ESPN commentator on RG3: “He’s kind of black, but he’s not really”

[Tenshot13]

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III recently said in a recent interview that he didn’t want to be defined as an African-American quarterback. One ESPN commentator says that raises questions about Griffin.

In fact, ESPN’s Rob Parker said Thursday morning on First Take that as an African-American, he has a lot of questions about Griffin.

“My question is, and it’s just a straight, honest question: Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother,” Parker said. “He’s not really. He’s black, he does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really like the kind of guy you really want to hang out with.”

Parker said he wants to know more about Griffin’s personal life before he can accept Griffin as authentically black.

“I want to find about him,” Parker said. “I don’t know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancee. Then there was all this talk about he’s a Republican, which there’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like, ‘I’ve got black skin, but don’t call me black.’ So people wondered about Tiger Woods.”

Asked by fellow panelist Skip Bayless about the fact that Griffin braids his hair, Parker said that’s an aspect of Griffin that he approves of.

“That’s different, because, to me, that’s very urban,” Parker said. “Wearing braids is, you’re a brother. You’re a brother if you’ve got braids.”

Another panelist on the show, Stephen A. Smith, said he wasn’t comfortable with how Parker had framed his argument.

“First of all, let me say this: I’m uncomfortable with where we just went,” Smith said when asked to respond to Parker. “RG3, the ethnicity or the color of his fiancee is none of our business, it’s irrelevant, he can live his life in whatever way he chooses. The braids that he has in his hair, that’s his business, that’s his life, he can live his life. I don’t judge someone’s blackness based on those kinds of things. I just don’t do that. I’m not that kind of guy.”

I asked an ESPN spokesman whether the network had any response to Parker’s comments on the air and will post it if ESPN does issue a response. But ESPN obviously thought Parker’s comments were worth repeating: When Best of First Take aired on Thursday afternoon, the show ended with a replay of the discussion about Griffin.

I figured this would be a good topic of discussion.  This has to be one of the most idiotic comments I have ever heard.  So a well spoken, intelligent, athletic, good role model for not only young African Americans, but young people period isn't "black enough"?  Come on man!

[Spider-Dan]

It's common and happens in nearly every minority culture.  Native Americans have "apples" (red on outside, white on inside), Asians have "twinkies" (yellow on outside, white on inside).

Every culture has people who feel that if you don't "stay true to your roots" (read: act in a stereotypical manner), you're selling out and/or "acting white."  These people are stupid and useless.

[el diablo]

It's common and happens in nearly every minority culture.  Native Americans have "apples" (red on outside, white on inside), Asians have "twinkies" (yellow on outside, white on inside).

Every culture has people who feel that if you don't "stay true to your roots" (read: act in a stereotypical manner), you're selling out and/or "acting white."  These people are stupid and useless.

Amen, bro. This kind of stuff just "Makes Me Wanna Holler."

[Phishfan]

It's common and happens in nearly every minority culture.  Native Americans have "apples" (red on outside, white on inside), Asians have "twinkies" (yellow on outside, white on inside).

Every culture has people who feel that if you don't "stay true to your roots" (read: act in a stereotypical manner), you're selling out and/or "acting white."  These people are stupid and useless.

It also happens in the white culture.

[BigDaddyFin]

1.  I thought after Warren Moon and the whole Doug Williams thing we were past the whole African American quarterback thing.

2.  I don't understand.  What cause does he need to be "down with" other than winning football games?  I seem to recall them saying something similar about Obama when he ran for President in '08.   And what does being down with any particular cause have to do with his skin color?

3.  I have to agree with Stephen A. Smith.  What business is it of anybody's if he has a white fiancee or is a Republican or what he wants to do with his hair? 

4.  I wonder if ESPN will shit all over themselves over this like they did when Rush Limbaugh went on that rant about McNabb.

[fyo]

Way to perpetuate stereotypes Rob Parker.

I have to admit I'm shocked ESPN would even allow this... there's absolutely no upside for them.

[Pappy13]

It also happens in the white culture.

Jeff Foxworthy has made an entire career out of it. 

[Spider-Dan]

It also happens in the white culture.

What part of the white culture criticizes people for not being stereotypically white?

[Pappy13]

What part of the white culture criticizes people for not being stereotypically white?

Where do you think the terms white trash or wigger come from?

[mecadonzilla]

After I got over my initial shock from reading Parker's dumbass comments, my head started spinning again after I realized I agreed with something Steven A. Smith said.  The world might just end next week after all.

[Spider-Dan]

Where do you think the terms white trash or wigger come from?

When people make fun of whites for being rednecks or white trash (read: low-class), that is roughly analogous to making fun of blacks for being ghetto (read: low-class), which is the opposite of criticizing them for not being ghetto enough.

The key in the "acting white" criticism is when you speak too properly, when you dress too professionally, when you act too civilized... you are "denying your culture."  I've never heard of anything like this in the white culture.

[Landshark]

The key in the "acting white" criticism is when you speak too properly, when you dress too professionally, when you act too civilized... you are "denying your culture."  I've never heard of anything like this in the white culture.

I have.  Go see the movie Malibu's Most Wanted, then get back to me.

[CF DolFan]

When people make fun of whites for being rednecks or white trash (read: low-class), that is roughly analogous to making fun of blacks for being ghetto (read: low-class), which is the opposite of criticizing them for not being ghetto enough.

The key in the "acting white" criticism is when you speak too properly, when you dress too professionally, when you act too civilized... you are "denying your culture."  I've never heard of anything like this in the white culture.

I agree with you on the white-trash thing as it just refers to low life whites. The term "wigger" is completely based on a white person pretending to be black.

This is a black man being called out for not separating himself enough from the white man. This is a very common double standard for which we live with all the time. I've mentioned this before but this seems like a good place to bring it up again. The term "African-American" is a separatist term. You can't separate yourself and then get upset because others do it.

[Phishfan]

What part of the white culture criticizes people for not being stereotypically white?

Seriously, you never heard white people use the term wigger?

[Dave Gray]

Stupid comment by a minority opinion.  I try to ignore this stuff when I see it.