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By Rickey Hampton, Editor and Founder of TheAfricanAmericanAthlete.com
I think you know by now that Donald Trump is a racist, plain and simple. There is a litany of undisputed facts to back that up. From his discriminatory housing practices, to his attack of the ‘Central Park 5’, and his blatant lies regarding former President Barrack Obama.
You know by now that you can’t believe a word that comes from his mouth. So, don’t be misled by his decision to grant clemency to Alice Johnson, a first-time offender who was serving a life sentence, and happened to be black.
You know by now that if your skin is brown like mine that man doesn’t care about you, despite his actions to help Johnson. It is merely the latest ruse from the man who conned his way into the White House.
Trump likes to pardon people because that is one of the few powers where he has full autonomy. You see, this narcissist thinks of himself more as a king than a president. He likes being able to do whatever the hell he wants to do, and not have to answer to anyone. I assure you, when Trump learned that President Obama didn’t act on behalf of Ms. Johnson, he was all in.
In his warped, twisted mind, Donald Trump thinks that doing something for a black person that Obama didn’t will somehow prove he cares more. And, it will only be a matter of time before he says that he cares more about black people than Obama, and use Ms. Johnson as an illustration.
Now he wants to score more points by pardoning boxing icon Muhammad Ali. “I’m thinking about somebody that you all know very well, and he went through a lot and he wasn’t very popular then,” Trump said. “His memory is very popular now. I’m thinking about Muhammad Ali. I’m thinking about that very seriously.”
Of course, Greatest of All Time doesn’t need a pardon. The Champ’s conviction for not enlisting in the armed forces in 1967 was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971. While all of America is laughing at the POTUS for being this stupid, the foul hypocrisy and irony of the president wanting to deport players for his fantasy of their disrespect for the military while suggesting he would pardon another athlete for refusing to fight with the military stings. It is lost on no one including those of color serving in the military.
It shows just how uninformed Trump is. Jesus, man! Read a book. But why should we be surprised that this man knows zero significant history regarding black people? Hell, he thinks Frederick Douglas is still alive.
Now, Trump is asking NFL players who have been involved in kneeling during the anthem to let him know about others who were unjustly convicted.
“I am going to ask all of those people to recommend to me because that’s what they’re protesting — people that they think were unfairly treated by the justice system,” he said, totally missing the genesis of this issue. The protests aren’t about a few people who have been unfairly treated in America’s justice system The protests are addressing a history of injustice and oppression that has wrecked havoc on the black community for decades. Black America wants this nation to uphold its ideals, principles and promises guaranteed to us by the constitution.
If Trump decides to pardon individuals who have been wronged, that is great. I am never against anyone who is willing to right a wrong. However, what he will not understand, or even care to understand, is freeing 10, 20 or even 100 individuals will not correct the failed system that has betrayed African-Americans. And, secondly, anyone who chooses to work with him will have to do so with extreme caution. He will find a way to use them to further his gigantic ego and toss them in as one of his biggest supporters.
That’s why members of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors want nothing to do with Trump. Like LeBron James said about visiting the White House with Trump in office. “Going to the White House used to be an honor till you [Trump] showed up.” It’s laughable to hear Trump say he is not going to invite the Warriors to the White House, after the team made it clear they didn’t want to go.
Black America sees through this man’s pandering. Yes, there are those in our community who stand with that man, and that’s their problem. We should not be surprised to see their allegiance to him. After all, there was black folk that fought for the Confederacy.
