I ran across this article the other day: Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison apologizes for postgame obscenity, slur. I almost didn’t read it. The title says it all, right? Just another example of the rampant racism in our country. Nothing more to know.
Except it was a black player who called a white player a “F****** N*****”. Whoa, what’s that all about?
More importantly, do we even need to care? At what point do we need to make a national deal about this, and at what point do we need to just sit down, shut up, and let them handle their own problems? I’m certain there are plenty who want this to be no big deal because it’s an example of reverse racism, which supposedly doesn’t exist. And there are just as many who DO want this to be a big deal because of the implied double standard.
But I’m willing to go with the two players involved on this one. Harrison had this to say:
But he said in a series of tweets his comments were a “poor choice of words used in jest towards a player I respect and know.”
“When I realized how this could be perceived I immediately called big frank to apologize and let him know I didn’t mean any disrespect,” he added.
He said the two of them had a “good conversation” and he wished him good luck in Monday’s championship game.
Okay, seems like it was handled suitably to me. Does Frank Kaminsky, the player insulted, think so?
Kaminsky confirmed Sunday that Harrison reached out to him, and then the All-America forward quickly dismissed the topic.
“Nothing needs to be made out of it,” Kaminsky said.
Alright then. Who are we to disagree?
People keep calling for a national dialogue about race, and yet we see constant evidence that we are incapable of having that dialogue. Indeed, it seems as though those calling most loudly for it are the least interested in actually having it.
Meanwhile, two college players may have a lesson for all of us. Perhaps the negative things that come up between people are best handled that way: between the people involved. It’s on the personal level that hearts and mind are most likely changed. Most of the people getting bent out of shape over this literally had no skin in the game, but are undoubtedly trying to force theirs into it in the form of their noses.
Let’s all pay closer attention to where our noses go, and where they belong. Keep your nose to yourself more, and good will likely follow.