http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/03/kobe_bryant_defends_himself_over_trayvon_martin_comment.html?wpsrc=ob_july

"I won't react to something just because I'm supposed to, because I'm an African American,” he reportedly said. " ... If something happens to an African American, we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we've progressed as a society? Well, we've progressed as a society, then don't jump to somebody's defense just because they're African American."

He is more worldly with a broader perspective of life Than the average American. He seen a world were race is not a big deal and people look past the color of your skin. This goes back to what I was saying in the LJ thread.

Kobe is my favorite current Ayer again

gunsnewing wrote:I always respected this aspect of Kobe's character and it doesn't surprise me. Kobe unlike most spent time living outside the U.S.

He is more worldly with a broader perspective of life Than the average American. He seen a world were race is not a big deal and people look past the color of your skin. This goes back to what I was saying in the LJ thread.

Kobe is my favorite current Ayer again

haha - he is my least favorite player. How is your favorite player one of the biggest super chuckers of our time?

Kobe did live in europe and has a may not understand the US issue.

BigDaddyG wrote:It must be nice to live in world where you can just throw money at an alleged victim to make a court case go away. Most people don't have those resources. The Trayvon Martin killing would've been swept under the rug if there wasn't a public outcry. Whether you believe Zimmerman was a victim or the aggressor, I think you have to believe the initial investigation was handled poorly. Now, I believe Kobe has the right to say and think whatever he wants. But to suggest that the root of Martin outrage simply stemmed from the fact that it involved a black youth is naive.

Handled poorly, no doubt. May have ultimately affected the outcome. I would think that Kobe is talking about pressure he may feel in having to remark on the case. Why care what some guy whose really good at a ball game has to think about it, just because he is a prominent black athlete? Are people waiting to hear what Dirk has to say about it? I think that's what his point is — but that's my conjecture. People were saying a lot of stuff about the case, then they find out more details like Zimmerman was Latino and some people's storylines no longer fit so cleanly. It was more a issue with vigilantism and due process, but the crux of the animus was that it was done to an unarmed black youth perceived to be a threat because of his appearance, race being a part of that.

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:It must be nice to live in world where you can just throw money at an alleged victim to make a court case go away. Most people don't have those resources. The Trayvon Martin killing would've been swept under the rug if there wasn't a public outcry. Whether you believe Zimmerman was a victim or the aggressor, I think you have to believe the initial investigation was handled poorly. Now, I believe Kobe has the right to say and think whatever he wants. But to suggest that the root of Martin outrage simply stemmed from the fact that it involved a black youth is naive.

Handled poorly, no doubt. May have ultimately affected the outcome. I would think that Kobe is talking about pressure he may feel in having to remark on the case. Why care what some guy whose really good at a ball game has to think about it, just because he is a prominent black athlete? Are people waiting to hear what Dirk has to say about it? I think that's what his point is — but that's my conjecture. People were saying a lot of stuff about the case, then they find out more details like Zimmerman was Latino and some people's storylines no longer fit so cleanly. It was more a issue with vigilantism and due process, but the crux of the animus was that it was done to an unarmed black youth perceived to be a threat because of his appearance, race being a part of that.

Then I think Kobe was better off saying nothing at all. I don't remember there being a huge outcry for comment one way or the other. I took the comments to be slight against LeBron and other athletes who made their opinion known. Every player can't be Bill Russell and, fortunately, we live in a time where black athletes don't have to feel that burden. Kobe should've declined to answer the reporter's question.

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I always respected this aspect of Kobe's character and it doesn't surprise me. Kobe unlike most spent time living outside the U.S.

He is more worldly with a broader perspective of life Than the average American. He seen a world were race is not a big deal and people look past the color of your skin. This goes back to what I was saying in the LJ thread.

Kobe is my favorite current Ayer again

haha - he is my least favorite player. How is your favorite player one of the biggest super chuckers of our time?

Kobe did live in europe and has a may not understand the US issue.

Maybe other parts of he world race is not a big deal. Maybe there is less separation and isolation between races. Even though they've dealt with slavery and other despicable forms of inhumanity but maybe they have progressed a lot more than we have here.

Why do races prefer to keep to themselves starting with childhood? Media plays a huge role IMO and the negative light they shine on black culture. Morality and family values should be stressed and encouraged. slavery & segregation was despicable inhumanity but people are moral and kept their pride. Media and music today promotes vulgar language, drugs, violence & gangs. Maybe it is the way the white man wants black culture to be perceived out of fear of relinquishing further control of the nation. We gotta work on some things

DrAlphaeus wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:I think Kobe doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. What part of the Trayvon Martin shooting was not outrageous? Race was only one of several narratives of that tragedy.

