Charles Barkley has never been the sort to hold back his strong opinions, and the NBA Hall Of Fame inductee was especially candid in a recent interview. The former hoops star was a guest Philadelphia radio show last week, blasting “unintelligent” Black people and defending Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson.
Last week, a news piece from Bleacher Report alleged that Wilson has been accused of not being Black enough by some of his teammates. The mention of the instance angered Barkley, and he launched into one of his famous rants on the subject.
From CBS Philly:
“When you’re black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people,” Barkley said on Thursday. “It’s a dirty, dark secret, I’m glad it’s coming out–it comes out about every two years–I wrote a big chapter in my book about it, to be honest with you. I say, you know, with young black kids, you know when they do well in school, the loser kids tell them, you’re acting white. The kids that speak intelligently, they tell them, you’re acting white.”
“For some reason, we are brainwashed to think if you’re not a thug or an idiot, you’re not black enough,” Barkley continued. “If you go to school, get good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you are not a good black person. There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don’t have success––it’s best to knock a successful black person down if they’re intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they’re successful.”
Barkley, who told 94WIP Afternoon Show hosts Anthony Gargano and Rob Ellis that he’s never met Wilson, also mentioned the curious timing of the trade of wide receiver Percy Harvin in regards to this story.
What do you think of Barkley’s stance? Sound off in the comments.
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Photo: DJDM/WENN
