Friday, December 14, 2012
Cornball Brotha???
I like to think of myself as a regular guy when it comes to what interests me; sports, cars, sneakers, movies, and did I say sports? Well anyone who speaks to me on a daily basis (all both of yall) know I LOVE the show First Take on ESPN. What I specifically like about the show is when they discuss race and the role it plays in the sports world and/or media. Well yesterday (13th of December) sports writer Rob Parker brought a very interesting and very REAL topic. Rookie phenom Robert Griffin the 3rd has been quoted numerous times as not wanting to be the best Black quarterback in NFL history, but the best quarterback to ever play. When initially hearing that statement I was pleased because this kid is a great QB and his skills are remarkable. He throws very accurately, which shatters any and every stereotype about Black QBs not being able to throw. He can stay in the pocket and take off and sprint 50yds at the drop of a dime, very Black QB-ish, but hey we've seen some White QBs get busy like that as well recently (see Johnny Football). Now let me get back to the statement of him wanting to be the best QB not the best Black QB... When the young Sir made the statement, nobody asked him about or brought up race. Maybe he was responding to critics he's heard via different media outlets, but that particular issue was not brought up at that particular moment. Then he made the statement again. Then there was a third statement; I guess third time's a charm because then I started to really notice something. Why is he so quick to dismiss being a great Black QB. Like sports writer Rob Parker brought up, we now have to re-evaluate this young Sir. See when Blacks in this country denounce anything linking them to being Black (try convincing a Black person they're African they'll go bonkers, but ask a White person where they're from and they'll name a European country and MAYBE add 'American' at the end), I see an issue that needs to be dealt with. We have to look at his whole body of work, his whole resume. Is he the Cornball Brotha? I mean he seems like a square his fiancee is White (no beef in that one of my best friend's fiancee is White ~wait, that sounds like something a racist would say~) and I wonder if he's ever considered a Black woman, and he grew up in a very racist Texas. Too often do we see Blacks in America put in a position where they're successful and public figures and have no problem removing themselves from any situation where they'll be forced to be "too Black" for Americans. It's not just sports, we even see it in music culture, tinsel town, and even the business world. Black people in America are not afforded the opportunity to denounce being Black, we're too far behind the power curve as a whole. I'm not saying do some charity work and date a Black woman, but at least keep your options open. We do not have strong representation of Black couples/families in this country, well not too many positive ones. The ones they ADVERTISE to us want nothing to do with the Black community and that sends out a very wicked message. RG3 doesn't seem like a guy I'd shoot the shit with honestly, nor does he come across as a brother who would care to with a brother like myself. That may come off a little ignorant being that I do not know the man personally, but I question his intentions with denouncing the label of Black ANYTHING in an unprovoked situation. Rob Parker represents the culture of Black sports fandom which askes questions like the ones he asked yesterday, "is RG3 a cornball brotha?" Whether you agree or not of whether it should be asked means nothing because it's a very real question. Show me a Black athlete with a Black wife who is marketed to the masses AND accepted by the Black community, because they generally care about the welfare of Black people in America and I have a bridge for sale made of unicorn horns... RG3 is NOT the first cornball brotha and he wont be the last, he's just the one putting himself in that #1 cornball spot. Peace!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I get what you're saying, but I don't look at it in that perspective. I don't think it's separating yourself from your heritage, in many cases its taking ur group further.
Here's what I mean. In anything that's NOT overly dominated by Blacks, you being great is always prefixed by your race "best Black whatever". Its as if we'll consider u great amongst your race, but how dare you be considered better than the white folks who do the same thing. It's as if your comparative assessment is always contained in a box.
Imagine if you were in school with a mix of students, and every time a white kid got the highest grade, he/she got the "best score" but everytime you did or one of your black classmates did, you got the "best BLACK score"? Its as if, you can say ur good, but we wont make that assessment compared to certain others.
When you run a race, do you want 1st place, or 1st Black place? Sounds totally ridiculous right? What if you won the race, and they'll only acknowledge that you beat the other black guys, but never that you beat EVERYONE?!?!?!!!! Remember Jordan wanted to bust Larry Bird a$$ too, not just be the best Black basketball player. But remember NBA is dominated by Blacks, has been for a while. Not the NFL, and definitely NOT at the position of QB.
His choice of wife/girlfriend has nothing to do with it. I know you often see dating outside ur race as self-hate, but its only that if you hate the women of ur race. If I eat a slice of pizza, don't mean I hate burgers.
I think his words are probably fueled on commentary. Remember you don't hear everything that he has to hear being said to him and about him. That stuff most likely been going on since he started playing the position.
I bet Serena Williams kept hearing the best BLACK tennis player for a while until she kept busting white folks @$$ year after year after year. Then theres no Black prefix. She's been the best period! Respect in the game. I think thats all its about.
As for the cornball aspect, I'm not sure what we want from folks. What is being Black nowadays? Coming from the projects? Being on welfare? Are u not authentic if ur not doing that? And what have we seen from the top athletes that have come from that?? Honestly, the ones that give the most back from the community are the ones that didnt come from that. Sorta middle class kinda family. But those guys would probably be considered cornballs too right?
And most Black athletes that are marketed to the masses aren't really portrayed in a relatable fashion to the Black community, particularly because the MAJORITY of the masses is NOT Black. Yes, we are a minority. Go figure. I wouldnt be surprised if the media-powers-that-be felt a white wife somehow vouches for him to the MAJORITY. That doesnt have to be the reason why he chose her as his wife.
Post a Comment