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Shannon Sharpe Destroys Dez Bryant’s Assertion That It’s Black People’s Responsibility to Overcome Racism

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

After Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant put the responsibility of overcoming racism solely in the hands of Black Americans, Shannon Sharpe delivered an emotionally charged response schooling the athlete about the impact of systemic oppression.

“I saw a person quote Charles Barkley when he said, ‘We as Black people, we’re never going to be successful not because [of] you white people, but because of other Black people, ‘” Bryant posted on Instagram Sunday, April 9.

Sharpe disagreed with the quote and recommended Bryant not reference Barkley when it comes to race relations.

“I have the utmost respect for Charles Barkley, he was a heck of a ball player,” Sharp says on “Undisputed” Tuesday, April 11. “When it comes to basketball, please quote Charles Barkley. But when it comes to racism in America, please don’t quote Charles Barkley.”

Sharpe pointed out that the Black community is always told to stop harping on past enslavement, but no one ever tells Jewish people to get over the Holocaust.

The former Denver Broncos tight end shut down Bryant’s idea that Black people should “focus on individual accountability,” noting that Black people generally don’t own TV stations, radio stations or serve as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. He also dismissed Bryant’s theory that his own success should spell success for other Black people.

“Dez, you’re not even in the 2 percent, you’re in the .01 percent of Black Americans that makes millions. But, there’re so many that don’t,” Sharpe says. “Dez, do you realize you’re still Black? They still view you as Black even though you catch touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys. Do you realize that? You think they view you differently? They applaud what you do, Dez, they don’t applaud who you are.

“I commend him still, but he is so wrong. He’s so absolutely, horrifically wrong in this situation,” he continues. “I hate when they ask us to accept responsibility for slavery. Accept responsibility for the 400 years of institutional and systemic racism.”

“Next time you speak up, make sure you read up and understand what we’re actually up against,” Sharpe concludes. “Dez, you’re wrong in this instance and you do a disservice to a lot of African-Americans in this country when you say we need to take more accountability when we’re not in a position to do a whole lot because of what’s been placed upon us for the last 400 years.”

On Instagram, Bryant shot back and accused Sharpe of misconstruing his words.

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