Attention all Cameron Jerrell Newton haters, are you happy? Your most hated sports figure took a L last night on the biggest stage in sports, in Super Bowl 50. One hundred million viewers were glued to the television as they witnessed a black man take a beating on the field. I try my best not to bring up race, but often times I cannot help but to find it fitting and appropriate. Here is no different. Excuse me if I sound like an “angry black woman,” but to be all the way honest I am in fact angry, sad and disappointed. My favorite player fell short, so why wouldn’t I be angry? Actually, if you were to stick a camera in my face even today, almost 24 hours after the fact, I’d probably not be classy enough to walk away instead I’d give you a large piece of my mind. Since I am not Cam and I do not have 500 cameras in my face, I’ll just share my thoughts here.

To clear the air, I will say Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos beat Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers fair and square last night so kudos to those guys. Sure there were missed calls both ways but at the end of the day the Broncos made more plays than the Panthers. Denver’s defense was a display of men among boys when compared to the Panther’s offensive line. Cam wasn’t able to dab one time for the first time all year because he was rushed, sacked and hurried for the entire game. His line failed to protect him all night but never one time did he throw his guys under the bus. I know a guy that did, years ago but who’s talking about that? Last night Cam was not typical Cam. There were no smiles, no balls given to children, no end zone celebrations and no daylight for Mr. Newton. Superman revealed his human nature and man were people ecstatic to see it! I have never heard and read about so much laughter at one specific person’s pain in my life. Well ok, I take that back. Another black guy has been heavily ridiculed for years and that being Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star, LeBron James. King James critics go hard against LeBron but the hate against Cam is different, much different.

Cam is a guy that doesn’t necessarily say the “right things.” He doesn’t care to fit inside the box that others are adamant of confining him into. In fact, he’s always been that way. In college he dominated and was awarded a Heisman trophy, but somehow he still was heavily doubted by many. He’s been labeled many negative terms such as, “arrogant,” “thug,” “selfish” and “thug,” just to name a few. This year a fan penned a letter, voicing her disapproval of him as she referred to him as “Classless Cam Newton.” I can understand a person’s dislike for touchdown celebrations as it is not everyone’s style but my only request is that people keep ALL criticism consistent. If you do not like end zone celebrations then speak out when Aaron Rodgers and Travis Kelce dances as well.  If folks are oppositional to infractions when it involves a person of color then that same opposition should be present for others. If you hate Mike Vick and Ray Rice then it is only right to have those same sentiments when Ben Roethlisburger is accused of sexual assault multiple times or when America’s beloved, Tom Brady is accused of cheating. If wearing team sweats to an interview makes Cam a “thug” and “classless” then it’s only right that we say the same when Peyton Manning and Bill Billichick wears the same attire.

Please stop with the subliminal racism already. Stop saying it’s not about race when actions and inconsistencies show us much differently. Don’t say that “Cam Newton just rubs you the wrong way but you do not know why,” instead be honest and say you honestly feel that, “the kid just doesn’t know his place.”

As a black woman I can’t help but to hope that Cam never does anything that will cause him to be placed back into his “place.” The place of being politically correct, working within the space given to you, doing what you are told and code switching when the lights are on. I celebrate him because he doesn’t do that. I love him because of his audacity and boldness to be himself even when hate surrounds him like hungry wolves, hungry for blood. Cam is unapolgetically himself and he owns it. Where many are themselves in private, Cam is that in front of cameras. He dances because he’s happy, just like he left the press conference because he was frustrated. I am not justifying his actions but then again, I have never in life been on that stage, in that moment.

Cam is a profound figure that greatly resonates with the people because he shows us that he is just like us in many ways. He’s emotional, he has highs and lows, and he is passionate about what he does. Why should he hold that in? If anything that should be an inspiration to us all, especially kids. How many times are black children and adults told to “play the game” and code switch just to get ahead? Told to put on an illusion for the masses, just to fit in and be accepted. It is not every day that we see a black man get to be himself and still be successful. How many of us would dance at work if we could? How many of us would wear locs and our natural hair at the workplace if we didn’t fear that we would be looked at funny? How about speak in our native vernacular if we felt like it would not cost us our jobs? How many of us wish that we could enjoy ourselves just like Cam? The sad thing is Cam Newton boldly does what he wants to do but unfortunately, the media shows us that not even he as a multi-millionaire can do it and be left alone.

