An Open Letter to Stephen A. Smith
40 Million Dollar Slave. #FreeTheUyghurs
There may not be a way to better illustrate the great dilemma of our time than the situation at hand. The urgency intensifies to wrap our minds around major societal questions and dichotomies continue to erect all around us. Religion or Science? Earth or Space? Human or Artificial? Capitalism or Communism? Gas or Electric? Privacy or Surveillance? Physical or Remote? Male or Female? Vaccinated or Unvaccinated? Maybe these questions have been overcomplicated. Used as a way to steer us from the simplicity of life. Not simple as in, life never gets complex — but more that when we are faced with complexity, fundamental philosophies and values yield resolution. As far as humanity has come, or believes we have come, the question each of us still must answer is one of good and evil. But what is goodness? How do we find it? How do we measure it? This is a matter of morality. Each of us is unique and has a different journey, so our morality has a certain degree of relativity. A degree not to be mistaken for the endless relativism that plagues the thought of post-modern ideologues. In a world where God has graced us with an infinite imagination, there is one idea that can always anchor us in moral goodness; self-sacrifice.
Of course this is the Jesus Christ model and I’m a God fearing Christian. It’s also the model of many other leaders in history we show reverence. The idea of self-sacrifice is not some delusion of grandeur. Only in the manmade silos of sin, does the application of this basic moral virtue feel somewhat impossible. This is what I’m here to address with you. If we want to have a discussion, or many discussions, let’s not shy away from the ones with real depth. When we shy away from these in-depth discussions, we already set the stage for betrayal of ourselves, others and God.
This morning I woke up to a barrage of messages. Most of them containing the same video of you again criticizing Kyrie Irving in his battle with the Brooklyn Nets and NBA, over vaccine compliance. Your latest comment comes a day after I recently published my open letter to Kyrie Irving, expressing my support and imploring him to “hold the line”. In it I highlighted how this vaccine compliance is another product of a pandemic that has been hyper politicized. With a trail of corruption far and wide. I’ve watched you criticize athletes in favor of the establishment before and I’m sure there’s also been times that you’ve defended them. Actually I’ll be referencing one of those instances later on. However, during this particular segment you asked a question that I think strikes at the heart of many problems in our society.
“You’re gonna compromise all of that… because you want to give a voice to the voiceless? Really? And how is that going to work out for you Kyrie Irving? You’re going to disappear from the game of basketball? Who the hell is going to be interested in what you have to say, when you have proven you can’t even be trusted enough to do your damn job?” – Stephen A. Smith
I’m hard pressed to pick a starting point. I’ll go with the most obvious and try to work my way out. The air of mockery and condescension was shoddy given the nature of the topic. This isn’t your everyday sports decision or petty squabble between team and athlete about money or direction of the organization. The tone presupposes it a given, that Kyrie’s personal choice about vaccination should even be a public debate. I don’t know why we’ve accepted this culture, that so casually believes such personal choices must see trial in the court of public opinion. Almost as if Kyrie’s discussion of these types of choices is some sort of fiduciary responsibility. It most certainly isn’t a fiduciary responsibility of athletes or anybody else. The assumption or acceptance of that notion, is the first psychosocial infringement on core constitutional beliefs here in America. Like the freedom of speech for example. And although freedom of speech most importantly deals with the right to speak and express ourselves, the premise in freedom of speech implies a more simple right to remain silent. Actually from a constitutional standpoint, the right to privacy is a common limitation on freedom of speech. In which the NBA would be over stepping obvious boundaries here with Kyrie.
The preemptive strike on privacy was when Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum declared that all players would be expected to get vaccinated. This attitude stems from a culture that has lost sight of the value in privacy. A society that increasingly wants everything on public display in the rat race for adoration. Fortunately for the NBA, they currently share the comfort of public opinion. Or maybe they just share a partnership with the mainstream media outlets that manufacture public opinion. Either way the wind is at their back on the vaccination issue. They are able to hide themselves in the crowd of fearful employers all across the country, who have decided to concede and man the sidecar of this tyrannical establishment. Instead of rolling up their sleeves and fighting for autonomy under this corporatocracy. Strange how it’s so widely accepted the ownership groups in pro sports have heavy political lobbying power, but are never expected to take a public stand for anyone but their own interests. Pro sports institutions enjoy another luxury in this social dynamic. The athletes have a unique line of work and a very high income, which makes them an easy bunch to dismiss in the consideration of basic constitutional rights. That’s the card you’ve tried to play on Kyrie Irving. It’s a blatant sleight of hand. It always has been a resentful Judas like move.
