Hank Aaron: Racists still exist “Back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties & starched shirts"

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: NBC Sports

Hammerin' Hank's thoughts on race, Obama and Republicans, from an interview on the 40th anniversary of his 715th home run breaking Babe Ruths record:
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Hank Aaron dealt with a lot of blatant racism back when he was growing up in Alabama continuing on through his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s record. But as he notes in an interview with USA Today, racists are still around. They’re just wearing different clothes:

"We can talk about baseball. Talk about politics. Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated."

“We have moved in the right direction, and there have been improvements, but we still have a long ways to go in the country.

“The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”

Read more: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/08/hank-aaron-racists-still-exist-its-just-that-back-then-they-had-hoods-now-they-have-neckties-and-starched-shirts/

---

The full article at USA Today is a great read:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/04/07/hank-aaron-40th-anniversary-of-715-home-run-babe-ruth/7432225/

[klook]

1. Hammerin' Hank: My Hero (n/t)

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”

They started that with David Duke in the late '80s when he decided to take Lee Atwater's advice about code-talking in order to appear acceptable for elective office at the national level. Now they are "normalized" into the society and have completely infested Congress.

Many (notably talker Joe Madison) have called these dressed up clowns with degrees from fake schools - "James Crow, Esq." No more good 'ole boy "Jim Crow".

[yurbud]

23. there were always suits behind the klan, pulling their strings

[BumRushDaShow]

25. Ain't that the truth. nt

[yurbud]

27. they were an early domestic version of the rent-a-mobs we use to overthrow foreign governments

[Orsino]

29. And being pulled. n/t

[Stuart G]

3. This is a truly great comment...thanks for finding and posting...nt

[wolfie001]

4. Fox News......

....Hannity, O'Reilly, that AM freak show....et al.......

[Chakab]

7. Indeed. This will give them at least a day's worth of faux outrage

and race baiting.

[Enthusiast]

9. The racist undertones on Fox never cease.

Limbaugh too. I think racism has grown worse since the election of BO.

[wolfie001]

17. Ironically.....

.....many of the racist Bubbas either need the ACA, Medicaid or Medicare. Those are their choices and all of 'em they claim are "Socialist/Communist". Teh stupid never ceases to amaze.

[Enthusiast]

18. They recieve this nonsense into their ears every waking moment.

They have not a shred of objectivity in their processing.

[SoapBox]

5. Agreed...absolutely.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

6. Hate that he played for the Braves. Love the comment. Wait to put it, Hank!

[klook]

8. Love that he played for Atlanta

in the heart of Lester Maddox country. Courageous man, dynamic athlete, positive role model for millions.

[Enthusiast]

10. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch.

[melm00se]

11. Gallup Poll historicals

on race relations

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1687/race-relations.aspx



the rest of the pages (9 of them) get into more detail.

[Javaman]

12. Dang, he's 80.

I remember that day when he hit that homer. I was listening to it on the radio.

I feel old.

[bullwinkle428]

15. You and me both!! I remember watching it on TV with my Dad and brother,

weeks short of my 10th birthday. Not hard to do the math, as I'm now approaching my fiftieth B-Day!

[Javaman]

16. Do something special, if you can, for your big 5-0.

I'm a kid at heart and had a banana split party. LOL...with a little Baily's.

[amb123]

13. Neckties, starched shirts and access to the Internet

to spout their racist BS.

[Kelvin Mace]

14. 90% of how race is discussed by conservatives

these days would have got you tossed off the air 30 years ago. So, in many ways, it's worse.

[Lugnut]

19. K&R! n/t

[Crowman1979]

20. Hammering Hank knocks it out of the park with that quote! +1

[nilesobek]

21. The real home run king.

Pre-cheating steroid era. Ruth did it with hotdogs and beer, not adderal and HGH. Aaron was sheer willpower and determination. He wasn't a very big guy at all, just powerful forearms and quick wrists. 756# is the real number of homers to beat, Henry's number.

[Zorra]

22. + 10000000000 nt

[Blue Owl]

24. ...and a few have duck hunting apparel

n/t

[Hayabusa]

26. The best thing about this story

was listening to all of the butthurt Conservative talk show hosts yesterday turning against him for speaking the truth. Mark Levine even said he was going to sell his Hank Aaron baseball card, LOL.

[uppityperson]

30. What do you mean? Please clarify, thank you.

[uppityperson]

32. What "racism" do you mean, or what do you mean by "racism". I was hoping Semivir would

answer but you will do.

[uppityperson]

34. Thank you for your answer, was hoping for an answer from Jamie Bueno or Semivir too.

Yes, I believe people can not have "negative conceptions and/or reactions to members of other races". I am very capable of seeing someone with skin, hair, eyes different than mine without having "negative conceptions and/or reactions". I find it odd that you 3 expect that is not possible.

[uppityperson]

36. Hi Jaime, yes, I have. How about you? Did yours ever really go away?

[uppityperson]

38. Huh, you call me a liar and say will pray for me?

[uppityperson]

40. "I don't believe you" is not saying I am lying? Here is another question for you, does it get

confusing remembering passwords?

[uppityperson]

42. just being curious

[uppityperson]

44. "I don't believe you" is not saying I am lying?