By: Mister Jackson
There just seems to be something wrong with a black man telling the world that he wants the freedom to call someone – and be called by someone else — the N-word!
The NFL is working toward banning the use of racial slurs during games, particularly the N-word. The proposal has drawn mixed reaction from current players. On Monday, Richard Sherman told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King that he would be extremely opposed to the rule and Larry Brown Sports sounded off about the topic. We also have our thoughts on the issue.
“It’s an atrocious idea,” Sherman said. “It’s almost racist, to me. It’s weird they’re targeting one specific word. Why wouldn’t all curse words be banned then?”Sherman emphasized that the N-word ending in “-er” is racist, but the N-word ending in “-a” is not, when used among African-American players.
In Sherman’s mind, there’s a major difference between being called ‘nigger’ and ‘nigga’ and that one will be able to differentiate between the two when uttered.
Executive director Harry Carson, 60, who is black and played 13 seasons for the Giants from 1976-88 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, said that as quiet as it is kept, the Cleveland Browns had black players in pro football (Marion Motley and Bill Willis) (1946) before the Dodgers had the first black player in major league baseball (Jackie Robinson) (1947). And even though they were on the team, Cleveland coach Paul Brown was forced to leave Motley and Willis behind for a road trip to Miami on Dec. 3, 1946 because the local segregation laws did not allow black players to be on the field with whites then.
Over the years, Carson and Willis became friends, and Carson had conversations about what Willis went through to become a pro football player at a time of racial strife in America.
“For someone who uses the N-word, it dishonors Bill Willis, and it dishonors the sacrifices he and others have made for others in the future,” Carson said. “I find it disheartening players can justify using the word in any form today in 2014.”
Does it dishonor you… do you REALLY understand what it means? We would love to hear your thoughts…after they are well thought out.
