Dear Stephen A Smith,
Let me first say that I tremendously respect all you do for historically Black colleges and universities. You have helped generate millions in scholarships, promoted student enrollment and brought national media attention to HBCUs across the United States. Specifically, as ambassador, you have promoted the annual HBCU College Fair, which has garnered over $12m in scholarships. You encourage students to consider HBCUs for their higher education, highlighting the community and nurturing environment they provide.
And yet, you wonder why many Black people in America feel that you “betrayed your race”.
It’s not a mystery why they may feel this way. Chuck Modiano, my co-host on The Collision, put it well: “Stephen A Smith loves to criticize Black athletes, but he won’t go after Roger Goodell like that. He won’t go after owners that way.”
Far too often, you attack Black male athletes in particular – Kyrie Irving, Kwame Brown, LeBron James, Terrell Owens and Kevin Durant are just a few of your targets – with a passion and vitriol you just don’t reserve for white athletes and executives.
It doesn’t stop there though. You parrot rightwing talking points, as you did earlier this year, when you said that racism isn’t as prevalent in the US as some on the “left” claim. You went on to argue that most Americans judge people based on their character rather than skin color, which is not the experience of most Black people in the US.
In the midst of ICE’s brutalization of large parts of the country, you blamed Renee Good for her own death at the hands of federal agents. You then claimed that people celebrated ICE under Obama but are condemning Trump. That’s not the only time you were sympathetic to the president: you called Democrats’ efforts to hold Trump accountable in the courts as “lawfare”. It’s particularly galling for Black people when you chastize Black athletes at the same time as minimizing a president who was convicted of 34 felonies. You’re not much better with Black politicians. You attacked congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for not being respectful enough to Trump.
Recently you called out Trump for the delay in releasing the Epstein files, but many of us remember you once questioned why people were outraged by the files when there are other issues to focus on. Then there are your frequent appearances with Sean Hannity, whose denigration of Black people is well known – from his comparison of Black Lives Matter to the Ku Klux Klan to his denial of systemic racism in policing. The inconsistency is hard to ignore.
Recently on Cam Newton’s show you made a case that every Black person should vote Republican because the Democratic Party takes our vote for granted, adding that we have been giving our vote to them since 1964. You failed to mention that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 were all passed under Lyndon B Johnson, a Democrat. Your specific choice of words – “give” – implies the Black community are sheep, gifting our votes away. As if they weren’t earned by those key pieces of legislation on civil rights and desegregation, things conservative Republicans stood vehemently against. This comes at a time when the Trump administration celebrated the supreme court gutting the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 civil rights law that prevents racial discrimination in voting.
I actually agree with your position that both parties should have to work for Black people’s votes. But here’s the important part you leave out: Democrats don’t do enough for Black people but Republicans actively work against us. Your arguments present the Black community as naive and blindly loyal to Democrats. That’s not only wrong – for many of us, Democrats are simply the lesser of two evils – it’s insulting, and another reason there’s antipathy towards you from Black people.
If you’re looking for misplaced loyalty, you might start elsewhere. Perhaps you could win some favor from Black people if you instead lectured those white people who follow Trump, a man actively working against their interests.
I see Maga Christians supporting someone who doesn’t follow any of the principles of Jesus Christ. Someone who has decades of accusations of sexual misconduct. Someone who, on Resurrection Sunday, went on social media and threatened to destroy an entire civilization, but still has the support of the religious right. He’s also hurt white working people: after his campaign promises to lower the price of eggs and gas prices, put an end to wars, boost the economy and make life better all around, he’s actually done the opposite.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the tax burden has shifted toward low- and middle-income earners while windfalls are concentrated at the top 1%. Not to mention broad tariffs, the expiration of pandemic-era social supports and rising health-insurance premiums. Maybe you should lecture the white Maga community about the absurdity of their support for Trump, rather than telling Black people how we should conduct ourselves.
And the consequences are tangible. Anyone voting Republican who isn’t in the top 1% is voting against their own interest. But for Black people, this administration has been even more detrimental. Trump refused to apologize for a racist video posted on his social media depicting the Obamas as apes. It’s just as obvious in his harmful policy. From day one, he set his target on dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion. He received a standing ovation from the GOP when he declared at the State of the Union, “We Ended DEI in America”.
Since Trump took office again, the Black unemployment rate has risen – at one point to 8.2%, the highest since its pandemic peak – because of his policy changes, trade tariffs and the reduction in public-sector opportunities. His administration has targeted the federal workplace, a major employer of Black Americans, and enabled the loss of jobs and opportunities for many people, particularly Black women. The administration has slashed programs like Medicaid and made it more difficult to fight systemic discrimination in housing, lending and education.
So, Stephen A Smith, that’s the party that you suggest Black people all vote for? So we teach the Democrats to appreciate us more? You’re intelligent, well read, and exceptionally good at your job. You can create a buzz about any topic any time you speak, which is why you are the highest-paid commentator at ESPN. But the reason why many Black people don’t like you is because you are pushing an agenda that is detrimental to the Black community as a whole.
Sincerely,
Etan Thomas
Etan Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 through 2011. He is a published author, podcaster, poet, activist and motivational speaker.