Black Star News Editorial
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is now apologizing for his dumb thoughtless criticisms of Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Smith says his comments about Crockett were “misconstrued and misinterpreted” and that he never intended to demean this strong Black woman.
However, the important question here is: why did Smith decided to criticize one of the only real fighters in the Democratic Party to begin with?
Anyone who has listened to Smith, for any length of time, knows that being a boisterous bigmouth is part of the gimmick that made him a hit on ESPN. Let’s be honest, being loud and obnoxious is often very profitable on corporate radio and television.
Moreover, Smith is not someone who will ever rock the boat against those who he perceives to be members of the economic elite. Therefore, he cannot really relate to someone, like Crockett, who will chose honorable convictions over naked profit, and sucking up to the white boss.
Smith’s television persona is mostly about style sprinkled with a little substance. Smith’s sports shows are often really minstrelsy. He too frequently behaves like a buffoon, at the wrong damn time. Then again, he is nothing like a Ralph Wiley the sports reporter who spoke unequivocally about the connections between politics, racism, and sports in America.
Smith has always made it clear that his bottom line, is the bottom line, for him. This is not a man who is willing to sacrifice money and profit to speak harsh truths. Consequently, he will say whatever he thinks will allow him to make more money.
Imagine, Smith was criticizing Colin Kaepernick when Kaepernick was protesting police brutality and murder, on behalf of Black America. At one point, Smith said Kaepernick “wants to be a martyr.” In fact, Hall-of-Fame football player Terrel Owens, because of Smith’s attacks on Kaepernick, told him “Max (Kellerman, [a white Jew]) almost seems blacker than you, Stephen A.” And have we forgotten Smith’s numerous attacks on Kyrie Irving, when many in white media were doing the same, primarily because Irving is an outspoken authentic Black man?
So, we should realize that Smith’s critique of Crockett has everything to do with him now chasing ratings, and revenue, as he ventures into political pontificating.
Let’s keep this in mind: Smith has pivoted into the arena of political podcasting in recent times. And as a television veteran, Smith knows right-wing broadcasting is extremely profitable. Some are even talking about Smith’s forays on Fox News. Therefore, it appears Smith’s sly strategy now is to include red meat, into his political podcasts, that will keep ravenous right-wingers tuned into his rantings, along with his other followers.
Several commentators have reproached Smith for disparaging Rep. Crockett’s achievements for her constituents. But is Smith really concerned with Crockett’s legislative accomplishments—or with the fact that she is a political lightning rod, who is hated by conservatives? Smith understands that Crockett is a topic of angry discussion, among conservatives, and that is likely why he decided to target her, to boost his revenue ratings among those on the right.
As the Biblical saying goes “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
While Smith may not have consciously attacked Rep. Crockett because she is a Black woman, subconsciously he clearly didn’t fear any backlash from doing so because she is a Black woman. But would Smith have been so quick to attack Crockett if she was from a group which he felt was economically or politically powerful, like say a Jewish politician, or some billionaire businessman? No. Because Smith is not a man who will ever take a principled position that may jeopardize any of the dead presidents in his bank account.
And this is one of the most objectionable things regarding the man who claims to be a “straight shooter,” Stephen A. Smith.
