Hey guys,
A few days ago, current Phoenix Suns player Grant Hill responded to comments made by Jalen Rose, who was a member of the “Fab Five” from Michigan in the early 1990’s. Rose has produced a documentary about the Michigan basketball team known as the “Fab Five.”
The documentary chronicles the team and its members as they overcame adversity, prejudice, and stereotypes. In the film however, Rose claims that Duke University, a rival of his “Fab Five” only recruited “Uncle Tom” type black players.
Grant Hill, a proud (black) graduate of Duke, took great offense to the term “Uncle Tom.” Rose was claiming that because Hill, and others from Duke came from two parent households where education was a priority, that Hill and his Duke brethren were somehow “less black” than Rose and his teammates.
Hill went on the offensive chronicling his family history; from his grandfather who as an adult could not read until taught to by his grandmother, yet still saw the importance of education and managed to send their only son, Hill’s father, to Yale, it is clear Hill is proud of his family, his heritage and his race.. and he should be.
It is ridiculous to claim that because Hill came from a two parent household, is respectful to authority figures, polite and courteous is all situations is somehow “less black” because of it. Rose’s comments support a racial stereotype that minorities are somehow ignorant and inferior, a stereotype Hill and many of his Duke teammates completely reject and disprove.
I encourage you to read Hill’s complete response posted in the New York Times… the link is below.
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/grant-hills-response-to-jalen-rose/
What do you think?
- x
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ReplyDeletePersonally, Jalen Rose's comments make me very angry. I am multi racial and I get told all the time that I'm not black because I live in the suburbs and I was raised by two caring parents. I know it's not meant to hurt and I don't take it seriously, bet whenever someone says that, they're just giving into the stereotype. What you do doesn't make up your race, it's where you come from. Grant Hill earned a great deal of my respect with his comments. I have always liked Jalen Rose and I've been a fan of his since he played for the Chicago Bulls but I lost a lot of respect for him. His arrogance has shown and now he will face the consequences.
ReplyDelete-Brandon
Thats so offensive and I can't believe something like that was even said. Especially from someone who knew it would be a big deal, all over the media etc. Does he seriously think this is no big deal? Seeing as if I honestly have no idea who these people are I do not have personal opinions about them, but now the only opinion I have of this man is that he is a racist.
ReplyDeletei think that Jalen Rose's comments about another basketball Grant Hill where both racist and sterotypical. alot of people seem to have this view that if your of a specific race your home life is a specific way; that isnt true or fair . judging people is never okay. when Jalen Rose said those things he made himself look badly as well as the his team. he should make a public statement saying that he regrets what he said . if not hes going to loose alot of fans.
ReplyDelete