The N-Word Defense

A recent high school football incident had an offensive lineman who is Black rip off the helmet of an opposing Caucasian player who is white and hit him with it. In the video he gets his mouthpiece knocked out and required stitches.

 

The Black player claimed the Caucasian player was taunting him, call him the n-word. I sincerely doubt this was the first time anyone on the field had called him that. It’s football. But apparently this was a justification for nearly breaking the head of another kid. I know you can’t punish for what could’ve happened, and if he were called these names, it’s hard not to let those things go. Also, it’s a weird defense considering the Caucasian’s teammates had Black kids as well.  I’m not sure that justifies what he did. But he may be charged with assault now as well. He definitely won’t be earning any scholarships this way.

Former pro football player Terrell Owens got into an altercation where a Muslim dude was screaming terrible racist things towards him. If I were T.O. I would’ve slugged the guy (clearly as T.O. could easily do it). What would’ve happened there? Dude would’ve sued him, he would have to settle. T.O. did the adult thing and just walked away. This dude was left with nothing, except being a miserable fucking loser. I have MASSIVE respect for T.O. knowing that a) this was caught on video…I’m sure he lost a lot of dignity having this little dude yapping at him like a poodle b) T.O. is roughly my age, which I’m certain he faced real racism. If anyone was justified to take out his aggression on someone, it would’ve been that moment. But he didn’t. Pretty amazing he didn’t take the bait.

Two situations with the same scenario. In the heat of the battle. One walks away from the situation and the other decided to dole out his own justice

I’m not sure what the right thing to do is. I would like to say it is to turn the other cheek. I think about a moment at a bar a few years back where a Black guy attempted to bait me to a fight. He didn’t call me names. Nothing racist. Boy did I have some real racist thoughts. As I’m sure he did. Didn’t say much. But here we were two men of color treating each other like…humans. I use to fume over it. Should’ve taken him up on a fist fight outside of the bar. But where would that have gotten us? Cops more than likely would’ve taken my side. That’s just the nature of perception. But, we didn’t go to that level. In an odd sense, it was actually an honorable moment between two men who could’ve hashed it out without racism. I think we deserve credit for that.

In terms of using racism as a reason to turn it physical, I’m not sure people understand the hair trigger effect it has when people go to the lowest common denominator. About how deeply rooted that word can mean.

A recent high school football incident had a linebacker who is Black rip off the helmet of an opposing Caucasian player who is white and hit him with it. In the video he gets his mouthpiece knocked out and required stitches.

The Black player claimed the Caucasian player was taunting him, call him the n-word. I sincerely doubt this was the first time anyone on the field had called him that. It’s football. But apparently this was a justification for nearly breaking the head of another kid. I know you can’t punish for what could’ve happened, and if he were called these names, it’s hard not to let those things go. Also, it’s a weird defense considering the Caucasian’s teammates had Black kids as well.  I’m not sure that justifies what he did. But he may be charged with assault now as well. He definitely won’t be earning any scholarships this way.

Former pro football player Terrell Owens got into an altercation where a Muslim dude was screaming terrible racist things towards him. If I were T.O. I would’ve slugged the guy (clearly as T.O. could easily do it). What would’ve happened there? Dude would’ve sued him, he would have to settle. T.O. did the adult thing and just walked away. This dude was left with nothing, except being a miserable fucking loser. I have MASSIVE respect for T.O. knowing that a) this was caught on video…I’m sure he lost a lot of dignity having this little dude yapping at him like a poodle b) T.O. is roughly my age, which I’m certain he faced real racism. If anyone was justified to take out his aggression on someone, it would’ve been that moment. But he didn’t. Pretty amazing he didn’t take the bait.

Two situations with the same scenario. In the heat of the battle. One walks away from the situation and the other decided to dole out his own justice

I’m not sure what the right thing to do is. I would like to say it is to turn the other cheek. I think about a moment at a bar a few years back where a Black guy attempted to bait me to a fight. He didn’t call me names. Nothing racist. Boy did I have some real racist thoughts. As I’m sure he did. Didn’t say much. But here we were two men of color treating each other like…humans. I use to fume over it. Should’ve taken him up on a fist fight outside of the bar. But where would that have gotten us? Cops more than likely would’ve taken my side. That’s just the nature of perception. But, we didn’t go to that level. In an odd sense, it was actually an honorable moment between two men who could’ve hashed it out without racism. I think we deserve credit for that.

In terms of using racism as a reason to turn it physical, I’m not sure people understand the hair trigger effect it has when people go to the lowest common denominator. About how deeply rooted that word can mean.