Jeremy Lin

A couple of days ago Floyd Mayweather said that Jeremy Lin is only getting the attention that he's receiving because of his race.  I can't say that I agree.  Lin's popularity stems from the fact that he was given an unlikely opportunity and took advantage of it.  He's like the homeless guy with the great radio voice who was discovered thanks to modern day technology.  Or a contestant on American Idol that has a great voice that no one would have heard under any normal circumstance.  He was at the end of the bench and if the Knicks point guards didn't suck and Melo hadn't gotten injured, he and his talent would still be there.  I think everyone likes to see talent acknowledged.  In part because I think most people do things that go unnoticed or unappreciated every day.  I like Jeremy Lin and his story even though I still don't like the Knicks.

With that being said, I do think that his race increases his popularity.  I don't know why people in such a racially influenced society refuse to recognize the obvious.  I am a big Eminem fan.  One of the reasons is because he's one of the most racially conscience white people in mainstream society.  He recognizes the influence that his race plays in his success.  He doesn't apologize for his race or dislike who he is because of his race.  He's a white person that appreciates black culture.  Would people in Taiwan watch the NBA if Jeremy Lin were black?  Would the NBA be any more popular anywhere outside of the US if Jeremy Lin were black? Absolutely not.

Although I like Lin's story, I don't recognize it as a rags to riches story the way that people tried to twist it.  He went to Harvard University.  I doubt that he was hard up for money or that he had to live on a couch.  That was a choice like an actor that chooses to sacrifice in order to chase their dream.

I personally feel that although its unfortunate many of the role models in the black community are athletes.  Athletic ability is one of the few "positive" stereotypes that are associated with black people.  I quote the word positive because the association doesn't negate the negative stereotypes that come along with it.  Many of our athlete's are represented as ignorant and/or criminal in the media just like our musicians and non-celebrity personas.  At times it feels as though the media wants to strip all dignity from black people.  We can't even be the best at our own stereotypes.  The media highlights the mafia and their constant referral to niggers, rich Columbian drug lords and black street corner hustlers, intimidating Mexican gangs and unorganized black gangs.

Granted that I don't know Mayweather personally, I think this is in part why Floyd Mayweather made his comment even though I don't agree with it.  When a white person is a talented rapper, his talent supersedes all the other great rappers.  When a basketball player shows skill, Ricky Rubio or Jeremy Lin, he's now an all star.  When a boxer has a great record, he is crowned the champion, Pacqiao, even if a black person has a better record.  However, when a black person accomplishes something outside of the box that we are put in, there is usually an examination of their blackness or they are simply not given the credit they deserve.  I like to see a person's talent and hard work be acknowledged regardless of race, but inside and outside of America race does matter.