By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Former NBA star Charles Barkley has always been known for being very outspoken on politics and current issues, so it’s no surprise he’s also sharing his opinion on the Adrian Peterson scandal.
As we reported recently, Adrian was indicted recently for child abuse because police feel he went too far by hitting his four-year old son with a switch.
During “The NFL Today,” after his co-host Jim Rose said what Peterson did was wrong, Charles says:
“I don’t believe that because, listen, we spank kids in the south. I think the question about did Adrian Peterson go overboard — Listen, Jim, we all grow up in different environments. Every black parent in my neighborhood in the South would be in trouble or in jail under those circumstances.
“…I think there’s a fine line. Jim, I’ve had many welts on my legs.”
When asked if he received welts like the ones shown in the photos of Adrian’s son, Charles says:
“Yes, I’ve gotten beat with switches — and I don’t even like the term. When the media talks about it, ‘beating a child’…
“We called it ‘spanking’ or ‘whipping’ our kids.
“Sure. I think those pictures are disturbing. And I think Adrian said ‘I went overboard.’ But as far as being from the South, we all spanked our kids — I got spanked, me and my two brothers…”
Despite originally disagreeing, Charles did admit that just maybe it is time for parents to rethink using whippings to discipline their kids:
“And I totally agree with that. Maybe we need to rethink it. But I think we have to really be careful trying to teach other parents how to discipline their kids. That’s a very fine line.”
I think Adrian took it too far and made a mistake. But I don’t think he should lose his career over this.
Agreed!!
Charles always has something to say.
LOL he sure does.
It is no defending what I seen in those pictures. Do I think Adrian maliciously beat his child? No, but I do think he went extremely too far with a 4 year old. I don’t think he should lose his career but I do think he needs to go through the court process and be suspended some games and also take a parenting class.
Adrian went too far, but a lot of parents do. I hope he learns from this.
This whole situation is touchy because we’re basically telling a parent how to discipline their kid, I’m all for spankings but when the child starts bleeding, you’ve overdone it.
I agree
Cosign.
I agree 100 percent.
I think this is a fair observation.
Sad situation. I appreciate that he wants o discipline his child, but by looking at the pictures it’s clear he went too far. I do hope he finds another way to discipline his children.
It’s a damn shame you can’t even whip your kids anymore. White folks won’t be happy until you start putting your kids in time out. Those are the same kids that end up shooting up their own high school.
YES, YES YES! I’ve been saying for ever that as soon as we start adopting the “I want to be my child’s friend” method of parenting, well be in a world of trouble. Part of the reason our kids haven’t been taking guns to school to blow away their classmates, (when they’re pissed off at the world), is because of that discipline instilled in black homes/communities. Did Adrian go too far? Yes! But he needs parenting classes, not losing his job. He was right to discipline, but strong as he is, how hard he instilled that discipline should’ve been tempered.
Agree!
exactly
Maybe it’s just me, but I do think he made a mistake. He shouldn’t lose his job.
I don’t want him to lose his career. He’s ignorant about spanking, and needs help. That’s it.
But has Darren Wilson been charged or arrested yet? Just wondering….
Exactly!!
I was on Adrian’s side until I saw the pictures. He definitely went too far. But I do think he made a mistake and should be given a second chance. When you grow up a certain way, you just have to learn how to break the cycle.
I’m upset people want this man to lose his job over a f-cking mistake that a lot of our parents made when they were raising us. Get him some help, don’t take away the same income he needs to provide for his kids. I hate how this current society thinks. Are any of us losing our jobs for the bad decisions we make in our personal lives? Hell no. But maybe we should since we want that for these athletes.