Karl Malone: Black People Need To 'Stop Looking For A Handout'

Karl Malone: Black People Need To 'Stop Looking For A Handout'

NBA legend Charles Barkley raised some eyebrows when he told CNN in December that the onus of the #BlackLivesMatter movement needed not be on how racial inequality can be fixed in this country, but on how black people can better improve themselves. In a HuffPost Live interview Wednesday, fellow NBA legend Karl Malone took Barkley's side.

"I echo his sentiments exactly," Malone told host Marc Lamont Hill. "We need to look in the mirror ourselves and stop waiting on someone to come march on our behalf. Take ownership ourself, make our community better and stop looking for a handout. Do something about it yourself that you can control."

Many have decried the former players' stance, including Barkley's "Inside The NBA" co-host Kenny Smith. The two even had a frank on-air discussion about it. Despite the backlash, Barkley has not backed down from his position, and neither did Malone on Wednesday.

"Stop using the excuse about race," Malone said. "I am sick and tired that every time you turn around, that's what we dangle ... Our problem now is we do so much talking and beating things to death. Let's take ownership in ourselves ... stop waiting for someone to come in and march for us."

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A protester stands in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC before a march agains police violence on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Young protesters hold signs in Freedom plaza on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014.
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A protestor in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protestors in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza for a march to the capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before a march to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protestors in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protestors pose for a photo in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protestors in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec, 13, 2014.
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Protesters march towards the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
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Georgetown Law students protest at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters in Freedom Plaza in Washigton, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protestors gather in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014
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Protestors gather in Freedom Plaza before marching to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 in Washington, DC.
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Al Sharpton speaking to protesters gathered in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
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Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice speaks to people gathered in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014.
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Protesters march towards the U.S Capitol building on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 in Washington, DC.
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Filmmaker Spike Lee participates in a march in the U.S. Capitol building on Saturday, Dec. 13, 204 in Washington, DC.
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Protestors march down Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.

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