It angers me that we as Americans are still having some of the conversations that we are having; it’s 2012 and we’ve come so far but have so much progress to make.
Earlier this week, Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III was questioned about being an African-American in the NFL and he told reporters that he didn’t want to be defined by his race and that some fans a reporters put him in a box with other black quarterbacks.
So what’s so wrong with that? Absolutely NOTHING! He’s RGIII, the black quarterback; not the black quarterback: RG III.
Anyway, Griffin’s quotes became the topic of discussion on ESPN’s First Take and that’s where it got out of control.
Former Detroit News columnist, Rob Parker, who is also a black man, questioned RG III’s blackness, asking, “Is he a brother or a cornball brother?”
When asked to clarify, Parker went on: “Well, he’s black, he kind of does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us,” he said. “He’s kind of black, but he’s not really the guy you’d really want to hang out with, because he’s off to do something else.”
“I want to find out about him. I don’t know because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée. Then there was all this talk about he’s a Republican, which there’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods– Tiger Woods was like, ‘I’ve got black skin, but don’t call me black.’ So people wondered about Tiger Woods.”
Ok!!! Back UP!
First of all, Robert Griffin III doesn’t have a damn thing to prove to anybody! He has a Heisman trophy sitting on his mantle.
The thing that he does is football and he does it extremely well. As far as hanging out, Child Please! If RGIII called Parker tomorrow to hang out his ignorant behind would drop everything and jump on the chance to hang out. He’d be tweeting and instagramming all over the place.
Next up…Tiger Woods…Really? How do the two compare? They don’t!
Lastly, it’s America and the man can love who he loves and believe what he believes. People died for him to have those rights. Who cares if his fiancée is white and who cares if he’s a Republican? That’s none of Parker’s business.
I take issue with Rob Parker claiming that Griffin isn’t black enough. What is “black enough?”
RGIII is a black man. He speaks well, he’s kind, educated, and family oriented and doesn’t have a history of causing trouble. His teammates like him and he’s marketable.
What would Rob Parker like to see Robert Griffin III do to prove he’s down with the homies? I guess he should roll with an entourage instead of his dad?
Parker… YOU tell US what a black quarterback acts like.
I guess he slouches in his chair during press conferences, is inarticulate when asked a question, flips fans the bird, hangs out at strip clubs and makes it rain?
Oh wait!
NO! Silly me…the black quarterback carries a gun and mobs an oversized SUV on 24-inch rims. He has several children by several different women and is a womanizer. He doesn’t give a damn about what anybody thinks because he’s arrived. He blows money and wears two chains, right?
WRONG!
America has this horrible view of black men and it angers me that Parker would say that RGIII isn’t down because his behavior doesn’t fuel the stereotype.
All black men aren’t thugs who sell drugs and stand on street corners. They don’t all wear sagging pants and speak slang to express themselves.
While some people only see black men as athletes and entertainers, I see doctors, attorneys, engineers, accountants, police officers, firefighters, corporate executives, teachers, community activists, and public servants.
Excuse me Mr. Parker, an intelligent black man is now the President of the United States. Is he black enough?
Black men are fathers, brothers and uncles. They are counselors, coaches and mentors. They are educated and speak in an educated manner.
Hairstyles don’t define a person. (I’m not even going to get on Parker’s 1993, Carl Winslow, bad hair cut.)
RGIII can rock braids, a mohawk or a fade and he’d still be a man with a super dope arm, living his super dope dreams, making and saving his super dope money, and he’d still be a super dope black man that you can’t put in a box.
As a black woman I have issues with Parker making digs at another black man because he doesn’t think he’s black enough.
It’s sad that Parker is ignorant enough to think that way and stupid enough to say it on national television. On the bright side, RG III showed us all why fans love him so much. His response on race in Wednesday’s press conference said it all.
“You want to be defined by your work ethic, the person you are, your character, your personality,” he said. “I am an African-American in America. But I don’t have to be defined by that.”
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Bailey's Blast 
Anthony Jackson
December 14, 2012
Well said Bailey! It’s a shame that black men such as Rob Parker hate on young black men like RG3. Instead of him being happy, and grateful, to see an young African American male representing himself with dignity and self respect, he wants to question blackness?? That is the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard in my life! And to say he questions him, because he has a white fiancee and he might be Republican…… Who cares Rob! I’m a believer that love has no color. You love who u love and that’s it….. Rob Parker needs to get it together, quickly! Great Post C. B
jumpingpolarbear
December 14, 2012
Rob Parker made a fool out of himself. If that guy opens his mouth about racism or stereotypes again …. 🙂
Traci404
December 14, 2012
IGNORANCE and the ability to publish dumb ish, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
Who has the measuring stick for who is and who isnt …and what is a ” cornball brother”
I will take a CORNBALL over some of these “so called” Brotha’s – you hold to higher esteem.
Hard working, striving for goals, gettin it done, staying out of jail — Is CORNBALL?
Well, Mr. ” Black Enough” you have managed to add yourself to the stereotype – another unemployed black man.
Good Luck with that!
SidelinePass (@SidelinePass)
December 14, 2012
The comments were ignorant. His follow-up antics were worse. You can’t call your critics “uneducated” and “silly” and expect there not to be backlash. I thought that the “Are you black” question was outdated decades ago when I was in college – I guess not. Old ignorance dies hard.
hesaidshesaidfootball
December 15, 2012
1. I have always believed Rob Parker to be a cornball so its interesting he used those that particular adjective. 2. Why WE always have debates within our community and air it for the nation to see always baffles me. 3. WTF is “black enough” and “down for the cause” WHAT CAUSE? Certainly not the cause of division in our race that this fool is promoting. I was so PISSED watching that!
Nell -Ladi JJ
April 2, 2013
All I can say is RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT! AGREE with everything you said, starting at all black men are not thugs, sale drugs, and stand on street corners, which is really sad so many young boys (and older men that ARE STILL doing that) think its cute and its not. Noone has to “prove their ethnicity”, thats over people. LOL at Carl Winslow – ditto on dating whoever one wants to regardless of race etc., and also, just want to throw this in, super ditto to this: “as a black woman I have issues with Parker making digs at another black man because he doesn’t think he’s black enough” – people do this all the time, men to men and women to women – hate it. It’s the mindset. Love it sis! Once agin I’m late Lol