This past week, two audio recordings purportedly of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making inflammatory racist remarks hit the Internet and rocked the NBA and sports world.
The audio clips, yet to be officially authenticated, supposedly reveals a racially charged conversation between Sterling and his alleged mistress Vanessa Stiviano, where the sports mogul could be heard berating her for posting pictures of herself on Instagram posing with African-Americans, including basketball legend Magic Johnson.
The conversation between Sterling, who is Jewish, and Stiviano, who is half-Black and half- Mexican, provides intriguing insights into the white supremacist worldview and the complexity of racial dynamics, particularly between lovers from different races.
While there are many more, here are eight of those insights gleaned from the clips.
According to many of Sterling’s comments, it is clear that he and and some of his associates feel a white woman — or someone who is perceived as one — is devalued if she is seen with a Black man, even if that Black man is a multimillionaire businessman like Magic Johnson.
Sterling: “By walking, and you’re perceived as either a Latina or a white girl. Why can’t you be walking publicly with Black people? Why? Is there a benefit to you? ”
Sterling: “Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
