- Harlem Globetrotters player Maxwell Pearce is speaking out following a January news segment in Birmingham, Alabama in which fruit was thrown at him
- Pearce visited Birmingham's Fox affiliate, WBRC, back in January, to discuss an upcoming appearance and to show off some basketball tricks live on air
- At one point during the segment, weatherman Mickey Ferguson inexplicably produced a tangerine and tossed it to Pearce, who appeared to be confused
- While Pearce maintained his smile, another tangerine is thrown to him from off screen. Finally he catches a banana that is thrown to him at the end of the clip
- In a recent YouTube video, Pearce explained he was reluctant to come forward because he was worried that speaking out could affect his career
- He identified WBRC anchor Clare Huddleston and Ferguson as the two individuals who were throwing the fruit - an act that's often used as a racist taunt
- The station offered an apology to Pearce and had him on to discuss racism in later segments. He said the station showed an 'unacceptable lack of awareness'
A member of the Harlem Globetrotters is speaking out following a local news segment in Birmingham, Alabama, in which two of the station's anchors threw fruit, including a banana, at the African-American basketball player.
Maxwell Pearce, a former Purchase (New York) University player and self-described entrepreneur, visited Birmingham's Fox affiliate, WBRC, back in January, to discuss an upcoming appearance and to show off some basketball tricks with anchor Mike Dubberly and lead weather forecaster Mickey Ferguson.
In a clip of the segment he posted on social media, the 6-foot guard is seen laughing with the pair when Ferguson, holding the the Globetrotter's famed tricolor ball, inexplicably pulled a tangerine from his pocket with his off hand and tossed it to Pearce.
Over the next 30 seconds, two more pieces of fruit — another tangerine and a banana — are thrown to Pearce from just off screen while he managed to maintain his smile.
In his video describing the incident, Pearce identified WBRC anchor Clare Huddleston and Ferguson as the two individuals who were throwing the fruit - a centuries-old act performed by racists to taunt people of African descent.
'Two anchors, Mickey Ferguson and Clare Huddleston, started throwing fruits at me in lieu of a basketball,' Pearce said. 'In the span of 36 seconds, two tangerines and ultimately a banana were thrown to me on live television.'
As Pearce explained, he was reluctant to come forward with his displeasure over the incident because he didn't want it to affect his job, but changed his mind in recent months because he hopes to help others in similar situations.
'By sharing this story, it can inspire people to share their experiences of racism and discrimination,' Pearce continued. 'Throwing a banana at a black man and passing it off as entertainment displays an unacceptable lack of awareness, and quite frankly I'm having a very difficult time understanding how someone could work in the media field and not know this is offensive.'
Shannon Isbell, WBRC's News Director, said that the station has been in discussion with Pearce since the incident and has offered an apology.
However, as Pearce explained it, he was told in February that he could call the station if he wanted to receive an apology - an offer he says he declined.
'Rather than appearing combative and ruffling the feathers of my job, I stood down, knowing I wasn't satisfied,' said Pearce, who added that he is ashamed for not coming forward sooner.
Pearce has requested an on-air apology from Huddleston and Ferguson, but the station has yet to comply, according to AL.com.
The station did release a statement to AL.com on Monday.
'WBRC Fox6 would like to take this opportunity to again extend a heartfelt and sincere apology to Globetrotter Max Pearce,' said in a statement sent to AL.com Monday. 'An on-air segment promoting a Globetrotters event with Mr. Pearce months ago was intended to be lighthearted.
'However, it became something deeply hurtful to our guest as the result of our lack of understanding. We are grateful for the several enlightening, educational conversations we have had with Max over the last two months. I was happy to have him on our show about racial inequality and faith that aired last Friday.'
While the station claims the segment was never meant to be insulting, Pearce explained that the problem here isn't just intent.
'Throwing fruit at me diminishes the Naismith Hall of Fame legacy of the Harlem Globe Trotters to that of a circus,' he said. 'But throwing a banana at a black man and passing it off as entertainment displays an unacceptable lack of awareness.
'Quite frankly, I'm having a very difficult time understanding how someone could work in the media field and not know that this is offensive,' Pearce continued, as shots of black soccer players being taunted with bananas in England appeared on the screen.
'This carries deep racial undertones that date back to the early 1900s when black people were held in display in human zoos. This is a prime example of how the effects of 400 years of oppression have impacted this country. This is symbolic of the daily micro aggressions black people deal with, and I am not going to be silent about it anymore.
'But with the senseless murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, it is impossible for black people not to have their own racial PTSD emotionally triggered… The constant battle of compromising your integrity, weighing the pros and cons of whether you should call out a racist act, is extremely taxing.'
Pearce has appeared on several WBRC segments in recent weeks to discuss racism, but said the station edited out the historical references he used to explain to viewers why the act of throwing a banana at a black person is so offensive.
'This is another example of how history has been carefully presented to favor and safe face of the oppressor,' he said. 'The most relevant part omitted is the story of Ota Benga, who was an African man who was kidnapped and put on display at the Bronx Zoo. He was caged at the monkey house and then tortured, spit on, and had bananas thrown at him while over a quarter million people visited him at that time.'
A banana thrown from the crowd is seen at the side of the pitch as Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2018
Harlem Globetrotters player slams Alabama TV station for racism | Daily Mail Online
Harlem Globetrotter hit with fruit wants on air apology from TV anchors
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