LA Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Says Jews Help Their Own But Successful African Americans Do Not.

by Staff May 13, 2014 12 Comments News Opinion Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Donald Sterling got into a bit of trouble recently with some controversial remarks about the African American community. Most notably was his demand that his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, not invite black people to his games and not be seen with them in public. Sterling also received criticism for his remarks about Magic Johnson and his HIV positive status. Sterling stated that Magic is a hypocrite for sleeping around with so many women, catching HIV and then judging the actions of other people.

One interesting Financial Juneteenth remark that Sterling made that also raised eyebrows was his comparison between blacks and Jews. Sterling says that while successful Jews often reach back to help their own to climb the ladder, many wealthy blacks do not do the same.

“Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people,” Sterling said. “Some of the African-Americans, they don’t want to help anyone.”

Donald Sterling is a jerk, but does he have a point? When anyone speaks about wealthy black people reaching back to their community, they are often met with criticism from those who feel that rich blacks don’t owe anything to anyone except the car lot where they bought their latest Mercedes.

Sterling got rich because other Jews helped him when white people did not. When he finished law school in the early 1960s, Sterling had to start his own business because white law firms wouldn’t hire Jews. As a result, he became enormously wealthy, largely due to the support of other people in his own community. This is what gave him the power to singlehandedly purchase the NAACP, an organization that represents a community that would rather give its money to whites than to itself.

When Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough spoke out to ask that Dr. Dre consider giving some of his $70 million dollar gift to help black youth go to college, he was also criticized for not keeping his mouth shut. Would it have been better for Kimbrough to remain silent and allow millions of young black people to be forced to drop out of college?

So, what do you think? Is Donald Sterling right? Do wealthy blacks abandon their own people?

Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.

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Terrance Amen says:
May 18, 2014 at 2:48 am
To all my Brothers and Sisters
We have to start thinking outside the box we’ve been put in. The only history taught in schools about African history, starts here in America. But our history goes back to when we once ruled the earth. We are the original, in everything. Everything you see now comes from a foundation that we started. Our history has been turned against us, so what we started is now someone else’s history.
We created the greatest example of unity man has ever known, but now, it’s someone else’s history, or their claim to it. The old saying, seek and ye shall find, is as true today as it was when it was first said. But truth won’t come to you, you have to seek it. Just remember this; the pyramids weren’t built on CP time.
Black Unity means financial independence and happiness
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Pat says:
May 17, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Thanks Yocheved for what you wrote! Your community is the one that supports the most Jewish institutions and entreprises. This is very smart and we have a lot to learn from you and Asians!!!
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gc1479 says:
May 15, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Well, why not talk about that they were able to build-up their businesses for many years before we did and did not have to deal with the same amount of discrimination as we did and still do to get to this point.
The million dollar athlete started in the 1980s/90s. Related to another comment about Blacks hiring other Blacks, maybe they/we don’t want non-Blacks to think that they/we are too pro-Black. Maybe one day we will just have to ignore all that and re-start and support Black businesses.
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Dcarter910 says:
May 14, 2014 at 2:19 pm
@Pat,
So what if MJ built a basketball court and or library. Such small tokens of support are not building up our communities. The fellow Jews that helped Donald Sterling gave him foundational support. They didnt just throw him a few dollars or point him to a soup kitchen line. They provided him with a job and access to funds to build something lasting.
When was the last time MJ came out and spoke against the shoot outs that take place outside of shoes stores for kids trying to buy his shoes. When was the last time he funded black lawyers or doctors (paid for their education).
You tell me what he as done and again, I am talking about foundational support not driving buy throwing some coins out the window.
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toomanygrandkids says:
May 14, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Even though Sterling was right, he made those statements at the wrong time. He was only to apologize for the words he spoke about black people. Not make an example of what rich blacks were doing or not doing for their communities. We know that already. When he said that he wasn’t a racist, I believed him. Not one time did he say the n-word. He repeated the word “black” over and over. That’s not a racist word, at least not in my book. What I do believe is that the other words he said and the manner in which he said them was out of pure jealousy.
This is how ALL jealous men (and women) sound during jealous fits (or tantrums). He sees his young girlfriend/mistress yakking it up with younger (black) men and the mere thought they she would find them to be more handsome, even sexier, sent Don over the edge. I’m not saying that Akon nor Magic were trying to get her in the bed or anything like that, but she is a gold-digger/kept woman. Money comes first in their world. It’s the only reason why she’s even with Sterling. Yeah, he’s a Jewish man who supports his community but Donald Sterling is a sugar daddy who has to pay for some lovin’ because it’s the only way he can get it.
As far as the rich blacks who don’t give much to their communities, I think it’s because they want to help EVERY-DAMN-BODY! Since they don’t wanna appear racist, black business will hire more non-blacks than blacks. It bothers them if their own businesses look “too black.” Or, they will/may check themselves if they are doing “too much” for black people. “Too much” and “too black” makes lots of blacks uneasy.
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Terrance Amen says:
May 14, 2014 at 3:15 am
It’s very sad when we have to admit, as a community, we don’t support one another. I guess that’s why we don’t like talking about it. But to here it from someone outside our community is even more of a disgrace. But have no fear, because 2014 will be the beginning of a new and exciting positive change in our community. Look for the news.
Black Unity means financial independence
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Yocheved says:
May 13, 2014 at 10:49 pm
I can’t speak for Black folks. I’m Jewish, and I do have to say that in my experience he is right. We tend to keep our money in our own community as much as possible. Economic experts call it “bounce”, how many times you spend your money on businesses within your own social group.
I buy my food from a Jewish owned store that sells kosher groceries. I buy scarves from sellers based in Israel. I send my child to a Jewish school, and I pay dues to my synagogue. I’m not saying that I avoid other people’s businesses purposely, I’m saying that I do what is convenient for me, and close to my interests. I would gladly patronize a Black owned business if it sold what I needed, and was closer to my home.
In the Black community, there should be more Black owned businesses, and that’s where your money should “bounce”. Employ your own, shop with your own, celebrate your own. Basically, do you and yours, and you will prosper too.
I wish you all every success, I’d love to see the Black community rise up in dignity – as you deserve.
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Pat says:
May 13, 2014 at 9:31 pm
Dcarter910,
Let us know what Michael Jordan didn’t do for the Black community?
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Nicholas says:
May 13, 2014 at 8:00 pm
It’s easy to point the finger at the few blacks who have made lots of money. How many of you finger pointers spend your money with small black owned businesses or bother to shop in your own communities. For example, I give you the one industry that black women represent nearly 100% of all buyers, and complain because Asians dominate the sellers. Yea, that right, I’m talking about the human hair market. How many women close to you, have a weave or wear a wig and how much are they spending to keep that hair looking fresh (sic).
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uhunter says:
May 13, 2014 at 4:23 pm
forgot to say
thanks for writing about this subject
education
look at all the asians that come to America
cant speak english at all or only a little
but we all know what happens
in the black community
you are insulted for learning english
math etc
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uhunter says:
May 13, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Of course he is right
the black community when it comes to education does nothing/little
forget money
just education
many black leaders have said the same
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Dcarter910 says:
May 13, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Heck yeah he is right but this is the blatant self-hatred that is disgustingly prevalent in black Americans that no one, even those in the black community want to discuss.
Dr. Dre giving 70 million to USC but wont give a dime to howard or morgan state. But all these young black boys are killing each other for his apparel and accessories.
Same thing for Michael Jordan.
Disgusting Negros.
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