“A lot of black people use that for their failures” – Charles Barkley believed racism was used as a “crutch” by African-Americans

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is someone who speaks very bluntly and speaks his mind, even if it makes him unpopular or controversial. When he discusses racial topics, Barkley doesn’t just draw the ire of White people, but also the Black folk. In fact, some of his biggest critics come from the Black community, who think he’s too rich, famous, and successful to understand their issues.

In short, Barkley is a Black man and is proud to be one. He has donated millions of dollars to the Black Community, particularly HBCUs. However, Chuck does not always side with them on every subject. And he is not afraid to call out people of his color if he feels he has to.

Such was the case during his 1993 Playboy Magazine interview, when Washington Post sports writer Tom Boswell asked him if people cry racism when they can’t get the job done on their own.

“A lot of people use racism as a crutch,” said Barkley. “I’d be the first to admit that a lot of Black people use that for their failures. No White person in this world can stop me from being successful if I want to be successful. I believe that. No Black person could stop me from being successful, either.”

Chuck doesn’t have a bias against White people

Barkley’s answer raised eyebrows, but the experiences in his hometown shaped his perspective on racism. Like any other small Alabama town, Leeds had a predominantly White population, so Charles grew up literally with White people around him.

Chuck was the first black baby delivered in a segregated all-White town hospital in his hometown because his grandfather worked as a janitor there. His mother and grandmother worked as maids for White families.

The legendary NBA power forward was also among the first black students to be integrated into the previously segregated Leeds Elementary School and Leeds High School. And so it’s no surprise that he doesn’t have a bias against White people.

“I don’t think it’s fair to blame all Black America’s problems on White America,” he added. “Because we do a lot of stuff to ourselves. I saw a very disturbing statistic. More than seventy percent of crimes against Black people are committed by other Black people.”

Related: “One was never enough” — Former NBA forward admitted he was sleeping with three to four women a day

The wounds are self-inflicted

Charles reiterated that statement in a 2015 ESPN-featured article about himself entitled “Up From Leeds” when he said that most of the problems of the Black community are self-inflicted. Then last month, Barkley called out members of the media who tried to bring up race when talking about LeBron James’ controversial comments about playing in Memphis.

“All these, what’s the word I’m thinking of? F—ing idiots on the internet and who got podcasts and things… I guess LeBron said he didn’t like Memphis or Milwaukee,” Barkley said. “For some reason, people went crazy on the Memphis part because they turned it into race, which is the best way to get idiots and fools talking about anything. Every loser in the world wants to be racist.”

Barkley did not name names, but it was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith who cried out and reminded James that the majority of Memphis is black, and that his talking about moving the Grizzlies to Nashville will put at risk the livelihood of the Black community there. What Stepen A. did to LeBron is no crime. However, it’s a good example of one Black man trying to bring up race when it’s not needed.

Related: “To make sure I can afford a nanny” – Charles Barkley’s hilarious motivation for working hard was so he wouldn’t have to change diapers

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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