the races, well then there's just no hope for him. I seriously doubt that your mentioning of bad white guys will change his opinion.
sometimes people like hankaroo have never even thought about that igrace. and unfortunately, that is the only way they could even begin to see a "level playing field"..you're right, it's a shame. some people can't see good in anything, no matter what. so the only way to help them see things, is to make them aware of the fact that they are no better!!
jgrace--This guy was sitting there blasting Black History Month and making a list of "bad" black people (some of which are not even that bad at all)! I'm not blasting white people, I'm white myself. I'm just pointing out that his "list" couldn't even touch my list of evil dudes, so maybe he should cut bigger eyeholes in his hood and realize exactly what you were saying: every person of every color has the capacity for good or evil. I think we should all interbreed and then there would be no more "races."
PS--his list of "bad" people contained only really two (OJ and Tyson) that seem to be "bad". The others have had at worst thrown a punch...curious.
Last edited by DrCrab on February 19th at 6:33 PM.
The problem is this. If these people can't see the good in anything, what makes you think they can see the bad? In the same way that hankaroo and others can't see the good in other races, they can't see the bad in their own race. Well, I don't know if they can see it. But, they don't want to see it. They're going to block out the bad of their own race in the same way they block out the good in other races. I guess my question is why bring it up if it really doesn't contribute anything to the discussion?
igrace..if you're going to blast us for trying to set the record straight with someone about something as important as race relations...then you need to blast every other blog on the FoxBlog. Because I don't think I've seen a single one that has stayed completely with the subject at hand. We're only trying to make a point to someone who obviously hasn't seen this side of racism yet. Maybe you're right...I don't know. But I'm not going to just allow him to say that and move on with his hatred. And for some people..love and compassion doesn't work. They need to see the cold hard facts.
Fatmaw - Relax. I'm not blasting you, just questioning your approach. I'm asking you a serious question. How does giving him a list of bad white people make him see the good in blacks? I'm not bashing you, just trying to understand why you did it that way. To me, that just gives him a bigger list of people to hate. In my humble opinion, instead of giving someone more people to hate, we should be giving them a long list of people to embrace. Again, I'm not trying to bash you, so please don't take it that way. I agree with you that we can't let this go without a response. I just don't think giving a list of bad white people is the way to do it.
When blacks were fighting for equal rights back in the 50's and 60's, they didn't go about it by saying, "You know, there are some really bad white people out there, too." Instead, they tried to make white people see that they were also good and peaceful and could contribute as much as white people could.
Last edited by jgrace_12 on February 19th at 6:52 PM.
I apologize. I did get a little defensive didn't I. I think his problem is that he does have a long list of people to love...and that includes him and his race. If he understands what Black History Month is all about, then he knows there are many blacks who have been great leaders in our society in many different ways. I feel that he is just so full of hatred for anyone of another race that he fails to see the failures in his own. And for some people that's the only way to make them see the truth. Sorry about getting defensive.
No apology is necessary. I can see that you are passionate about this issue, and that's definitely a good thing. There really should be more people like you in the world. Then maybe we wouldn't have this problem in the first place. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree in our approaches to race relations. You break 'em down, I'll build up the other side, and maybe some day we'll meet in the middle.
Sounds like a winning plan to me!!! Don't you love the FoxSports bloggers. Seems like we've weeded out those who only follow and really have nothing to say of their own thoughts. And most everyone seems to be willing to disagree, yet be willing to listen and learn. I've never been in a blog quite like it. I guess I need to listen to my own advice..as I wrote about in my first Blog..sports brings us all together!!
Dr. Midnight, excellent post. As to BLack History, we all need more education, but I do wince when I hear the name because it automatically brings race into question. Blacks were treated horribly in the States and all over the world and racism is alive and well. With that said, no black person living today has to deal with what Rosa Parks and others did years ago. Life is better today for all black people because of their sacrifices and those are noteworthy. In sports, blacks have made significant contributions, but for me those belong in the HOF's.
As to the first heart transplant, that was performed in South Africa by a white doctor whose name escapes me. The man mentioned in this post may have been the first to do it here in the States, but not internationally.
Socal, Daniel Hale Williams was the first man to perform open heart surgery in Chicago in the late 1890's. Christian Barnhart performed the first transplant of a human heart in South Africa in 1968(?)...just a clairification.
I think Black History in sports (as in history as well) is fine if you are a "sepratist". I honestly have no problem with designating this week, month or whatever, as long we all agree as to what it really is.
How gangster rap got into the mix, I don't know but gangs should be considered terrorist and treated as such. And anyone promoting the terroristic violence of the terrorist should be labeled as so.
Should be "...for US, the people", not "we". "We" is nominative case, but it's the object of a preposition, so it gets the "us". It would be like saying, "I'm bringing a six-pack for we."
G.H. Brooks (aka "Dr. Midnight" to his loyal fan base) is a 2-time Next Great Sportswriter (NGS) Finalist. One would think that bringing game like that would net me *something* - a cool icon to mark my site, some love from Fox Sports, cash, but noooo... :-)
I'm broadcasting live from New York City after a hiatus from the blogging scene, takes on life, sports, and whatever passing thoughts are shooting through my head. The good and bad ..passionate, logical, and on point.
It's a G Thing.... you can look me up at newjack1@eart hlink.net
