Barkley's new book, "Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?" is in stores now. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Q: How did you come up with the title of the book?

Barkley: Actually, the publishers came up with the title of the book. I just wanted to write a positive book on race, and discuss the problem of racism in America. I wanted to talk about these young black kids, or white kids or Hispanic kids who are making the problem worse by killing each other, getting pregnant in single parent homes, problems like that. Racism certainly does still exist, and it’s these types of things that make the problem even greater.

Q: What message are you trying to get across in the book?

Barkley: Hopefully, my message will get across to young black kids to stop putting themselves in really awkward situations as far as killing themselves -- black on black crime – and hopefully, it will inspire them. Jesse Jackson talks in the book about how we’ve dropped the ball as far as Dr. King’s dream, and there were a lot of people who did a lot of ‘heavy lifting’ as far as giving me and a lot of other people the opportunity to be successful. Kids have to realize that they can’t screw up this opportunity.

Q: What is America’s biggest misconception about the black athlete?

Barkley: I think anytime a black athlete speaks openly about racism, other people don’t think they should because they’re making a ton of money. I think some of the guys are portrayed in a negative light if they’re strong and opinionated. The press wants people to think that they know what they’re talking about, so if you come across as loud, tough or independent, they try and make you sound as if you’re a loud-mouth jerk.

Q: In your book, you talk about racism having gone “underground.” What exactly do you mean by that?

Barkley: Well, on one end, sometimes, it’ll be covered up with white sheets and things like that, but real racism is a lot more subtle than that. I think there’s a ceiling for a lot of jobs and opportunities in this country. That being said, it’s always going to be here. You just can’t let it keep you down.

Q: Any chance down the road of you succeeding David Stern as Commissioner of the NBA?

Barkley: I think the NBA has been very fortunate to have David Stern, and I’m not just blowing smoke. He is easily the best commissioner in sports today. But I am against working. I think working is overrated, so I have no intention right now or at any time in the near future to get a real job.