Editor’s note:
The following is a transcript of a 9 min. 22 excerpt from the conversation allegedly taped by V. Stiviano containing racist remarks by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. The initials V.S. represent Stiviano, and the initials D.S. represent Sterling. Click here to read a column on Sterling’s remarks from Solomon Jones.
V.S. – “Honey, I’m sorry.”
D.S. – “I’m sorry, too.”
V.S. – “I wish I could change the skin. The color of my skin.”
D.S. – “That isn’t the issue. You’ve missed the issue.”
V.S. – “What’s the issue?”
D.S. – “The issue is we don’t have to broadcast everything.”
V.S. – “I’m not broadcasting anything. I don’t do anything wrong.”
D.S. – “Nobody said you did anything wrong.”
V.S. – “I don’t do anything wrong. If we ever have any issues it’s because people call you and tell you things about me that are not true.”
D.S. – “Then why are you broadcasting—”
V.S. – “I’m not broadcasting anything.”
D.S. – “And why are you taking pictures with minorities … Why?”
V.S. – “What’s wrong with minorities? What’s wrong with black people?”
D.S. – “Nothing. Nothing.”
V.S. – “What’s wrong with Hispanics?”
D.S. – “It’s like talking to an enemy. There’s nothing wrong with minorities, they’re fabulous. Fabulous. Because you’re an enemy to me.”
V.S. – “Why?”
D.S. – “Because you don’t understand.”
V.S. – “I don’t understand what?
D.S. – “Nothing. Nothing.”
V.S. – “That racism still is a lie?”
D.S. – “No, but there’s a culture.”
V.S. – “What culture?”
D.S. – “People feel certain things. Hispanics fell certain things towards blacks. Blacks feel certain things towards other groups. It’s been that way historically, and it will always be that way.”
V.S. – “But it’s not that way in my heart and in my mind.”
D.S. – “But maybe you want to adjust to the world.”
V.S. – “So why if the world doesn’t do anything for me, and they don’t make me happy?”
D.S. – “You’re right. I don’t ant to argue with you. I don’t want to argue.”
V.S. – “I can’t be racist in my heart.”
D.S. – “And that’s good. I’m living in a culture, and I have to live within that culture. So that’s the way it is. That’s all. I got it. I got the whole message. You live with your heart.”
V.S. – “I don’t.”
D.S. – “You can’t be flexible. You can’t.”
V.S. – “I am flexible. I understand that that’s the way you were raised, and that’s your culture, and I’m respectful, and—”
D.S. – “Well why do you have to disrespect them? Those are—”
V.S. – “Who am I disrespecting?”
D.S. – “The world before you.”
V.S. – “Why am I disrespecting them?”
D.S. – “By walking, and you’re perceived as either a Latina or a white girl. Why can’t you be walking publicly with black people? Why? Is there a benefit to you?”
V.S. – “Is it a benefit to me? Does it matter if they’re white or blue or yellow?”
D.S. – “I guess that you don’t know that. Maybe you’re stupid. Maybe you don’t know what people think of you. It does matter! Yeah! It matters.”
V.S. – “Do you know that I’m mixed?”
D.S. – “No I don’t know that.”
V.S. – “You know that I’m mixed.”
D.S. – “You told me you were going to remove those. You said, ‘Yes, I understand you.’ I mean you change from day to day. Wow. So painful, wow.”
V.S. – “People call you and tell you that I have black people on my Instagram. And it bothers you.”
D.S. – “Yeah it bothers me a lot that you want to promo … broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?”
V.S. – “You associate with black people.”
D.S. – “I’m not you, and you’re not me. You’re supposed to be a delicate white or a delicate Latina girl.”
V.S. – “I’m a mixed girl.”
D.S. – “Ok. Well.
V.S. – “And you’re in love with me. And I’m black and Mexican. Whether you like it or not.”
D.S. – “Ok.”
V.S. – “Whether the world accepts it or not. And you’re asking me to remove something that’s part of me and in my blood stream. Because the world thinks different of me and you’re afraid of what they’re going to think see because of your upbringing? You want me to have hate towards black people?”
D.S. – “I don’t want you to have hate. That’s what people do—they turn things around. I want you to love them—privately. In your whole life, everyday you can be with them. Every single day of your life …”
V.S. – “But not in public?”
D.S. – “But why publicize it on the Instagram and why bring it to my games?”
