That is the question consuming Binghamton New York right now. Because Kevin Broadus of the Binghamton University men's basketball team remains on suspension for what has been called a 2nd rate NCAA violation - one that is claimed no other coach has been similarly disciplined for. Broadus also happens to be the only African American head coach, and has filed a racial discrimination complaint against Binghamton University.
Some might not see this as a big deal. Others will note that the suspension has been going on now for 6 months, and really was over a minor infraction. Yet others will see the fact that the Greater Binghamton area is comprised of about 4% minorities, and is hardly considered an area of diversity in understanding or anything else.
For me the issue goes far broader. It's not just about the lack of minorites as head coaches (in college and professional sports), it includes the lack of ownership of African Americans and other people of color in major sports teams. It includes the overwhelming emphasis people of color have been led to have about pursuing sports careers and little else. It's about the virtual non-existence of people of color in positions of authority and prominence. It's about the media's blind eye to almost any but the most negative issues regarding people of color. It's about the racial divide in America continuing to be as problematic as ever before.
"In fact I was trated differently by further having the respondents [Binghamton University] hire, for $1 million, an outside entity to allegedly survey the Binghamton Atletic Department when in fact, the direction of the survey ended up being an investigation mostly into myself, other minority coaches, and other minority professors who were percieved to be my friends soley because of our color and ethnic status." - The complaint as filed by Kevin Broadus
Imagine other coaches having their friends and colleagues investigated because of the color of their skin. Say a similar investigation was made on Jews, or Evangelists, or smokers. Would you say that was outrageous? Or would you say, as some have in Binghamton, that he is just overreacting?
Try to understand why there are no African American owners of teams in major sports. Consider that there is a massive disproportion of minority head coaches across the country. Then step away from sports and consider the same overwhelming disproportions in the entertainment industry, politics, business ownership and executive status, ect. When you think of this in that context can you really say its just an anomoly? That out of the more than 30 million African American population, out of the well qualified former players and wealthy successes, barely any hold positions of leadership?
You can take this argument to almost any aspect of life. Police departments, politics, business, just look around. Ask the question why there is such a disparity, and why in almost every occassion any infraction is so severely responded to when people of color are involved. IE. Tiger Woods was not the first, nor last, celebrity to have a daliance in his marriage, but I don't see the outrage and media spectacle being the same with Sarah Bullock's husband.
Perhaps I'm on a bit of a tangent. It may not be as clear as I wish this to be said. It's not because the issue is so small, but because it is so large. It is so common most don't look at it, willfully or not.
Does Kevin Broadus deserve the treatment he is getting? Maybe not. Is it due to his race? Possibly.
But the real question that is never asked is why this problem, and moreso its true causation if racially based, is never addressed though it occurs nationally in every aspect of life?
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