Eagles’ Jackson deserves chance to prove himself after racist posts
DeSean Jackson’s true thoughts on Jews and Adolf Hitler and Louis Farrakhan and everything in between can be debated ad infinitum. His job status cannot.
The veteran Eagles wide receiver did enough on Tuesday to earn the right to keep playing in Philadelphia after putting his team in the worst possible position following a series of racist Instagram posts that falsely quoted Hitler saying white Jews will extort America unless the “Negroes know who they were.”
He also shared thoughts from Farrakhan, considered by many watchdog organizations to be an anti-Semitic homophobe, before the Eagles and the NFL condemned Jackson’s
behavior and demanded an apology.
After a half-baked attempt to apologize the first time that featured another false Hitler quote that was supposed to somehow back up Jackson’s claim that he doesn’t hate anyone, Jackson came back with two apologies, the second of which indicated he will use his platform to work with the Jewish community.
“I will fully educate myself and work with local and national organizations to be more informed and make a difference in my community,” he wrote (or had someone write for him). “I will consider my words and actions moving forward. I will seek out voices from other communities and listen to their words, thoughts and beliefs.”
That may not be sincere enough for some people, but The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement accepting Jackson’s apology and offered to work with him on spreading its message.
“We appreciate Mr. Jackson’s apology and his removal of the offensive posts,” the statement said, “and we hope that he will take this opportunity to work with the Jewish community and become educated about how dangerous and pernicious antisemitism and all forms of hate are.”
Jackson also met with owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman, according to reports.
Again, the degree of his sincerity may never be known, but the actions promised should be enough for a player who had never made these kinds of statements before.
Besides, it’s a heck of a lot better than another Eagle who made similar bigoted remarks.
And no, we’re not talking about Riley Cooper, who in 2013 was caught on tape using a racial slur during a confrontation with security guards at a Kenny Chesney concert. The Eagles fined Cooper and suspended him briefly, but did not release the wide receiver.
We’re talking about someone a lot more popular, someone immensely more talented, someone who is in the Hall of Fame.
The late Reggie White.
White was an unapologetic homophobe who also had some politically incorrect views on the differences in races.
Though most of his hurtful comments came after he left the Eagles for greener pastures in Green Bay, he was never shy about his thoughts on Jews, Hispanics, Asians and native Americans.
By the time he left Philadelphia, he had earned the title of the “most anti-Semitic person I’ve met,” according to one Jewish writer who covered the Eagles during White’s time in Philadelphia.
White went into the Hall of Fame as soon as he was eligible, despite some remarks that today could destroy a player’s reputation.
White in 1998 spoke in front of the Wisconsin state assembly, according to the New York Times, saying he was outraged that gay and lesbian groups compared their struggle for civil rights to the struggles of Blacks.
“In the process of history, homosexuals have never been castrated,” he said. “Millions of them never died. Homosexuality is a decision. It’s not a race.”
In the same address, he made an Archie Bunker-like attempt to highlight the positives of the various races, using stereotypes to describe each one.
White never backed down from his views. At least Jackson has. And then some.
For that, he deserves the right to keep playing for the Eagles as long as he follows through on his promises.