Keep in mind, there was at least four to five armed police officers who brought down Eric Garner and murdered him on that New York street. No pepper spray or handcuffs, just choked the man to death. Barkley mentioned that “we only have dialogue when something bad happens. “ What “we” is he talking about? I gathered he is speaking in regards to the American people; “we” the people.
I gathered that because it is obvious that Barkley doesn’t identify or associate himself with poor black folks. He says he is “very black” and often tells the story of growing up poor in Leeds Alabama. He often mentions how grateful he is to escape the depths of poverty to a life of luxury from playing in the NBA. I believe him and I’m not going to say he has forgotten where he has come from. Nor will I say that he is not the person he used to be. I don’t know Charles Barkley and never knew him. However his comments make it very clear that he refuses to acknowledge the primary issue of the conflict. Poor Black Men and Women are the only ones getting killed by the police! To ignore that issue is not a matter of ignorance but neglect. In Kenny Smith letter; he rationalizes that some celebrities who “are far removed from the “struggle” can make comments that are ignorant to the matter in hand. But its one thing to not agree with the verdict; but it is another thing to not understand why people are upset over the verdict.
I do agree that it is stupid to burn down your own community, and the people who are using this opportunity to loot are scandalous. Coming from the ghetto, I understand a lot of those same people that are looting are also the one s who may shoot innocent kids, or commit other crimes in the hood. I get it; I understand as Barkley says there are “bad people” in our community. Criminals need to be lock up, and contrary to popular belief we allow the police to do their job. And judging from the amount of black people who are currently lock behind bars; it seems the police have been doing their job. Lock the criminals up; but don’t kill unarmed civilians for no reason.