Mark Cuban

Well Mark Cuban now is apologizing himself silly, including to the family of Travon Martin, about a comment he made. What is wrong with him? Doesn’t he know you can’t say anything about hoodies?

Naturally he is right about everyone having fears and prejudice. Anyone that says they don’t have such feelings will lie to you about something else. We all stereotype others. And, not for race, but because we are conditioned to have fear and that’s a good thing. No fear can kill you.

Several years ago I went to a specialized school in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the guys decided he would take a group out to dinner at a place he had heard about. So, about six of them loaded up and away they went into a part of Cleveland that none of them knew anything about. They had no fear. They were just going out to dinner. After driving around for awhile, they spotted a police car and flagged him down to ask directions to the restaurant. The officer exploded, "What are you doing here?" Get out of this part of town now. I carry a gun and badge and I only come into this area when I have to." They left. To this day, they have stereotyped that area and the people there.

Even I stereotype people out of fear. For example, take the sweet little old ladies in tennis shoes in many churches. I can tell you that this applies in black and white congregations, because I have attended both. They will hurt you for real. Just try taking the seat they have sat in for years.

That’s real fear.

PMO
©2014