Larry Gude
Strung Out
As we head into Super Bowl, Cam Newton is quite convinced of his awesomeness and general discomfort with him by, it seems, white people. For starters, he is awesome. As for uncomfortable, he seems to think him being big, bad and black is the problem and not his behavior, that acting like a 12 year old is fine if you're white but not OK if you're black.
So, I caught the tail end of a discussion on this from the radio, Mike and Mike show, and I missed who was making the comments but he was clearly a black guy and a Cam fan and very much sure that this is about skin color. The hosts tried to offer that it was a culture thing and the expressiveness is fine with them as they get the culture; young, boastful, the look at me thing. The guest rejected that and said he is somewhat of a sociologist and observes people and what makes them uncomfortable and is convinced that objection to Cam's expressiveness is coming from white people insecure and afraid of a young, big, powerful, successful black man.
This sort of thing makes me howl because it plays into the very racial stereotypes we're all supposed to be growing out of as per Dr King. It makes me laugh because the very people who are most supposed to be supporting King's dream, dismissing racial stereotypes, rejecting supremacy arguments are, in fact, promoting that very thing.
So, there it is, the argument that Cam Newton's behavior has nothing to do with behavior and everything to do with culture.
In any event, to tear this silliness down, why don't we just say all blacks can dance, can't swim, can't see in the dark, have great skin, are (insert stereotype here)___________. By engaging in that exercise, it's easy to see that King's dream faces the exact same ignorance and bias he fought against only nowadays, it's coming from those his fight it was to help the most.
Cam Newton is childish and immature. His sportsmanship is a little shaky. He is also an incredible athlete; big, strong, fast, coordinated, smart and a battler. He is also wrong and not very smart when it comes to sociology. The league has never lacked for people, like Cam, who are seen as jack asses who were also white. Jeff George anyone? How about...Tom Brady?
Shall we go on? Jeremy Shockey was seen by many as a showboat jerk. Riley Cooper is a bit of an ass. Anyone ever here of Johnny Football?
JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young fail because they weren't allowed to be black? RGIII a bust because he wasn't allowed to bring his skin? How'd Jerry Rice make it? Ronnie Lott? Darrel Green?
There is no end to outstanding black and white football players who didn't act like spoiled kids. There are plenty of that sort of immaturity in both colors.
Cam Newton is free to believe that by 'being himself' by 'being black' it makes him a better football player. Fine by me. Lotta guys felt being humble made them better so, who is to say? Cam seems really interested in pressing the issue and enjoying making folks uncomfortable. Again, that's a Cam thing and good for him. Maybe when he'd done proving his blackness is what makes him great and not his talent and skill and dedication and coaching he can go run for office and go head to head with...
....Donald Trump.
Or Anthony Wiener.
Or Debbie Shultz.
Or....
Throw yourself a parade, Cam. Hope you don't throw out your arm patting yourself on the back for your skin color.
Jack ass.
So, I caught the tail end of a discussion on this from the radio, Mike and Mike show, and I missed who was making the comments but he was clearly a black guy and a Cam fan and very much sure that this is about skin color. The hosts tried to offer that it was a culture thing and the expressiveness is fine with them as they get the culture; young, boastful, the look at me thing. The guest rejected that and said he is somewhat of a sociologist and observes people and what makes them uncomfortable and is convinced that objection to Cam's expressiveness is coming from white people insecure and afraid of a young, big, powerful, successful black man.
This sort of thing makes me howl because it plays into the very racial stereotypes we're all supposed to be growing out of as per Dr King. It makes me laugh because the very people who are most supposed to be supporting King's dream, dismissing racial stereotypes, rejecting supremacy arguments are, in fact, promoting that very thing.
So, there it is, the argument that Cam Newton's behavior has nothing to do with behavior and everything to do with culture.
In any event, to tear this silliness down, why don't we just say all blacks can dance, can't swim, can't see in the dark, have great skin, are (insert stereotype here)___________. By engaging in that exercise, it's easy to see that King's dream faces the exact same ignorance and bias he fought against only nowadays, it's coming from those his fight it was to help the most.
Cam Newton is childish and immature. His sportsmanship is a little shaky. He is also an incredible athlete; big, strong, fast, coordinated, smart and a battler. He is also wrong and not very smart when it comes to sociology. The league has never lacked for people, like Cam, who are seen as jack asses who were also white. Jeff George anyone? How about...Tom Brady?
Shall we go on? Jeremy Shockey was seen by many as a showboat jerk. Riley Cooper is a bit of an ass. Anyone ever here of Johnny Football?
JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young fail because they weren't allowed to be black? RGIII a bust because he wasn't allowed to bring his skin? How'd Jerry Rice make it? Ronnie Lott? Darrel Green?
There is no end to outstanding black and white football players who didn't act like spoiled kids. There are plenty of that sort of immaturity in both colors.
Cam Newton is free to believe that by 'being himself' by 'being black' it makes him a better football player. Fine by me. Lotta guys felt being humble made them better so, who is to say? Cam seems really interested in pressing the issue and enjoying making folks uncomfortable. Again, that's a Cam thing and good for him. Maybe when he'd done proving his blackness is what makes him great and not his talent and skill and dedication and coaching he can go run for office and go head to head with...
....Donald Trump.
Or Anthony Wiener.
Or Debbie Shultz.
Or....
Throw yourself a parade, Cam. Hope you don't throw out your arm patting yourself on the back for your skin color. Jack ass.
