Dexter's Vantage Point!

President Barack Obama being elected the first African-American President of the United States was viewed as significant forward along racial lines.   President Obama’s rapid ascent towards oval office glory was supposed to signify we’ve officially embarked upon a post-racial society.      While there may be an element of truth regarding advancements along racial lines we still have a ways to go.   I was recently forwarded a rather disturbing story written in the Final Call from Coppin State professor Byron Franklin.   The story was about a young African-American man who lost his life in Mississippi.   The authorities ruled the death a suicide but some believe the victim was lynched.   That’s right, a possible lynching. I humbly ask, where’s the media coverage? Dec. 3 the limp body of 26 year-old Frederick Jermaine Carter was found hanging from an oak tree with a noose securely tied around his neck in a predominately white neighborhood in...

I long decided when I have something to say, I will say it and gladly let the chips fall where they may. This is one of those occasions. Recently I wrote a commentary titled, “Jimmer Fredette: Is he legit or another ‘Great White Hope?’” I received a fair number of responses, some of which were in poor taste.  Given the subject matter I sometimes address, it comes with the territory and I deal with it accordingly.  But someone chose to take the level of scrutiny to another level. Based on my Fredette commentary, here is what a reader had to say, “Dexter Rogers is a RACIST NIGGER! Oh, you don't like the 'N' word tossed around, well I hear 'bruthas' tossing it at each other all the time. So it is just US WHITE folk who can't use the word now days, eh. What's next Dext, shall we ride in the back of the bus too? I hate niggers like you.” The ignorance continues: “How is it too far, so only niggers are allowed to be racist now days? I'm sick of this sh...

After winning Comeback Player of the Year and being issued an honorary key to the city of Dallas, Michael Vick is being publicly bashed for his past and not what he’s doing in the present. For instance, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle doesn’t believe Vick has been punished enough for his role in a gambling ring he funded where he tortured dogs.  Buehrle issued the following in a recent interview with MLB.com: "He had a great year and a great comeback, but there were times where we watched the game and I know it's bad to say, but there were times where we hope he gets hurt." Buehrle continued, "Everything you've done to these dogs, something bad needs to happen to these guys." I was viewing the Joy Behar Show on HLN two nights ago. She expressed extreme dislike for Vick by stating, “I’ll never forgive him.” Then there’s ESPN’s Skip Bayless. On ESPN’s First Take, Bayless suggested Vick doesn’t deserve a key to the city of Dallas because ...

ESPN Radio personality John Ireland asserted on ESPN’s First Take Brigham Young University sharp-shooting guard Jimmer Fredette is a lock to be selected in the first round of next years’ NBA Draft. Ireland went on to state Fredette “can start” immediately for an NBA team based on his skill set. Start at the next level? We’ll see. In my opinion this is another attempt by so-called authorities to create an embellished atmosphere around a white basketball player who plays well at the collegiate.  Anytime a white basketball player has an inkling of talent he’s got to be the next Larry Bird. While Fredette is putting up some monster numbers, I don’t see him being drafted in the first round and starting for an NBA team, as Ireland suggests. At 6’2” Fredette has good size and he handles the ball very well.  He’s demonstrated he can create his own shot off the dribble and he’s crafty in traffic. I came away impressed with what I saw shooting-wise.  There is n...

For once in the past year Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. After losing to the Green Bay Packers in yesterday’s Super Bowl 31-25 Roethlisberger stated the following: “I don't put the blame on anybody but myself.  I feel like I let the city of Pittsburgh down, the fans, my coaches, my teammates. It's not a good feeling." I guess someone of questionable integrity will sometimes tell the truth huh? Roethlisberger should have truthful when he got himself in trouble in Milledgeville, GA last March when he was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year old co-ed. He should have been straight-up about his horrific personality in public and how he distanced himself from his teammates.  More importantly Roethlisberger should have been truthful about how he has disrespected himself and one of the storied franchises in professional sports. Roethlisberger is correct.  He cost his team an...

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is out to claim his second Super Bowl title in three years as his team prepares to square off against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. If the Steelers win, Tomlin will be the first African American to lead his team to two Super Bowls. Not bad for the 38-year-old coach nobody wanted to hire. But Tomlin wouldn’t likely be roaming the sidelines if not for the Rooney Rule, which requires an NFL team with a head coaching vacancy to interview a candidate of color. Before the rule, few African Americans were granted interviews, let alone given head coaching jobs. In 2002, the late Johnnie Cochran and fellow attorney Cyrus Mehri felt people of color, particularly African Americans, deserved more opportunities to lead teams. So Cochran and Mehri threatened to sue the NFL if it didn’t change its ways. “Our motives are driven not by personal desire or financial gain, but to correct what we see as a great inequity in America’s game,” Co...