“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” - John 12:3-8
In philosophical first principles, we should all see rights in the grand scheme of freedom. You have intentionally ignored this to try and cater your message to a core audience. An audience you can usually convince that athletes are entitled and selfish. Then, any grievance an athlete puts forward can be used as tacit proof of their entitlement. You’ve even characterized Kyrie this exact way in recent days. Ironically, your audience is made up of working class Americans. Who’s rights are also being threatened everyday under these vaccine mandates. A working man is a working man. The roles of employee and employer are fundamental constraints of any workforce. Although they’ve probably done a lot to make you feel like a “boss” over at ESPN, you’re still an employee. With the “wrong” statement or stance for the right cause, you too could find yourself in Kyrie’s position. Or maybe you believe blind compliance gives you some sort of teflon protection. Don’t be a fool, nobody is safe now. It gets much worse than that though. How can anybody so easily mock the idea of being a voice for the voiceless, during these times? Even referring to the voiceless sarcastically as though they’re just an abstract conspiracy in the head of Kyrie. This is absolutely shameful. It’s degrading to Kyrie, but it’s also a complete betrayal of the voiceless that do very well exist. It’s even a betrayal of the hypothetical voiceless that you could, just as soon be apart of, in the sharp turns of tyranny. There is a voiceless… and they do need strong leadership right now. In this country and all around the world. Though it’s probably hard to notice them inside the echo chambers of sports gossip. How out of touch with reality is it to view being a voice for the voiceless, as an unworthy or undesirable path? It’s actually quite easy to deduce that you either don’t acknowledge there is a voiceless, a voiceless that’s worth fighting for or maybe just not worth sacrificing your own position. All of these attitudes have one common denominator; they are a heresy.
When I say heresy I mean it fundamentally contradicts the same Judeo-Christian values that this country was founded upon. My favorite scripture in the entire bible is, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) This scripture tells us that the potential sacrifice Kyrie faces, is not only worth it, but ordinance from a much higher authority than the NBA, Joe Biden or the CCP. Kyrie Irving is an American hero. Martyr is not a dirty word. In fact, the depiction of martyrdom in that way seems like a direct ploy from Satan himself. Artifice!
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ - Matthew 4:1-4
For Blacks in America, this duplicity has always been the modus operandi of sellouts. The use of notoriety and success, against those who have it, to disrupt the rise of a collective independence. This is the same fear of isolation and rejection I discussed with Kyrie in my letter to him. If you were a man of the people, you would support Kyrie and take this opportunity to underscore the dire need for Black ownership that still exists in the context of American history. An ownership that is very possible in professional sports. I can see how you wouldn’t believe in sovereignty as a fundamental pillar of our American citizenship. Or as a necessity in our communities. The same establishment that gave you $40 million to gossip, has also monopolized the American dream and slapped a tag on it that reads “Made in China”. Your job and ancillary industry, is about as real as the currency The Federal Reserve prints everyday. If anybody’s entitled here, it isn’t Kyrie Irving. He now stands up for the working class. The entitled one is you. Who gets to have a mainstream opinion about athletes with real skill and talent. Being paid like an athlete to shill for the establishment. Who is it you believe you work for exactly? The general curiosity of sports fans? This isn’t only related to race. The American people as a whole have long lost their ownership economically. Now we lose it socially and physically under these pandemic initiatives. Which highlights the “voiceless” you so easily cast aside from an ivory tower. People of all races, ages, genders, religions, etc. Doctors, nurses, pilots, cops, military, teachers, parents, children and yes, millions of Black people who are betrayed by these vaccine mandates.
The mentality you’ve applied to Kyrie’s current fight, would’ve seen people like Muhammad Ali bend the knee and accept induction into the war. You would’ve told Jesus to keep being a carpenter or bend the knee to Pontius Pilate. You would’ve told a long list of leaders, who gave up their position for the greater good, it’s not worth it. You would’ve told me to play instead of talking about the Mental Health epidemic. What you fail to realize is that change doesn’t come from inside the house negro. Despite what they want us to believe. Despite what they let you sell to the people on television. The house is playing with house money and they always seem to win. Why has this pandemic conveniently made the super wealthy more wealthy than ever before? You are not free at ESPN. You’ve been conditioned in a culture that has convinced you that you have wings, when really you’re on strings.
If Kyrie Irving disappears from basketball, it’ll mean Free People lost a great battle in the war of rights. But if that should happen, plenty of people will still be interested in what he has to say. Many people who agree with his position. Myself being one of them. I haven’t played a full game in the NBA — but remember when I said Carmelo Anthony was being Blackballed and it made headlines on the First Take? Remember when you agreed with that? Where is he now? Did he get back in the league? Did he outperform his critics? Was he better than Jared Dudley? Is he playing with Los Angeles Lakers? Any Black man who tells another Black man, their worth and value is dependent upon an industry or system he has no basic rights in… that man is a traitor. He’s not only a traitor to the man he’s talking to, but the people. The people who face a global system that has forgotten about the little guy and bought into an infinity of industrialization and commercialization. You are the paragon of Black Bourgeoisie elitism. It’s the same crony capitalist, globalist mentality that always protects the establishment and preserves the status quo. First with Kaepernick, Now Kyrie, two different sides of the political narrative… same response from you. Stop selling out man. I haven’t heard you mention natural immunity once. If the contemplative is not willingly returned to the center of our society, it will be forcible done by the universe.
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Royce Alexander White
Free People of America
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The Widow’s Offering: Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44
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Free The Uyghurs!
Godspeed