‘White silence hurts Black people’: Rickey Smiley talks ‘Roseanne’ and why he gifted teen from viral graduation photo with a car
A high school student in Alabama now has a car of his own after a photo of him taking the bus to his graduation in his cap and gown went viral and caught the eye of radio host Rickey Smiley.
Graduating senior Corey Patrick went from unknown teen to an internet sensation after a bus driver named DeJuanna Beasely posted photos of the Tarrant High School student walking to the bus stop in his graduation attire.
The website for 95.7 JAMZ explained that Patrick’s family didn’t have a car so he got up at 4 a.m. everyday to get to school all the way across town.
When Smiley found out, he tracked down the young man, who he describes as the “definition of determination” to make his life a bit easier.
“Anybody that has that kind of determination just to get their high school diploma we have to help,” Smiley told theGrio. “He’s in Birmingham, Alabama and I’m in Birmingham. We’re in the same city. So they put us directly in touch with the family and we were able to get to him.”
Corey Parker was brought on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” on May 24th to share his story. And that’s when he was told that Tyrese, Da Brat and Rickey would all be pitching in to buy him a car.
From the emotional responses from both Partrick and Smiley, you could tell that moment hit home for the industry veteran.
“It reminded of myself a little bit,” Smiley admitted. “I remember riding the bus, the Greyhound bus off to college. I understand those situations. Not having a car and having to ride the bus or get a ride. And somebody helped me. Somebody provided transportation for me. They didn’t buy me a car but they gave me a bus ticket. It was a struggle but I was determined. So I had to extend the same love and respect to him that was extended to me when I didn’t have anything. You’re blessed to be a blessing so it was awesome to be able to do this. It was the right thing to do.”
Smiley is also making sure the young man is set up to stay on the right track beyond his fifteen minutes of fame.
“This is actually the family’s first car. So we have people in place to help him study and get his driver’s license,” said the host. “We’re gonna get his paperwork and insurance all done so there won’t be any liability issues and he will have a car. He’ll also have a full scholarship to Jacksonville state university and we’re gonna make sure that we can pay some bills and be of some assistance to a family that was struggling.”
Roseanne can’t hide her racism behind a laugh track
While the comic has a long-standing history of using his celebrity to uplift those in his community, he can’t help but feel disappointment that others, like Roseanne Barr, are wielding their power to spread hate.
“My thing with Roseanne is yeah everybody has freedom of speech but you have to be careful with your platform and how you use it,” Smiley said referencing the cancellation of Roseanne’s reboot due to her racist Twitter rants.
–Donald Trump weighs in on racist Roseanne controversy and asks for apology from ABC–
Smiley is also giving the side-eye to those who remain silent and believes that being a “working class American” (the demographic often cited as the fan base for both Trump and Roseanne) is no excuse to turn a blind eye to bigotry.
“This isn’t about Black or white or even Democrat vs Republican. It’s a matter of right and wrong. The thing that hurts us the most as Black people is white silence. If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem. If white comedians and the white working class aren’t speaking out about police brutality they’re just dead wrong. I use my platform to try to raise awareness about what is going on in the community.”
He also applauds ABC for cancelling Barr’s show despite its ratings success.
“If I would’ve went and said something as mean, hateful and irresponsible as she did I should be fired,” he added. “You have freedom of speech but there are still consequences. Do not allow your freedom to become your bondage. She felt comfortable and said something she shouldn’t have said. ABC did the right thing and they did it in a timely fashion.”
To keep up with Rickey and all the amazing work he’s been doing to help those in need, check out RickeySmiley.com and The Rickey Smiley Foundation.
