Superbowl 50 is fast approaching and the anticipation is at an all-time high. The Denver Broncos will be taking on the Carolina Panthers. There are plenty of storylines heading into this game. From a strict football standpoint, I want the Broncos to prevail. I have been a fan since the 90’s when Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Bill Romanowski, John Elway suited up for them and when Terell Davis was in the backfield. In my eyes, the greatest QB of this era is Peyton Manning. With this year probably being his last, I want to see the “Sheriff” ride off into the sunset with a championship ring, especially considering that L he had to take that was given to him by the Seahawks a few years ago. BUT… my black side and my melanin side is going for Cam Newton. It’s not just because of what he as has done on the field but how he has been treated negatively and called a thug (more on that later). I could see if people were against him because they were simply fans for the other team, or if they just had other football reasons. The truth of the matter is that most times it has nothing to do with football and everything to do with their opposition to a black man being larger than life right now. It is about race and conformity. Look at Russell Wilson. He stays in the confines of what people want to see. Not saying that he is just acting that. That is who he is and I respect him for being himself. But when Cam is himself its different. If you

Look at Russell Wilson. He stays in the confines of what people want to see. Not saying that is a problem with that but it is clear that the people connect with Cam massively more than Russell because Cam connects with the people much more. Cam is totally different. If you have not seen the memes, Cam and Russell are the football version of The Fresh Prince and Carlton. While Will was looked at differently for his fashion, music taste and his playful side. Carlton was praised more for his maturity. But then again comes the race value. Tom Brady can yell and scream all over the field as “Psycho Tom.” Aaron Rodgers can Discount Double Check. Yet Cam hits the Dab and he is labeled as “thug” and “unprofessional.” By the way, wearing a winter hat and a hoodie is not dressing like a “Thug.” Again ask Tom Brady.

As I have said before this is about race and conformity. People fear what they cannot understand, and hate what they cannot conquer, especially when you are successful. Now can we talk about the word “thug.” Apparently the people screaming those slurs at him do not know what a thug is? First of all being cocky and flashy does NOT make you a thug. I know of lot of you do not know of Jim McMahon of the 85 Bears, but McMahon was one of the most off the wall characters that played the position. Deion Sanders was super cocky and flashy. Brian Bosworth aka “The Boz” was too. These men would put Cam’s ego to shame and they were not considered thugs. Not to mention thugs do not give game balls to bring smiles to kids faces even though he will be fined 5k each time. Thugs do not have charities, or run football camps for up and coming football players. This is not the first time that a black man with confidence has been negatively labeled. The media labeled Richard Sherman as the same thing a few years ago after his emotional interview against the 49ers. They throw the same term at Marshawn Lynch because of his reluctance to interview with the media. Last time I checked, “thugs” sell rocks on corners and carry guns on the daily. They don’t run the rock for yards and they aren’t shut down corners. The laughing matter about this whole thing is that these storylines are beings talked about but for the wrong reasons. The more negative press, the more commercials you see and the more money is being made.

There is a simple formula to this. Do you think that Cam would be criticized as much if he wasn’t playing in the Super Bowl? Would Richard Sherman be as hated if he wasn’t a Super Bowl champion? I do not think that the city of Seattle would be making a petition to keep Cam out of their stadium if he didn’t dance after touchdowns, if his team wasn’t winning or if he wasn’t MVP. What I am saying is certain people only want you to be successful if you do it their way. They want you to conform to be what they want you to be and not be who you really are. Cam has been criticized harshly by white media since college. When he was drafted number 1 in the 2011 NFL draft, people said that he was “overrated,”arrogant” and incapable of leading a football team. Cam has survived the constant criticism and he continues to do so with a smile on his face. People hate that. Cam Newton will appear in Super Bowl 50 because of his commitment to being himself and his commitment to perfecting his craft. Cam represents the newer generation, he shows us that you can be who your are and still be successful. Not lose yourself in what people are telling you to do. But the masses love people like Cam because he is relatable. There is no better person to cheer for, no greater story than to root for someone we feel is just like us. Need more example? Sure. NWA, was probably a perfect example. The meaning of being of being misunderstood. They brought Gangsta Rap mainstream and were dragged through the mud for it. People outside of those elements didn’t understand that these men were merely representing where they came from. The were looked at as savages for reporting their lives, there very conditions that America was trying to come over were being brought to light. They stayed stayed true and were widely successful.

Cam represents the newer generation, and he shows us that you can be who your are and still be successful. He is a testament that proves that you can maintain your individuality on the highest of platforms. Cam is embraced not only because he is a beast on the football field but because people can relate with his defiance. There is no better story or better person to cheer for than to cheer for someone that we feel is just like us. Cam is this generation’s Fab five, or AI or even NWA. These people broke barriers by making people uncomfortable while being themselves. They lived their truths for all of America to see. When Cam dabs after a touchdown, he’s living his truth the same way NWA lived their truths by being true in their lyrics. These examples show that any time that a black man is being embraced by the masses in a way that is not on their terms he will be condemned for it.

Back to sports, Remember the Fab Five? They were 5 freshman black starters for the University of Michigan, that made up one of the greatest college basketball teams assembled. They were harassed with death threats and called every racial name in the book. Why? For being black college kids at a PWI that did things on their own terms. The baggy shorts, the bald heads, the black Nikes with the matching black socks was not received too well by some. It had nothing to do with basketball reasons. The Fab 5 was verbally abused on a nightly basis rather from media or fans. Even with the harsh criticism they stayed true and just kept winning, similar to what Cam Newton is doing. This further angered people. Allen Iverson is another example. The tattoos, the clothes, the braids was embraced by us but frowned upon by the league and others. It was frowned upon so much that, Commissioner David Stern implemented a new dress code policy. AI was probably the epitome of being everything that people didn’t want to see but the still we loved him.

Being black and famous is like walking on a type rope, because you are more on the hot seat. I feel like a white athlete or entertainer, has much more room to get away with things. As you see with Charlie Sheen, Ben Roethlisberger, Johnny Manziel and so forth. Meanwhile, Bill Cosby is dragged through the mud daily and Cam Newton is undeservingly labeled as a “thug.” Speaking of Bill, I wanted to touch on those people who do conform. Those people who try to fit in those confines, and those who go as far as forgetting where they come from. They talk down to those who were once in the same place as they were but eventually something happens to where they will come to be treated just like the black people that didn’t change. Look at OJ Simpson. He used to be one of the most celebrated icons in football and film. He never showed love to his race or where he came from but then the infamous murder trial of his caucasian wife only added insult to injury. He was knocked down from his cloud similar to what happened to Kobe Bryant after his rape trial. We the people love Cam Newton for the same reasons that we don’t really mess with Kobe Bryant on that level and why we give Stacey Dash and Raven Simone the cold shoulder.

I feel that you should always be who you are no matter your successes and that their is really no good reason to distant yourself from  yourself or your culture. Why try to be someone that you are not? What are you really showing the world? What are you showing the next generation? Remaining humble and showing love to others will always leave you respected and loved by not only your peers but your fans for years to come. I love Cam, and I love what he represents. He is the heart and soul of that team. He is the leader. I think we all see the coincidence here. Cam Newton; Huey P. Newton; Carolina Panthers; Black Panthers; Super Bowl 50; and 50 Panther Party Anniversary. Thankfully they aren’t playing the Partriots, can you imagine how much more this game would be about race? Brady is regarded as “The Hero” and “American’s QB” while Cam Newton is labeled as the “arrogant” “thug.” From a football standpoint I am a Broncos fan but for my people during this month of Black History, let’s go Killa Cam. Dab on ‘em homie!