Former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley said that he doesn’t believe white privilege exists during a discussion concerning the blowback over Steve Nash becoming the next head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
“I don’t believe in white privilege, and I know that people will say, ‘What are you talking about?’ Let me explain. The conversation of white privilege is a distraction that leaves racism and true power intact while you now attack it from social and other psychological measures, trying to pull on the emotions of white people. And try to guilt them into really trying to say that all of the things that they have inherited, all of the things that they have worked for … had some percentage of it to be based on their skin color.”
“In reality … the devils is in the details. There are so many white people walking around right now, who had no connection to slavery, had no connection to our ill past, and are not benefiting from their skin color,” he added.
“Steve Nash wasn’t hired because of white privilege… I don’t believe in white privilege.” — @MarcellusWiley pic.twitter.com/cRFshVAl0p
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) September 4, 2020
Wiley said that it’s unfortunate that Nash “has to live under this cloud, this shadow of white privilege” when he has a track record of being an outstanding basketball player and communicator.
Wiley also looked back in history and discussed how many white Southerners actually benefited from slavery.
“Let’s go back to 1860, when less than 5% of whites in the American South owned slaves,” he added. “Over 95% of people had no investment or economic interest in the maintenance of slavery. All I’m trying to say is, I’m not a fan of blanket statements.”
People are running out of ways to explain today’s world without being brutally honest with themselves.
The power in believing in “White Privilege” is just another example.
Keep making blanket statements & you’ll surely suffocate in your own ignorance #goesbothways #deflection pic.twitter.com/e6iidPYPrW
— Marcellus Wiley ? (@marcelluswiley) September 6, 2020
“Stephen A. and many others are trying to apply a blanket statement to a nuanced situation,” he said.
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said last week of Nash’s hiring, “This is white privilege. This does not happen for a black man.”
Others joined him in condemning the hire, including sportswriter Peter Edmiston.
“It’s got to be dispiriting for so many Black assistant coaches to see this, though. Jacque Vaughn couldn’t have done more. Only 5 Black head coaches now and we’re seeing a lot of front offices seem more comfortable with candidates that look and sound like themselves,” Edmiston wrote.
Wiley added that, “Since 1978, nine of the 16 coaches, who have become NBA coaches without previous head coaching experience, nine, more than half, were black.”
“We’re going to sit here and try to really trivialize this hire because of what Stephen A. said and what others are saying about this is white privilege. I find no merit of this being white privilege,” he said.
