Charles Barkley has a history of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time—especially when it comes to sensitive topics, like racial profiling, the killings of unarmed black men and over all relations between black people and the police.
He once admitted to believing George Zimmerman shouldn’t be found guilty, defended the police when it came to Mike Brown’s death, and even said he felt Eric Garner’s death should be labeled as a homicide.
Barkley’s no holds-barred opinions have caused the black community much disgruntlement. Still, his precarious opinions are making waves in dangerous racial infused oceans. During a recent stop at ESPN Radio’s The Don Le Batard Show With Stugotz, Barkley reiterated his highly unpopular opinions, this time concerning the recent shootings that have taken place in Louisiana and Minnesota last week.
“There’s a lot of people at fault. The cops have made some mistakes. Black people have made some mistakes. Until we stop…We have to sit back and be honest with each other. The cops have made some mistakes,” Barkley began. “That don’t give us the right to riot and shoot cops. We need the cops, especially in the black community. We as black people, we’ve got to do better. We never get mad when black people kill each other, which that always has bothered me. It’s always bothered me. And then, somebody is gonna scream like, ‘Well, you can’t change the subject.’ Well, first of all, I’ve never changed the subject. I’ve always said that, ‘We as black people, if you want respect, you have to give each other respect.’ You can’t demand respect from white people and the cops if we don’t respect each other.”
Below is the rest of the transcript of the whole exchange between Le Batard and Barkley regarding the matter.
Barkley: We got to do better as black people. The cops have made some mistakes, but there’s a lot of blame to go around. But I’m not going to get on TV and yell like all these other idiots. I’m willing to sit down with anybody and have constructive criticism. I always tell myself as a black man: ‘Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?’ If I’m out doing illegal stuff, stupid stuff, I’m part of the problem. If I’m helping young black kids go to college like I’m trying to do, if I’m giving money to causes to help young men, I know I’m part of the solution. I’m not perfect, I’m not trying to be perfect, but you have to ask yourself: ‘Are you part of the problem or are you part of the solution?’I respect and admire what cops do. My bodyguard is a cop, a black cop. We talk about situations all the time. One of the problems with this stuff is the media—all these people are Monday morning quarterbacks. Do you know what they are, Dan? They’re Monday morning quarterbacks, because they don’t have the stones to play on Sunday. Everybody says what I would do or what I should do. I think some of these cops are panicking under pressure. I had a real in-depth conversation with my bodyguard about the gun thing in Minnesota. You know, Dan, I’m a gun guy, and he always warns me. He says, ‘Do not put your ID where your gun is.’ He says, ‘What I think…’ He says, ‘Whether we think the cop is right or wrong…’ First of all, everything is happening in fast motion. Everybody gets to sit back and see what happens. He says, ‘What I think happened is that guy said, Can I have your ID?’ And then the next thing he said is, ‘I have a gun,’ and he reaches. And I think the cop just panicked.
Le Batard: I know, but Charles, they’re more likely to panic around black people because there’s a fear…
Barkley: Well, Dan, because in fairness, because some black people out there are crooks. You can’t sit there and act like all these—and first of all, I’m not saying in that situation—there’s a reason there’s some…and I’m not saying that’s right, either. There is some reason why there’s racial stereotypes because some of these black people out there are committing crimes. Let’s don’t sit there and act like all our hands are clean.
Le Batard: I know, but Charles, you can’t be profiling like that. I understand…
Barkley: Dan, these guys are dealing with criminals everyday, and that’s easy for you to say. That’s easy for you to say. And like I said, I’m not saying they should racially profile guys. But I’m saying we can’t jump to conclusions every time, like, just because a guy is black. First of all, there is racial profiling. There has always been racism. First of all, there’s racism on both sides, let’s get that straight. But to just assume…First of all, if you go back and look at that thing in Louisiana, I think those cops clearly overreacted, but there’s no doubt in my mind that if I’m fighting with a guy and I hear somebody scream “Gun!” and I got a gun, I’m going to shoot the guy. And like I said, the cops probably did overreact in both situations, but we got to look at the big picture. Let’s work with the cops, because we need the cops, Dan. If it wasn’t for the cops, we would be living in the Wild, Wild West. And let me get this straight: Cops have made mistakes, but as a black person, every time you…hey, listen, we still got to do better. But like I say, why don’t black people get mad when we kill each other? I’m not trying to deflect or place blame, that’s just a fact.
Le Batard: That’s not true, Charles.
Barkley: It is true, Dan. Dan, first of all, you’re not black.
Le Batard: I know I’m not black, but that’s not true that black people don’t get mad that other black people are killing black people. That’s not true.
Barkley: We don’t have near the outrage we do when a white cop kills somebody. Dan, I been black my whole life, and most black people I know are killed by other black people. And I never understood why there’s not more outrage about the way we treat each other as black people.
Le Batard: It can be both, Charles.
Barkley: It can be both. But, Dan, first of all, if you’re going to sit on TV and say there’s the same moral outrage when black people kill each other as when white people kill each other, that’s just disingenuous on your part.
Amid the controversial remarks, you can bet for sure the black community was yet again not pleased with Barkley’s choice of words. The masses took to Twitter to express their distaste for his rant. Take a look at the some of tweets below.
@TeeAyeShow absolutely no
— Romell Winters (@razorromel) July 13, 2016
As a black man… Charles Barkley is the a terrible mouth piece to speak on behalf of our entire race. @LeBatardShow his IQ is pretty low.
— Anthony Patterson (@rayFalcon11) July 12, 2016
Charles Barkley is irresponsible and dangerous..when discussing black issues/politics
— Justin King (@theking1) July 12, 2016
Charles Barkley gives white people permission to believe that police brutality is OK until black on black crimes are solved. Fuck that guy.
— Bruhfessor X (@DomWorld_Peace) July 12, 2016
How in the hell do you blame the victims of both police officer shootings? Charles Barkley proved once again that he is a sellout
— K Rivs (@krstar225) July 12, 2016
What are your thoughts on Barkley’s recent comments? Listen to the full segment below.