Once again, social media and the human race has let me down. Not making this a white or black issue, just an issue that people need to get it together. After you read this blog, some of you may be pissed off, and others may not speak to me again, but I must tell my truth..my truth is that race relations are a long way from being good, and people need to stop hiding behind their computers and own their racism.
I watched Richard Sherman's post game interview. Was he articulate? Probably not. Was he angry? Hardly. Was he trash talking? Yes, but isn't that what Muhammad Ali did over 40 years ago? I remember watching old interview clips calling himself the greatest, calling himself pretty, and calling his opponents ugly, and we cheered him on. Let's be honest he was great at what he did. Nobody ever accused him of being a bad sportsman, or not being gracious. It was just his way.
Why can't that same courtesy be offered to Richard Sherman? He is young, his adrenalin is pumping, and he is happy. It is not the time to give a long articulate speech about the history of football. It is time for celebration.
My white friends' comments ran the gamut of he was angry (part of that angry black male stereotype, which is a topic for another blog), he was unsportsmanlike (how dare a black man express himself forcefully), and my favorite, I couldn't understand him (which is code for that nigger is speaking Ebonics), of course, this would never be said outside of inner circles.
My black friends's comments ran the gamut of he has no home training (which is code for how dare he "shame" us like that), because certainly Richard Sherman represents every black man in America (insert eyeroll here), or that he was not articulate enough (which is code for how dare his black ass get on tv and make us look bad (see my previous comment).
We (humans collectively) always make everything about us. Why not allow this man to enjoy his moment? Why does he, regardless of your race, have to subscribe to your notion or beliefs about social behavior? Let's us peek into your life, and see how you would handle yourself, with millions watching on a national stage. I am sure that you would be composed, articulate, self-assured (insert another eyeroll here).
This is why I named this entry modern day slavery. For some white people, as long as a black person, is running behind a ball or cracking jokes, providing endless entertainment, we are cool. But do not step outside of that "entertainment" realm, where you can be feared. Because then you are unsportsmanlike, angry, and can't be understood.
And just like the house slaves vs. the field slaves war that brewed during slavery, it is still going on today among blacks. Those of us who are educated, somehow feel superior to those who aren't and make ourselves the social etiquette committee, of what is proper, and how one should behave to stay "in line". Do not step outside standard English in your speech, do not dress in certain clothing, and do not embarrass the entire black race of national television, or the black diaspora will Tweet, Facebook, and gossip you to shame.
By the way, Richard Sherman is a Stanford grad, with a 4.0 and a major in Communications. For all of the black diaspora and closet racists, let that marinate around your bullshit consciousness.
Until next time....get a grip and worry about your own public personas!
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