One Arab and no Blacks are on the shortlist to replace fired Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland the city that elected the nation's first Black mayor of a major American city....By editor Kathy Wray Coleman of Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper and Black blog

Freddie Kitchens

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper and Black blog, both also at the top in Black digital news in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. Coleman is an experienced Black political reporter who covered the 2008 presidential election for the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio and the presidential elections in 2012 and 2016 As to the one-on-one interview by Coleman with Obama  CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief

In spite of telling reporters during a press conference after the Cleveland Browns lost its last game of the season to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday that he expected to return for a second season, head coach Freddie Kitchens, a one season coach with the Browns who, in mid-season last year, replaced the fired Hue Jackson, was canned Sunday evening by franchise owner Jimmy Haslam, and with the agreement of general manager John Dorsey.

Kitchens had some good moments, including earlier wins against the Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, and he is credited with helping to make Baker Mayfield a star, the Heisman Trophy winner and rookie quarterback winning the rookie record of the most touchdowns, 27 this season, surpassing Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.

But while Mayfield blossomed when Kitchens took over as coach last year, and the team had talent in star players like Nick Chubb, who leads the NFL in rushing at 1,281 yards, and  wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who , in 2016, became the fastest NFL player in history to reach both 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards, the Browns were still not winning games.

Ask by reporters what he likes in a coach Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who is Black, said that his idea of a good coach is 'someone who demands respect, someone who respects his players and someone who respects opponents,' the media dubbing such comment as a parting shot at Kitchens

The news of the firing came as a shock to some, and a welcomed announcement to others, mainly die hard fans angry over the team missing the playoffs and its dismal 6-10 regular season record, and because of years of losing game, after game, after game.

The Browns head coach from 2016-2018, Jackson is Black and likely the last Black Browns coach for years to come, at least for a while, all of the perspective new head coaches White men, except one, who is Arab.

A string of probable replacements await consideration, and the Browns have reportedly requested permission to interview former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is Arab-American.

The absence of a Black in the lineup for consideration is telling, and racist, sources said, particularly since Cleveland, led by Black mayor Frank Jackson, is the city, that in 1967, elected Carl B. Stokes mayor, the first Black mayor of Cleveland, and of a major American city. 

Race matters to some, and winning matters to all, the lack of a diverse category of potential Browns head coaches a slap in the face to Black people. 

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper and Black blog, both also at the top in Black digital news in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.