Story Archive

White Privilege

When a recording was leaked revealing racist comments by Los Angeles Clippers basketball team owner Donald Sterling, one of his most vocal critics was the Atlanta Hawks’ controlling owner, Bruce Levenson. Levenson supported the NBA forcing Sterling to sell his team; it sold for a record-shattering $2 billion over Sterling’s objections. Now, Levenson has revealed that he himself sent out a racist e-mail long before the Sterling revelations. “I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was inappropriate and offensive,” Levenson said in a press release. “I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests (i.e., hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.).” He added that “By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.” In his press release, Levenson said he is stepping down and will sell his interest in the team. (RC/USA Today) ...Nice try, pal, but don’t expect a $2 billion payday.
Original Publication Date: 07 September 2014
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 21.

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