Stephen A. Smith to Young Black Kids: Racism ‘Doesn’t Exist’ for You

MOBILE, AL — On Monday, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith spoke at the University of South Alabama about “The Legacy, History and Impact of the African-American Athlete” in honor of Black History Month.

Smith addressed the younger black generation in the crowd of a mixture of children, college students and adults, and told them that racism exists, but just not for them. He reasoned that black people today are not facing what black people endured in the past, when they were lynched or denied rights, so younger black folks today are not allowed to use racism “as an excuse.”

“Racism doesn’t exist. Obviously, I’m lying. Of course it exists, but not for you. See, you don’t have to go to the back of the bus. You’re not denied the opportunity to eat at restaurants, or to enter night clubs, or to patronize businesses. You have the right to vote. You’re not being lynched. You’re not being hung. You’re not going through the trials and tribulations your ancestors, recent and far beyond recent endured so you can sit here today,” he said. “You’re older, you know I’m not talking about you. But youngsters, you need to understand that white folks got problems, too. Some of them can’t pay their bills. Some of them are struggling. Some of them are being denied opportunities. And you need to understand that, because when people are going through their own problems, they are not going to lament what your trials and tribulations are.”