
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: Brittney Griner #42 and Brianna Turner #21 of the Phoenix Mercury talk on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 117-91. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: Brittney Griner #42 and Brianna Turner #21 of the Phoenix Mercury talk on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 117-91. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ever since the release of Brittney Griner from Russia, there have been a lot of questions raised about the prisoner swap deal that facilitated her release. Russia had demanded the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner in a one-for-one deal, which was approved by the US authorities. While many celebrated the release of the Phoenix Mercury star from her Russian penal colony, others have slammed the decision to release a dangerous arms dealer. Also, many felt Griner was given priority over other prisoners because of her race and sexuality. Recently, a popular African-American actress posed a very intriguing question for the masses, “Why should Black people care about Brittney Griner’s trade being fair?”
Sarah Krivanek was detained in Russia for almost a year and was released on the same day as Griner. However, she was put on a commercial flight and had to sign paperwork that she would repay the travel charges to the U.S. Government. This raised some questions about the special treatment of Griner compared to other American prisoners held in captivity in similar situations. Also, former Marine Paul Whelan being left behind received a huge backlash from Americans.
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Why should Black people care about the Brittney Griner trade being fair?
Amidst all the controversy and questions regarding the release of Brittney Griner, actress Tammi Mac brought up a relevant question in a recent episode of her show Business of Being Black with Tammy Mac.?During the show, she debated with other panelists whether the prisoner swap trade was fair or not. Entrepreneur Tiffanie Ditlevson, former NFL player, and TV host George Wrighster, TV host Kim Y. Davis, and Radio personality Kyng joined the podcast for the discussion.
After introducing the guests, Tammi jumped straight to the topic of debate, “Why should black people care about Brittney Griner’s trade being fair or not?”
READ MORE – Silence in Church as Brittney Griner?s Gender Questioned in Wild Tirade Against WNBA
Kyng replied that black people should care about the trade because they had demanded the release of Griner. He added that every American should care about the trade because Brittney Griner is an American citizen.
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Meanwhile, Kim answered that black people should care because Griner is a black woman and an American. On the other hand, Wrighster said that black people should care because this could have happened to anyone. And in that case, we would except the government to step in and free the person from exile.
Fears about the prisoner swap deal
Meanwhile, Tiffanie Ditlevson pointed out that people should care about the trade because there is a huge risk for Americans after the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout. She was worried that such a trade now puts a huge bounty on every American citizen who travels overseas. Foreign governments might leverage America’s compassion for its citizens to free more convicted criminals. She also noted the trade was “very lopsided and rushed.”
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Then Kyng admitted that he would agree with Ditlevson saying the swap deal was rushed. The crew then went on to discuss and give their take on the topic in detail.
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