Anyone think that Kobe was upset about the support he got when he allegedly raped that woman though?

Could be part of it! All I'm saying is Kobe doesn't have to share the popular opinion about it, and doesn't need to share his opinion at all, he's not an elected official or leader outside the court. Rock and a hard place though: rush to make a statement and end up saying something stupid like you think LJ did, or not want to talk about it and be accused of letting his people down.

I'm not saying that he needs to have an opinion on it. My problem is that he seems to be suggesting that the only reason Black people are upset is because Trayvon is Black. It could definitely be the case for some but certainly not the case for the better nuanced.

gunsnewing wrote:

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:I always respected this aspect of Kobe's character and it doesn't surprise me. Kobe unlike most spent time living outside the U.S.

He is more worldly with a broader perspective of life Than the average American. He seen a world were race is not a big deal and people look past the color of your skin. This goes back to what I was saying in the LJ thread.

Kobe is my favorite current Ayer again

haha - he is my least favorite player. How is your favorite player one of the biggest super chuckers of our time?

Kobe did live in europe and has a may not understand the US issue.

Maybe other parts of he world race is not a big deal. Maybe there is less separation and isolation between races. Even though they've dealt with slavery and other despicable forms of inhumanity but maybe they have progressed a lot more than we have here.

Why do races prefer to keep to themselves starting with childhood? Media plays a huge role IMO and the negative light they shine on black culture. Morality and family values should be stressed and encouraged. slavery & segregation was despicable inhumanity but people are moral and kept their pride. Media and music today promotes vulgar language, drugs, violence & gangs. Maybe it is the way the white man wants black culture to be perceived out of fear of relinquishing further control of the nation. We gotta work on some things

gunsnewing wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:It must be nice to live in world where you can just throw money at an alleged victim to make a court case go away. Most people don't have those resources. The Trayvon Martin killing would've been swept under the rug if there wasn't a public outcry. Whether you believe Zimmerman was a victim or the aggressor, I think you have to believe the initial investigation was handled poorly. Now, I believe Kobe has the right to say and think whatever he wants. But to suggest that the root of Martin outrage simply stemmed from the fact that it involved a black youth is naive.

Handled poorly, no doubt. May have ultimately affected the outcome. I would think that Kobe is talking about pressure he may feel in having to remark on the case. Why care what some guy whose really good at a ball game has to think about it, just because he is a prominent black athlete? Are people waiting to hear what Dirk has to say about it? I think that's what his point is — but that's my conjecture. People were saying a lot of stuff about the case, then they find out more details like Zimmerman was Latino and some people's storylines no longer fit so cleanly. It was more a issue with vigilantism and due process, but the crux of the animus was that it was done to an unarmed black youth perceived to be a threat because of his appearance, race being a part of that.

Exactly good post and why was Martin perceived this way?

It's the negative perspective forced down peoples throat primarily through media and music imo

Music is cultural. Is the white man painting a negative picture of black culture through music?

I don't buy that.

mreinman wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:It must be nice to live in world where you can just throw money at an alleged victim to make a court case go away. Most people don't have those resources. The Trayvon Martin killing would've been swept under the rug if there wasn't a public outcry. Whether you believe Zimmerman was a victim or the aggressor, I think you have to believe the initial investigation was handled poorly. Now, I believe Kobe has the right to say and think whatever he wants. But to suggest that the root of Martin outrage simply stemmed from the fact that it involved a black youth is naive.

Handled poorly, no doubt. May have ultimately affected the outcome. I would think that Kobe is talking about pressure he may feel in having to remark on the case. Why care what some guy whose really good at a ball game has to think about it, just because he is a prominent black athlete? Are people waiting to hear what Dirk has to say about it? I think that's what his point is — but that's my conjecture. People were saying a lot of stuff about the case, then they find out more details like Zimmerman was Latino and some people's storylines no longer fit so cleanly. It was more a issue with vigilantism and due process, but the crux of the animus was that it was done to an unarmed black youth perceived to be a threat because of his appearance, race being a part of that.

Exactly good post and why was Martin perceived this way?

It's the negative perspective forced down peoples throat primarily through media and music imo

Music is cultural. Is the white man painting a negative picture of black culture through music?

I don't buy that.

Music may be cultural but the money that sponsors who gets to make that music and then go mainstream is not.