This week I
have observed a mass amount of microaggression towards Marshawn ynch who is a
running back for the Seattle Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch clearly avoids the
media and this week to avoid being fined he showed up for Media day and stated
"I am here so I won't get fined" (ESPN, 2015). I had friends
that posted it’s him why they hate the Seahawks. I read responses that he
is a loser, a weirdo, a jackhole, he talks like an idiot, and hes's hood!
This picture has been floating around Facebook. This displays a
once true character of being ignorant. The man is paid to play foot and
he is one of the best running back out there.
This was my
response to the post "It's a form of microaggresion (look the word up) the
ignorance that he is a jackhole, loser, idiot cause he speaks differently than
those of you who consider yourself apart of the dominant culture. What is hood?
That is a judgment based on classism. At the end of the day he makes more
money than any of you could possibly dream on. It's ignorant to say it's best
he not speak. Why should he be judged because he grew up in a a different
environment? Unfortunately this is a society that has been built on the
enslavement, internment, taking land from others and trail of terrors. It's
subtle unintentional and well intended assaults that damage people's
self-esteem. He doesn't need you or anyone else informing him of his
difference. He wakes up each and every day knowing. Let the man play ball.
That's what he's good at and that's what people break their banks to watch him
do. If Garth Brooks didn't wanna give interviews no one would give a *%#$
(edited for professional purposes. LOL)!!!
I am angry that
people just can't stop being judgmental of others. Every day in the media
there is judgement about someone especially our President and his family.
It infuriates me. It makes me sick often times. At times it
cause me to be racist and say mean things back and group a group of those that
are causing microaggressions. Its an experience that I don't want to have
to relive and relive because of stupidity and the lack of those claiming
"I didn't know". I face the fact that although . Dr.
Martin Luther King stated "I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but by the content of their character” it will never be a
reality (Nobleprize.org, 2015).
ESPN. (2015).
Lynch: I am here so I won't get Fined. Retrieved January 28, 2015,
from http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12237417/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-uses-same-answer-repetition-super-bowl-media-day-here-get-fined
Nobelprize.org.
(2015). I have a Dream. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-wall.html
You have every right to be angry but what can you do about it? I personally think that Mr. Lynch is sending a stronger message that he's intelligent enough to show up and still not say anything to keep from getting fined. As minorities, we have to come to terms with the new micro-aggressions is "the new face of racism," that the nature of racism has shifted over time from overt expressions of racial hatred and hate crimes, towards expressions of aversive racism. This is the dominant ones way of thinking this more subtle, ambiguous and often unintentional way will be overlooked but we are too intelligent to play in to it. I think Mr. Lynch is very classy in his handling of this and sending a much better message, especially to our youth who are watching this, that one stupid action doesn't require another one.
ReplyDeleteI agree and what I can do about it is voice my opinion and let those that are ignorant know they are..... Social media is very powerful. At the end of the day he makes more money than most can dream of even with being fined. I won't accept anyone as being dominant over me. I don't allow that kind of power and control over me thus making them not "dominant".
ReplyDeleteI believe that racism will never end. I try to instill in my own children and the children I come into contact with that we should respect the similarities and differences in each other. The only thing we can do is continue to educate. Life is choice driven.
ReplyDeleteI don't pay attention to professional football or the hype around it, so I was completely unaware of the situation you described. However, I am aware of how easy social media such as Facebook has made acts of microaggression. I find myself deleting memes or comments pretty much every time I log on, as I find them offensive and I don't want them appearing in my feed. I am especially horrified at the constant disrespect aimed at our President. I cannot count the number of times I have called someone out for this behavior. Some get it and remove the posts. Others say it's a joke--lighten up! They cant seem to understand that it isn't funny.
ReplyDelete