Stephen a. Smith, your black card has been revoked

​Stephen A. Smith gets on my very last nerve.

And after this latest episode, I have reached a decision on behalf of the culture:

Sir, please turn in your Black card at the front desk.

You are also indefinitely suspended from the cookout. No plate. No foil. No “who made the potato salad?” No “to-go plate.” Nothing. Boy, “bye!” 😆

Here is what bothers me.

Stephen has turned his anti-Black women antics into a sport for his own amusement. Who has been on his hit list? Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Jasmine Crockett, and Joy Reid.  I have talked about this before.

Does he have the right to disagree with them? Absolutely. We all know he has adopted a very conservative, MAGA-leaning ideology. So, I expect him to disagree with Black women who happen to be liberal. That’s his shtick.

What I don’t expect is the visceral way that he does it — by leaning into systemic stereotypes and bias, with critiques that are sharper than the ones he has for their pale-skinned counterparts.

Yep… he is the walking, breathing embodiment of “not all skin folk are kin folk.”

Until now, that has been why I personally don’t put any merit in anything he has to say. But his most recent antic has moved me from annoyed to embarrassed for him…because he don’t have the good sense to be embarrassed for himself.

The National Association of Black Journalists criticized Stephen A. Smith for his treatment of Black women. He had every right to disagree. He could have challenged the criticism. He could have gone directly to NABJ and had a substantive conversation about why he believed they were wrong.

Instead, this grown Black man went running to Sean Hannity and Chris Cuomo looking for validation. (Yes, I censored myself because I was really thinking this “grown a… man”).

SIR.

You went to white men to complain that Black journalists were being unfair to you for how you publicly treat Black women? You’ve got to be kidding.

You couldn’t have scripted a better Exhibit A if NABJ had written the scene themselves. Dude, you are no victim so stop pretending to be one. You are guilty as charged.

And this is why I continue to struggle with calling Stephen A. Smith a journalist. He is certainly a broadcaster. He is unquestionably an entertainer. He is very good at generating attention, outrage, and ratings.

Hell, I watch him on General Hospital. He’s even pretty good at playing a mobster. 😆

But journalism?

I need somebody to show me the receipts.

Because increasingly, Stephen A. seems less interested in examining an issue than performing his grievance about it — loudly, dramatically, and preferably with a camera rolling. He even enjoys teasing that he will run for President. But guess what bro, the same folks who enjoy watching and laughing at you will never vote for you. You are the minstrel show. 

And running to white media personalities for reassurance after a Black professional organization calls you out?

Baby, that did not clear your name.

That got your Black card laminated, stamped “REVOKED,” and mailed directly back to the issuing authority.

I only have one more thing to say to you, Stephen.

Bless your heart.

Frankly Speaking, 
Adrienne Patrice Whitaker