“Jones admitted last week that he was pictured among the crowd but said he had only joined in the confrontation because he was curious about what was happening as civil rights clashes spread throughout the south — and not because he was harboring any racist feelings.”
Jerry Jones admitted he was one of the young men in the crowd. One of the Black students, Harold Jean Smith, who is 82, now forgives Jerry Jones. Despite being years apart, I am concerned about two things connected to this picture. He has never hired a Black coach, and in 2017 he told players they would not play if they “disrespected the flag,” referring to players kneeling during the national anthem.
Black men seem more upset about this picture resurfacing than he is. The most notable Black man to comment is Stephen A. Smith, who went out of his way to defend Jerry Jones. After watching Stephen A. Smith explain why this isn’t that bad, I felt disappointed and thought his comments weren’t necessary.
The excuse that “everyone back in the 1950s thought a certain way” doesn’t work for me. That may be true, but are Stephen A. and so many others like him thinking about what our grandparents and great-grandparents were thinking at that time experiencing racial terror. Are they thinking about the PTSD our families have passed down over generations due to white people falling in line with racist ideology? Why is slavery considered to be so bad? It was a common practice during that time. It doesn’t sound right, does it? So that should not be used as an excuse.
Maybe all the good he does for some of his Black players is his way of paying reparations. I don’t believe that to be the case. Was this the only time he was curious, and what steps did he take to understand why being in that crowd was wrong? How has Jerry Jones passed those lessons on to his family?
Some say we should look at what a man does in his present life. Okay, let’s do that. He exploits Black men. Although he is the most influential owner in the NFL, he has never hired a Black coach, which should raise red flags. He chooses to be like most owners, racially discriminating against Black Head Coaches. He also doesn’t understand why he is wrong for telling Black players not to protest the racial discrimination, Black people have experienced in the USA.
Yet, we should look at a picture of him in a crowd, racially discriminating and protesting Black people trying to desegregate a school in Arkansas and think no big deal. Stop it.
Thoughts Processed 