Overt/Covert - The Difference a "C" Makes

Bull Connor

OVERT- adjective \ō-ˈvərt, ˈō-(ˌ)vərt\: easily seen : not secret or hidden

"Negroes and whites will not segregate together as long as I am Commissioner."
"All you gotta do is tell them you're going to bring the dogs. Look at 'em run. I want to see the dogs work."
"You can never whip these birds, if you don't keep you and them separate. I found that out in Birmingham. You've got to keep the white and the black separate." 

Donald Sterling

COVERT- adjective \ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt, kō-ˈ; ˈkə-vərt\ : made, shown, or done in a way that is not easily seen or noticed: secret or hidden 

"And why are you taking pictures with minorities.....Why?"
"Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with Black people. Do you have to?"
"I want you to love them (Blacks and Hispanics) privately."
"But why publicize it on the Instagram and why bring it to my games?" 

HISTORICALLY................ 

 “When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over the years, either”  Senator Trent Lott 

“The black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid.”  Jimmy the Greek, Sports Commentator 

"That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve." Fuzzy Zoeller, Golfer 

 "I used to own - my father had a ranch. We used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,”  U.S. Representative Don Young 

 "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what ... who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives," Mitt Romney, 2012 Presidential Candidate 

Above are just five historical examples out of countless other statements that have been made usually under the influence of alcohol or what was thought to be behind closed doors. As one who love words, I thought this was an opportune time to be tongue and cheek with the words "overt" and "covert."  The words contain the same letters with the exception of the letter "C" but are definitional opposites. One is easily seen and the other is not. One is clearly more dangerous than the other.

I can appreciate the Bull Connor's of the world because I know where they stand; however, the Donald Sterling's and the others named above as examples are a horse of a different color (no pun intended). As the kids can say, "There is no shame in Bull Connor's game," as he let you know with no uncertainty and without a shadow of a doubt where he stood. The others on the other hand portray themselves to be one thing, when really they are not. They portray themselves to care for everyone when in reality they do not. It's fine for Black/minority basketball players to make Donald Sterling billions, but not okay for blacks to be brought to "his" games. Mr. Sterling in his own words is "bothered" by the fact that his "mixed" girlfriend (her words) wants to associate with Blacks.

The problem with our covert brothers and sisters is that they are in the words of the O'JAYS, "Back stabbers."

(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)

A back stabber is much more dangerous than the person who has no shame in his/her game. The covert brothers and sisters and smiling in your face while at the same time wishing you did not exist or are looking at ways to make money off of you, while still hating you (it's called being pimped).

Memorial Wall at Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany

I recently visited  the Dachau concentration camp in Germany and was once again reminded of the mantra of our Jewish brothers and sisters who make it very clear that it (The Holocaust) will never happen again. Their slogan is "Never Again."  Every race and ethnic group who has suffered atrocities merely because of their race or ethnic background ought to adopt similar sentiments and always take actions to ensure that it will indeed never happen again.

Be very clear that there too many covert brothers and sisters out there to count and their true selves only manifest under the influence of alcohol or in quiet room conversations that somehow leak out. Mr. Sterling says that he is a part of a historical culture; a culture that I pray will one day become extinct. As always, something to critically think about.   You are invited to listen to me live each Saturday morning at 6 a.m. ET on gobrave.org and follow on Twitter @thinkcritical01.