V.S. – “Why bring the black people to the games … I…”
D.S. – “I don’t think we need to discuss anymore. It’s over. I don’t want to talk about it.”
V.S. – “I’m sorry that you feel that way.”
D.S. – “I feel that way so strongly, and it may cause our relationship to just break apart. And if it does, it does. It’s better to break apart now than to break apart later.”
V.S. – “I’m sorry that you still have people around you that are full of hate and racism in their heart. I’m sorry that you’re still racist in your heart. I’m sorry that you live in a world that’s still—”
D.S. – “How about your whole life, everyday, you could do whatever you want. You can sleep with them, you can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that… and not to bring them to my games.”
V.S. – “I don’t bring anyone to the games.”
D.S. – “Ok then, there’s nothing to argue about.”
V.S. – “I know.”
D.S. – “Ok, we’ve got a big problem here. I really don’t feel like going anywhere. I don’t feel like going to Europe, I don’t feel like just going through the whole thing. We’ve got a BIG problem. If you didn’t like him someone that I was with I would … stop seeing that person and …”
V.S. – “I’m sorry I don’t have anymore friends. What would you like me to do? Remove the skin color out of my skin?”
D.S. – “Is that a real issue or are you making something up?”
V.S. – “I mean, I just don’t understand what the issue is.”
D.S. – “There’s nothing with you or your skin color. Why are you saying these things? To upset me? Ok.”
V.S. – “Sweetie. I’m sorry.”
D.S. – “I’m so sorry too. We made a giant mistake. Both of us. Everything you say to me is so painful. Do I want you to change the color of your skin? You know how to really hurt somebody, instead of saying, ‘I understand.’”
V.S. – “I don’t understand how you have so much hate towards minorities.”
“I don’t have any hate on nothing.”
V.S. – “I do not understand.”
D.S. – “Why would you say –”
V.S. – “How a person like you who’s elevated, who’s here still feels he’s above the world and you can’t even be seen with someone in which is considered of a different skin color?”
D.S. – “They can be with me all day long and all night long.”
V.S. – “I can’t believe that a man who’s educated, a man who’s a scholar, a man …”
D.S. – “Well believe it, and stop talking about it. Let’s finish our discussion with a period, ok? You’re not making any good point. You can’t believe this man—that’s all I am. I’m not a good person in your eyes. If I was a good person, you wouldn’t say, ‘I can’t believe this, I can’t believe that,’ which are all lies. I love the black people.”
V.S. – “Look at all this negativity coming from…”
D.S. – “There is no negativity! I love everybody. I’m just saying, in your lousy f—ing Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people. You don’t have to. If you want to, do it.”
V.S. – “If it’s white people it’s ok? If it was Larry Bird, would it have made a difference?”
D.S. – “You’re just a big fighter. I can see—who would want to live with a woman like you? Who would want to live with a woman? All you ever wanted to do is fight. You’re a born fighter.”
V.S. – “I’m sorry that you’re mad.”
D.S. – “You have the worst mouth.”
V.S. – “Why are you so angry, honey? What’s wrong?”
D.S. – “Why would you bring up Larry Bird? What does he got to do with it? You can walk all night long with your sisters or your family.”
V.S. – “I … I saw someone I admire. I admire Magic Johnson.”
D.S. – “Ok. Good.”
V.S. – “I’m sorry.”
D.S. – “Ok.”
V.S. – “He’s made a lot of changes for his community, for the world, for the people, for the minorities—he’s helped a lot of people.”
D.S. – “Why are you forcing this down my throat? I’m finished talking to you. I have nothing more to say.
V.S. – “And I took a picture with someone I admire.”
D.S. – “Good.”
V.S. – “He happens to be a black, and I’m sorry.”
D.S. – “I think the fact that you admire him—I’ve known him well, and he should be admired. And I’m just saying that it’s too bad you can’t admire him privately, and during your entire f—ing life–your whole life—admire him, bring him here, feed him, f–k him, I don’t care. You can do anything. But don’t put him on Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games. Ok?”
V.S. – “I don’t, I’ve never brought … I don’t know him personally.”
D.S. – “Please leave me alone. Please, please?”
V.S. – “I’m sorry. Is there anything that I can do to make you feel better?”
D.S. – “No, you can never make me feel better. You’re just a fighter and you want …” 
The audio was originally reported by TMZ.
Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com. Click here to learn more about Solomon.
