Dez Bryant Weighs in on Race in America

Leave it to Dez Bryant to weigh in with some really good thoughts on race relations in the United States. I’d been pretty checked out of all non-Masters #content over the last week, but I was tipped off to the Dez comments by this video.

BEST SEGMENT YOU MISSED:
Dez Bryant's comments on race in America are more thoughtful than anything we've seen from Colin Kaepernick. pic.twitter.com/rsDtGubqTE

— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) April 12, 2017

Here is what Dez wrote in a series of Instagram posts.

First and foremost, I would like to say I do a great job of minding my own business, but it’s pressing on my heart to share my thoughts about white Americans and black Americans (racism).

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.”

I hate to admit it, but I understand that quote.

I’ve been [racially] profiled on numerous occasions, but not once has it influenced an ill feeling inside me about anyone outside of that issue. REAL SLAVERY is different from what’s going on in our world now. We all (every ethnicity) have the opportunity to lead by EXAMPLE.

Instead of making videos about the history of racism that get applause or people with influence merely doing things to post for social media, we should focus on individual accountability to be better as a whole.

I recently ran into a guy I grew up with who spent his adulthood dealing drugs. While we were catching up, he shared with me that he wished that he chose a different and better path. He said seeing my success was inspiring and that it encouraged him to do better with his life.

Real question: What is wrong with being sophisticated and black? Why do we associate those who choose the straight-and-narrow as not being “black enough?” Why was it that I was one of the first examples of success to my friend?

We focus hard on fighting the realities that exist instead of creating our own reality. The ones who came for us (Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X) paved a new path for us to follow. The struggles and hurt they endured created new life for us today.

It is not our job to carry the burden, but it is our job to lead by example. Not that my opinion matters, I’m just sharing my thoughts. [DMN]

I do disagree with the last statement. Dez’s opinion does matter because a lot of kids and a lot of people look up to him. And his thoughts are, at the very least, worth discussing. I’m not going to sit here and pretend to know what Dez’s perspective is like, but I think what he said is smart and important for everyone to read.

Shannon Sharpe doesn’t agree with Dez, but his thoughts are really interesting and good as well. Although I’m not sure he’s addressing what Dez actually said.

.@ShannonSharpe to @DezBryant: Before you speak up about race relations, read up on it first. pic.twitter.com/5Zj7sWsTCk

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) April 11, 2017

Like so many issues — really all issues — the reality of the matter lies somewhere in the middle of all the noise. I think that’s what Dez is saying here, and I hope he says it even louder in the future.