Stephen A. Smith launched into a Caitlin Clark-driven race rant last week, highlighting what he believes her rise reveals about society.
His comments, which have sparked mixed reactions, come amid an ongoing internet debate surrounding Clark: is the rookie a WNBA target because of her skin color?
Outkick’s Clay Travis arguably began the conversation after he claimed Clark is being harassed by other women in the WNBA because she’s “a white heterosexual woman in a black lesbian League.”
Other prominent voices like Bill Maher echoed this sentiment, referring to a viral moment when Clark was bodychecked by Chennedy Carter mid-game.
The incident made its rounds on social media for over a week, especially after footage depicted other players like Angel Reese celebrating the flagrant foul.
“It’s (because) women are catty, the league is very lesbian and she’s not, and there’s race. There’s a lot going on,” Maher explained last week.
“There’s also a racial element to this… it’s not always racism when a white person succeeds.”
Smith addressed Clark after Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington criticized the rookie for not making a statement against those using her name amid the race debate.
Smith then referenced Donald Trump, Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, Daily Mail reported.
“You have somebody that’s a presidential candidate. What is his claim to fame? ‘Make America Great Again,’” Smith said.
“What have people interpreted that to mean? ‘Make America White Again.’”
“What has that led to? A divide,” Smith continued as part of his nearly five minute rant.
“It is not a divide that is created. It is a divide that is illuminated because it’s highlighting and showing that it’s been in existence all along. It hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others were trying to make things happen in the ’50s, in the ’60s, Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, everybody knows that was something that was orchestrated because a bigger issue needed to be addressed,” Smith said about race relations.
“And they had to find the right person to address it. And throughout history, we’ve seen a plethora of things transpire and take place where an individual had the light shined on them and it was orchestrated and plotted and planned because a bigger message and a bigger issue needed to be addressed.”
“But the right person needed to come along to give us the license to address it, and it might not have been through their own volition and it happens,” he said.
“There’s a broader issue here that can’t be escaped,” Smith added during another part of the rant.
“And that is that’s she is a white young lady and she’s been a magnet in a way that has benefitted the league in ways that others have not, even though their efforts have been worthy and deserving of being as celebrated, if not even more celebrated.”
Smith’s remarks have received mixed reviews, including from Travis.
“Caitlin Clark has broken ESPN. They have no idea how to address black lesbian women hating her because she’s white and straight because it shatters identity politics so you get word salads like this,” Travis said on X of Smith’s comments.
Clark has been involved in two major controversies this season, both against the Chicago Sky.
The second incident happened on Sunday when Clark-rival Reese committed a flagrant foul on the Indiana Fever star, sending her to the court in pain.
Reese said Clark gets a “special whistle” after the game, following a difference in calls from officials against her team compared to the Fever.
Travis weighed in on Reese’s remark on X, posting, “What an answer.”
“The WNBA players, as a whole, want Caitlin Clark out of the league. They’d rather have a league no one watches than a popular white player. Truly insane.”
The post Stephen A. Smith Receives Mixed Reactions Over Caitlin Clark WNBA Race Rant as Rookie’s Brutally Hit Again Mid-Game appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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