THIS is why Cam walked out (listen to what’s being said in the background). pic.twitter.com/6LdLFwv8tj

— Brian (@bmweezy13) February 8, 2016

Cam Newton is a professional football player and with that position comes many responsibilities other than throwing the football. We all know that Cam abruptly walked off from his post game interviews last night and he has been harshly slammed for it on social media and traditional media. Some of the criticism is deserved but some is just downright unreasonable, racist, brutal and uncalled for. Former Oakland Raiders Linebacker, Bill Romanowski decided to take to Twitter to express his feelings on the Newton media walk off. In Tweet, Romanowski wrote, “You will never last in the NFL with that attitude. The world doesn’t revolve around you, boy! #CamNewton

I apologize for that remark ‘boy’. It was not intentional or even trying to disrespect others. Peace everyone.

— Bill Romanowski (@billromanowski) February 8, 2016

Of course in typical fashion, Bill claimed that his words were not racially motivated as he offered up a, my bad if I offended, but I am not really sorry statement today on TMZ.

Unfortunately, I am not buying his lies and his, I didn’t mean it in that way explanation. Please be reminded that this is the same guy that was fined for spitting in JJ Stokes face in what was said to be a racially charged action in 1997. Just a few days ago Romanowski also had some not so tasteful words to describe how he would contain Cam Newton if he were still playing today.

Bill Romanowski on how he’d stop Cam: I would hit him as hard as possible then try to choke him under the pile.https://t.co/nIuvWGVc2i

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2016

Perhaps Romanowski is not racist. Perhaps he meant no racial harm. Perhaps he is totally unaware of what he says and how he acts or at least that is how he would like you and me to believe.

Social media and fans were not the only one’s grilling Cam for his early media exit. Hall of Famer, cornerback, Deion Sanders had some serious criticism for Cam as well. The criticism is not a problem. Cam was wrong, as he let his emotions get the best of him but Sanders reasonings for his criticism is problematic and quite frankly illustrates the flawed narrative among many black people. I do understand that NFL players have commitments and professionalism to maintain but God forbid that they have humanlike moments where they get frustrated like any other human being. Perhaps professional athletes bleed Gatorade and not red blood like the rest of us common folks. I do not have a problem with people criticizing Cam for his poor decision, I have a problem with  the popular perspective that Deion displayed. Following Cam’s live interview Deion said,

“You are the face of our brand right now, you can’t do that. I understand the emotions of losing, but you can’t do that. A Manning, a Brady … all these guys who are a prototypical type of quarterback in our game, they’re not going to do that ever. Would Drew Brees ever?”

Now many may agree with him as many of us have been programmed to think in this manner, however, the exchange between Sanders and Marshall Faulk provided a great portrait of two opposite ends of thinking. Faulk comes to Newton’s defense by citing his walk off as an opportunity for him to learn and grow while Saunders compared Cam to his white counterparts, in effort to show how Cam should be acting. You know this “prototypical type” that we have been routinely encouraged to adopt or else.

You can see the full exchange here.

This very thinking is what keeps many of us living as indentured servants, fearful of being ourselves. What was the need to compare Cam to 3 white “prototypical quarterbacks” when he is Cam Newton, NFL MVP? Prototypical to who? Why is it never okay for Cam or any of us to do things our way, without being compared to W.W.W.D? (What, Would White Do)

Why are we seeing Cam Newton routinely dragged through the mud for being himself? Sure maybe he should have sat there and answered repetitive questions, post 30 minutes after a Super Bowl loss, while being heckled by a player on the winning team. On the contrary, it is a good chance that he could possibly use this experience and use it as a way to grow and “mature.” You know like many of us humans do when we make mistakes?

Let Cam Newton be who Cam Newton is. Stop comparing him, stop wishing for his downfall, stop with the code words that are really racist remarks. Stop trying to make him assimilate into something that does not fit him and finally if you do not like him then do not watch him. To be honest, all of us should live a little more like Cam Newton and be ourselves no matter the circumstances and dab on the haters win, lose or draw.

To be honest, all of us should live a little more like Cam Newton. How free it must feel to be yourself despite outside entities telling you to be something else. Cam teaches us to be ourselves no matter the circumstances and dab on the haters win, lose or draw. A super bowl loss or an early departure from a media obligation does not negate that.

~TayJordan