Caitlyn Clark, White privilege and me

I have been following the rise of WNBA star Caitlin Clark since her days at the University of Iowa. I’m a hoop guy myself and have watched The Flash many times before, but I knew from the beginning that there was something different, something solid about Clark. I could see in her eyes and in her enthusiasm for the game that she had that determination and never-give-up quality that great players have.

There are others who are more talented, but they don’t have the killer instinct. She has both of those things and that’s what makes her so dynamic to watch. Her basketball charisma is undeniable. That’s why I was disappointed to hear her tell Time magazine after winning “Athlete of the Year” that she benefited from white privilege.

“I’ve had everything, but as a white man, I’m privileged,” Clark said, the magazine quoted him as saying.

She continued, “A lot of the really good players in the league are Black players. This league is kind of built on them…If we value it more and talk about it and brand it… I think it’s really important that we continue to invest in the players that have made this league so incredible.”

Caitlin Clark’s brother appears to be reacting to Mystics owner’s sister’s time cover

There is no doubt that Mr. Clark is sincere here. I think one of the big differences between my way of thinking and hers is generational. I have faced more racism than ever before, but I have never allowed it to affect my identity or growth. When someone called my name, it was all about me and nothing about me. I had the same attitude on the basketball court, where you win or lose.

That’s why I question Clark’s statement that the league is built around black players. No, it was built on the players and their talent. Some of us argue that people didn’t come to Sheryl Swoopes or Lisa Leslie’s games because they were black, or because the league was too black. As someone who lives in Chicago, the land of Michael Jordan, my counter-argument to this is, why do so many Americans and people around the world embrace black culture? Why are black athletes supported around the world?

Caitlin Clark White’s privileged comments spark heated personal debate between Riley Gaines and Jemele Hill

This is not to be harsh, but to recognize two realities: 1) Being black is not a barrier to fame, and 2) Creating a product that stands out and has a huge fan base is one of the hardest things in the world.

Whether consciously or not, Clark has used his comments to stigmatize his fellow black athletes as inferior. She now wants to help “empower black women, which is a great thing.”

No, being stigmatized is not beautiful. The year is 2024. When will we stop allowing black victimization, a white savior symbiosis, to define us? Musical superstars James Brown and Aretha Franklin, the true Did being white save those who suffered from oppression? No, they took their fate into their own hands and found a way.

For more FOX News opinions, click here

All of this racial discussion was started primarily by the media and pundits. Many of them said a variation of Jemele Hill’s quote, “We would all be very naive if we didn’t say that her race and her sexuality affected her popularity.” Ta. She added: “It’s not jealousy. It’s just the fact that black women are often erased from the picture in our society.”

No one is erasing Black women. In fact, it was the blacks in the WNBA who decided to give Clark more than a rough welcome. All it did was attract more controversy and more attention.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark smiles as she looks at the team bench after making a pass to the basket that leads to a score during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings. Sunday, September 1, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

We’ve been through all this before. I remember a reporter asking legendary Celtics owner Red Auerbach if Larry Bird was the new “Great White Hope.” Auerbach looked at his cigar and said, “No, great hope.”

Bird himself has had to deal with these questions throughout his career. Most people my age remember Isaiah Thomas saying that if Byrd were black, “he would just be a good guy.” I remember Bird dealing with it with great character. He refused to take the bait and rode through everything.

Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics attempts a pass while being guarded by Robert Reid #50 of the Houston Rockets during an NBA basketball game at Summit in Houston, Texas, circa 1981. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

That’s the discipline we lack in our hyper-racialized society. Clark chose his own path. This is a shame as it is a beast that never stops feasting, which will only cause further racial strife.

By the way, it looks like Thomas learned his lesson. After Clark’s great game, he said, “I want you to know that in the history of our game, only a special few people can score while assisting a teammate.”

Now, that’s how you improve people.

Click here to read more about Pastor Corey Brooks’ story