COMMENTARY | The PostGame reports that controversial undefeated lightweight boxer Floyd Mayweather has tweeted some race-based criticism of NBA phenom Jeremy Lin, claiming that he is getting undue praise because he is Asian. This comes on the heels of an inappropriate joke by sports commentator Jason Whitlock, who used some race-based stereotypes to insult to 23-year-old basketball player.
I wonder where the true outrage is. If a white boxer and white sports commentator had uttered something demeaning toward an African American athlete, both would be shouted down by polite society. The sports commentator would likely lose his job, and the boxer would lose invaluable endorsements. If a homosexual athlete were similarly criticized those who did the offensive tweeting would be similarly rejected by polite society, losing both public respect and a paycheck to boot.
But I don’t see much outspoken outrage, just some middling annoyance. When violence targeted against Asians was reported in Philadelphia high schools, as told by CNN, I expected more outrage. Would public reaction to violent bullying be stronger if the victims were different? Every time Asians are discriminated against and victimized, and the public reaction is minimal, it is tantamount to tacit acceptance.
So when Floyd Mayweather and Jason Whitlock discriminate against Asian-American athletes and receive a mere slap on the wrist, it shows others that it is okay. You can apologize, say you meant it as a joke, and things will go back to normal. Unlike those who criticized other groups, you got away with it.
As a high school teacher I see such drama play out daily in classrooms and hallways. Bullies are often calculating, figuring out what they can get away with. They know what they can do and what is out-of-bounds. I have had to stop class and give lectures on why certain things are inappropriate to say. Sadly, many teenagers may not be told by parents, guardians, and role models what constitutes racist or discriminatory behavior and why it is wrong.
If not enough of this is going on at home, it makes it that much worse when the media, and society as a whole, fails to take umbrage at the offensive tweets of Mayweather and Whitlock. We need to set a firm standard that discrimination against any group, not just the most outspoken groups, is wrong.