--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a sad commentary when I have to say…" description: "\"It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.\" — Oscar Robertson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png" --- # It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in… ![“It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.” quote by Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png) > “It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.” [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments that discussions about race have become overly sensitive, suggesting a reluctance to confront racial issues directly. **In simple terms:** People are too sensitive to talk about race. Key Takeaway Over‑sensitivity hinders honest racial dialogue. Themes race sensitivity dialogue societal tension Mood concerned reflective Type social critique cultural When to use this quote - diversity training sessions - public town‑hall meetings Key Concepts cultural polarization communication barriers Practical Applications - Facilitate structured conversations on race - Teach emotional intelligence in schools Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from confronting uncomfortable truths about race? - How can societies balance sensitivity with frank discussion? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary/) [Commentary Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary-say-1216765/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-sensitive-1216766/) [Sad Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-commentary-794184/) [Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive/) [Sensitive Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive-race-1216764/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a teenager, I was a real sensitive kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-a-real-sensitive-kid/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [It's a sad commentary on where politics is today. If someone disagrees with you, you're either Attila the Hun or a leftist liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-leininger/it-s-a-sad-commentary-on-where-politics-is-today-if-someone-disagrees/) [James R. Leininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-leininger/) > [It is a sad commentary of our times when our young must seek advice and counsel from 'Dear Abby' instead of going to Mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/it-is-a-sad-commentary-of-our-times-when-our-young-must-seek-advice/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) > [Sonia Sotomayor is uniquely and exquisitely sensitive to race issues because she is a Latina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/sonia-sotomayor-is-uniquely-and-exquisitely-sensitive-to-race-issues/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [White fragility! White people are so sensitive about race and racial conversations. I feel like I'm always walking on eggshells when I'm around white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/white-fragility-white-people-are-so-sensitive-about-race-and-racial/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [People are so sensitive about race that they can't hear someone speaking about their life in a very true way, or doing satire or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/people-are-so-sensitive-about-race-that-they-can-t-hear-someone/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's a sad commentary on our time - to use a phrase much favored by my late father - that people increasingly celebrate Christmas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/it-s-a-sad-commentary-on-our-time-to-use-a-phrase-much-favored-by-my/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [It's a sad commentary when children feel they can talK to a stranger better than their own parents and ask him to solve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-children-feel-they-can-talk-to-a-stranger/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [Most performers are used to the highs and the lows. If you can let a low stop you, that would be a sad commentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/most-performers-are-used-to-the-highs-and-the-lows-if-you-can-let-a/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [“It is a sad commentary on our civilization, however, that war and suffering rather than peacetime living can mobilize human readiness to make sacrifices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-a-sad-commentary-on-our-civilization-however-that-war-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I think it's a really sad commentary when people who want to refer to themselves as quote-Christians-unquote would want to come out and hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-think-it-s-a-really-sad-commentary-when-people-who-want-to-refer-to/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I always had a running commentary in my head that was extremely funny and off-center, but I never said it to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/i-always-had-a-running-commentary-in-my-head-that-was-extremely-funny/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [The narration, in fact, doubles the drama with a commentary without which no mise en scene would be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lacan/the-narration-in-fact-doubles-the-drama-with-a-commentary-without/) [Jacques Lacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lacan/) > [Things happen too quickly, crisis follows crisis, the soil of our minds is perpetually disturbed. Each of us, to relieve his feelings, broadcasts his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/things-happen-too-quickly-crisis-follows-crisis-the-soil-of-our-minds/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) ## More by Oscar Robertson > [When I started playing, I wasn't fast, I was gangly, my jumpshot was terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/when-i-started-playing-i-wasn-t-fast-i-was-gangly-my-jumpshot-was/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [College coaches want to power the ball inside, they want (their post players) to power the ball up, but no one can shoot from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/college-coaches-want-to-power-the-ball-inside-they-want-their-post/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Basketball is basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/basketball-is-basketball/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/now-i-guess-people-want-stars-people-are-trying-to-invent-stars/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [People will think there are no other great ballplayers. Look at Garnett. Look at Duncan, Shaq, Kobe. Look at the players with Sacramento. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/people-will-think-there-are-no-other-great-ballplayers-look-at/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [But I like to think an athlete is an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/but-i-like-to-think-an-athlete-is-an-athlete/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/just-because-it-is-an-all-star-game-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-playing/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/this-is-where-young-players-today-want-to-land-they-want-to-be-nba/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Look, I think you should promote the game, but I think you should make it what it ought to be. Not some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/look-i-think-you-should-promote-the-game-but-i-think-you-should-make/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [I don't blame David Stern because a player gets on the court and he doesn't put out competitively. No one can make you play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/i-don-t-blame-david-stern-because-a-player-gets-on-the-court-and-he/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [They should have a rule: in order to be a sportswriter, you have to have played that sport, at some level; high school, college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/they-should-have-a-rule-in-order-to-be-a-sportswriter-you-have-to/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [But when I did it (the triple-double), I didn't even know it until someone told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/but-when-i-did-it-the-triple-double-i-didn-t-even-know-it-until/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [You have to teach now - tell a kid how to box out, tell him how to pass, teach him footwork. Players don't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/you-have-to-teach-now-tell-a-kid-how-to-box-out-tell-him-how-to-pass/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [You see what happens in college and high school games today - a three-point shot or a dunk. I think that's the reason that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/you-see-what-happens-in-college-and-high-school-games-today-a-three/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [People say that, but I think the NBA was bigger than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/people-say-that-but-i-think-the-nba-was-bigger-than-larry-bird-and/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) [Explore all 50 Oscar Robertson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Robertson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say-that-sometimes-in-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say-that-sometimes-in-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/oscar-robertson-13490_basketball_it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say_100181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a sad commentary when I have to say that sometimes in our country we are real sensitive to race.” — Oscar Robertson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oscar Robertson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's a sad commentary when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say-that-sometimes-in-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/it-s-a-sad-commentary-when-i-have-to-say-that-sometimes-in-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```