Roland S. Martin
Enough!
I’m sick and tired of black folks coming up with the most asinine, silly, nonsensical, pathetic, grossly unintelligent and shameful defenses of us using the N-word.
Ending in “A” isn’t the same as “ER.” Please, shut up.
Calling the N-word a term of endearment between African-Americans is something we have gotten used to. OK, gotcha. And for years we have gotten used to eating everything fried, but that don’t mean we can ignore the effects on our heart and cholesterol.
I. Am. Sick. Of. This. Nonsense.
At some point its time to grow up and admit that the N-word is corrosive and nothing more than a continuation of white supremacy. This is not a debate. This should not be a lengthy discussion. It’s time to have more self-respect for our ancestors and us and strike the hateful word from our vocabulary.
Did I used to say the N-word? Yes. I heard it growing up around me. But I reached a point more than a decade ago where I realized it was no good and needed to be stricken from my mind.
In fact, anyone using the N-word on my Facebook or Twitter page is barred from doing so, and I will block him or her. Zero tolerance means just that: zero tolerance.
Now the NFL may get in on the issue by proposing to flag any football player for using the N-word on the field. The proposal comes at the behest of John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, the group behind forcing the NFL to adopt the “Rooney Rule,” meant to foster opportunities for minority coaches and executives to get hired.
Wooten told CBSSports.com: “We want this word to be policed from the parking lot to the equipment room to the locker room. Secretaries, PR people, whoever, we want it eliminated completely and want it policed everywhere.”
Numerous folks have blasted the NFL decision to consider the proposal, saying such a ban targets black players and is unfair because it will be enforced by a league where all of the owners are white.
Richard Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks defensive back, has come out in full force against the proposal, even going as far as calling a potential rule “racist.”
“It’s an atrocious idea,” Sherman told themmqb.com. “It’s almost racist to me. It’s weird they’re targeting one specific word. Why wouldn’t all curse words be banned then?”
Seriously, Richard? Just stop.
When Sherman caused a national brouhaha after his post-game interview after the NFC Championship Game, he sat down for an interview on the Fox Sports desk. Could Sherman freely use the N-word there? Nope. Why? Fox has rules against that.
Source: Creators.com
Roland S. Martin is an award-winning and multifaceted journalist. He is the author of “Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith” and “Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America.”
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