Jason Whitlock, Ball State alum, defends Papa John

Seth Slabaugh | The Star Press

EDITOR'S NOTE: Since this story published, the Ball State Board of Trustees reversed course. Coverage of that can be found here. Also, the Ball State Black Student Association and others met this week to discuss the issue. Coverage of that can be found here.

MUNCIE, Ind. — Journalist Jason Whitlock, known nationally for his opinions on sports and black America, is coming to the defense of fellow native Hoosier and Ball State University alumnus John Schnatter.

In an exclusive interview with The Star Press, Whitlock said Schnatter "is Ball State family and we better treat him like family;" the controversy surrounding Schnatter's use of the N-word "has virtually nothing to do with race and racism;" and "the only person disparaged was Colonel Sanders" (see Whitlock's complete comments below).

Whitlock co-hosts with Colin Cowherd the Fox Sports' television talk show "Speak for Yourself." He contacted The Star Press last week to complain about an article on reaction to Schnatter's use of the N-word

That story reported that BSU had received 10 complaints demanding that the university eliminate Schnatter from its marketing materials, strip him of the honorary doctorate he received in 2015, and remove his name from the John H. Schnatter Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise.

"Ten complaints?!?!" emailed Whitlock, who is a 1990 Ball State journalism graduate and former BSU football player. "Ten complaints is nothing."

► BSU professor calls Schnatter's use of N-word inexcusable.

Ball State continues to weigh its options on responding to the controversy, while Schnatter's attorney told Forbes recently that he "quoted the (N-word) and did not use the word. There is a world of difference between using the word as a slur — demeaning someone by calling them that word — and quoting that word."

Whitlock's concerns led to a question-answer email interview with The Star Press:

Question: What do you think about his use of the N-word? Most if not all are saying that should not be used in any context.

Answer: I do not like the N-word. I’ve written for years that no one — white or black —should use the N-word, particularly in public speech. Its use in commercial rap music is harmful to black people. John Schnatter, in a private conference call, saying Colonel Sanders used the N-word isn’t racist. Mr. Schnatter’s words did not harm black people. It was a tree falling in the woods. The only person disparaged was Colonel Sanders.

I do think Mr. Schnatter used poor judgment. I understand why someone on the conference call would be uncomfortable hearing the word regardless of context. I love rap music but I hate the N-word. I only listen to rap music on headsets. I don’t like hearing the filth around other people. The N-word is the filthiest word I know. Rational, mature people don’t like hearing it in casual conversation.

Question: What do you think of his bringing up in the same conference call that in the old days black people were dragged behind cars?

Answer: I would need to hear the full context before offering an informed opinion. America has an ugly racial history. Abhorrent, violent behavior toward black people used to be commonplace. Did he say: ‘I wish we could go back to the old days?’ Or was he saying: ‘We’ve come a long way in this country?’ The story was presented without proper context. It’s bad journalism.

Question: What do you think about his comments/stance on NFL players kneeling? That’s been cited as another example of racism.

Answer: To my knowledge, he said Papa John’s sales were hurt by the NFL’s national anthem controversy and that he was disappointed in commissioner Roger Goodell’s leadership. I don’t see how that is racist. Those are opinions about sales and a white commissioner.

If the assertion/assumption is John Schnatter disagrees with NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, I don’t think that’s proof of racism either. Disagreeing with a small handful of black NFL players is not proof of racism. I’m black. You are allowed to disagree with my thoughts, opinions and actions without having your character impugned. I’m a man, not an ill child. I can handle push-back. I can hold my own in a debate. The people screaming that it’s racist to disagree with Colin Kaepernick are people who think black men are incapable of withstanding rigorous debate. They think we’re ill children who must be pampered.

Papa John's loses $70M, blames NFL commish Papa John's, an official sponsor of the NFL, cut its profit forecasts on Tuesday.



Question: What do you think about his reported dislike of Obamacare and saying that it would cause an increase in the cost of pizza? Is that another sign of racism?

Answer: It’s America. You get to disagree with the President. A lot of business people don’t like Obamacare. For a lot of businessmen disliking Obamacare is a financial issue, not remotely a racial issue. Obamacare is a political issue. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act in 1935 many businessmen vehemently opposed it and still do.

Question: Do you think there could be something else at play here —behind the scenes — and that this might be not so much about racism but more about something else?

Answer: The Papa John’s controversy has virtually nothing to do with race or racism. It’s all political — corporate politics, campus politics, community politics and just plain-old politics. The man has wielded an immense level of power in Louisville and at the University of Louisville for nearly three decades. He’s been involved in the firing of school presidents, coaches and athletic directors. Those kinds of dealings create enemies.

Taking his pizza empire public made John Schnatter ridiculously wealthy, but it also invited competitors into his kingdom. Answering to shareholders is the toughest job in business, especially if you’re undisciplined with your mouth and feisty. Mr. Schnatter’s enemies and competitors are exploiting the American media’s hatred of conservatives and addiction to race-baiting to take him down. It’s obvious. I live in Los Angeles. I do not know John Schnatter. But Stevie Wonder can see what’s happening to Papa John.

Question: Should Ball State remove his name from marketing materials, strip him of his honorary doctorate and take his name off of the Schnatter Center?

Answer: No. Hell no. John Schnatter is Ball State family and we better treat him like family. You don’t abandon family over this kind of exaggerated controversy. If there’s proof he ran Papa John’s Pizza in a discriminatory fashion, then I say boot him from campus. But the only thing I’ve seen proven so far is that he’s really outspoken in his beliefs and a bit undisciplined in how he expresses those beliefs. This is a man who deeply cares about the educational experience. There are no perfect human beings besides the one who died on a cross for all of our sins. John Schnatter has apologized rather profusely. God forgives. Why shouldn’t we?

Schnatter, born in Jeffersonville, earned a degree in business administration from Ball State in 1983. He later founded the Papa John's pizza empire.

Whitlock, born in Indianapolis, has been a print journalist/podcaster/on-air personality at the Herald Times in Bloomington, The Ann Arbor News, The Charlotte Observer, the Kansas City Star, ESPN, AOL Sports and Fox. He has been published in Vibe, Playboy, and The Sporting News.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834 or seths@muncie.gannett.com.