The N word, slavery, Chuck and Sarah.

I was watching Isiah Thomas and Grant Hill's eloquent take down of the "N" word, and while I was proud of these two former athletes having such a grasp of their history and the wonderful way they articulated it, I couldn't help but wonder about buffoons  like Charles Barkley and Shaq who openly defended the use of the N word as used by Matt Barnes (bad) and Richie [no more] Incognito (worse).

This latest episode of racial cluelessness involving Sir Charles got me wondering why he is so embraced and beloved by folks in the majority population.

Of course I suspect that I know why: Charles is that black guy who makes white folks laugh and feel comfortable about using words like the "N" word in his company. I wonder how often Sly Stallone would use the "N" word around Charles.

Charles supposedly likes to shock us and speak his mind on matters of race, but the truth is, there is nothing shocking about what Charles Barkley has to say about racial issues. In fact, when it comes to Charles, it's all pretty predictable.

"I just watched NBA (on TNT Thursday night) and was appalled to hear Charles Barkley and Shaquille Oneal say that it was okay to use the “N” word on national television.

It was so crazy. I just sat there looking at the television dumbfounded. I could not believe the words that were coming out of Charles mouth. He said it with purpose..."

Of course he did, white America was watching. Charles has to keep them smiling.

Speaking of the "N" word, I bet George Junius Stinney Jr. heard it a lot growing up in South Carolina. And I bet the members of the all white jury that sentenced him to death used the "N" word a lot as well.

Unfortunately Junius Stinney Jr. was only 14 years old when he was strapped to the death chair and fried. That all white jury made sure that he would never hear the "N" word-- or any words-- ever again. 

Now, thankfully, some historians are trying to clear his name. We are talking about South Carolina here, so I am not expecting much to come of these efforts, but I am glad that people like Ray Brown are at least trying.

Finally, I don't agree with Martin Bashir's harsh opinion of Sarah Palin, but I do believe that girlfriend has been on somewhat of a roll of late. Glen Rice's former liaison sans lendemain made less than flattering remarks about the Pope, and compared the national debt to slavery.

Of course, as is to be expected, she apologized to the Pope. She did not, however, apologize for her slavery remarks. Sarah wants Catholics to like her, they might buy her books. Unfortunately, though, Sarah could care less about Negroes not named Glen Rice.

Sadly, she doubled down on her ignorant slavery comments.

Something about apologizing to Negroes doesn't sit well with Sarah.