With all pardons asked for referencing a particular pachyderm in the same sentence as a former Auburn quarterback, race has been the elephant in the room for all of Cam Newton's almost-certain MVP season. It has been the undercurrent, consciously or unconsciously of a lot of the criticism he has received this season, and because his season is longer than all but one other quarterback's, so it continues.
Newton is, of course, far from the only black quarterback in the league, nor is he the only black quarterback to reach this level of success. In an interview on Mike and Mike, Ryan Clark expressed that it's not an issue of race, but of culture. After all Russell Wilson, who earned a Super Bowl ring two years ago and came close this past year, is Cam's contemporary, also a black quarterback, and hasn't gotten the same degree of scrutiny that Newton has. It's worth noting, however, that Wilson's teammate Richard Sherman has. Sherman shares with Newton a certain panache - swag, if you will - that is offputting. It's cultural, certainly, but the fact that it is expressed by a black man is no small part of the equation. It's true: Cam dabs, smiles, and dances; he also gives game balls to children and is a presence in his community. Still, the former is cause enough that there's something "not quite right".
SB Nation's Spencer Hall - one of the finest writers of our time, in my opinion - remarked on a different cultural phenomenon: That of the southern gentleman. He notes that his Super Bowl opponent, Peyton Manning is less his foil and more his kinsman. The parallels of being SEC quarterbacks and number one overall picks are noted, but less often stated is that Cam is southern. This is likely because one definition of being southern - not the only, mind you, but one that tends to stick - may omit the word "white" from its spoken qualifiers but never from the imagination. Newton is southern in a way that's not necessarily thought of as such because the prevailing qualifier - black - never goes unstated.
Put another way: Cam Newton is a black college marching band.
Show style marching, as done at this country's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, is almost exclusively a southern art form. Owing directly to the legacy of their founding, the overwhelming majority of HBCUs are located in the south. Whether you're at Clark Atlanta or Tennessee State, FAMU or the eponymous Southern University itself, the style was innovated and continues to be carried out in the south. And yet, while Jackson State and Jacksonville State are but 4 1/2 hours of I-20 away, the Sonic Boom of the South an the Marching Southerners - note how both carry the region even in their nicknames - are worlds apart with respect to marching.
The styles are different, but different doesn't always come without value judgments. Familiarity may lead to stylistic preferences, but it may also lead some to believe that one is "right" and another "wrong". It's part and parcel with the hoopla when Drumline came out: The style depicted was unlike anything the average corps style marcher had ever seen, and so it had to be wrong. But even when Bethune Cookman's tonal basses are doing Blue Devils-quality runs, or A&T closes with a Cadets-style company front, there is still an unease for some. Score sheets, like standardized tests, are normed on a predominately white experience; so too is Cam's conduct and adherence to the "unwritten rules" of playing the role of quarterback, which is normed similarly. But like the HBCU band, Cam is first and foremost having fun with what he's doing, and largely putting on a show for those who came to see him. It's not just for judges or just for points, though there's no shortage of those. He's here to move the crowd. So when you dab on 'em, Cam, make sure you're hitting 90 degrees.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Labels
- A-Rod (1)
- A.I. duPont Tigers (7)
- AAF (1)
- ACC (56)
- administration (3)
- AHES (21)
- Air Force Falcons (6)
- Akron Zips (1)
- Alabama A and M Bulldogs (4)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (41)
- Alabama State Hornets (3)
- Albany Great Danes (4)
- alcohol (2)
- Alcorn State Braves (2)
- Alcorn State Braves (2)
- All 80 (29)
- All Star (7)
- America East (1)
- American Athletic Conference (18)
- Appalachian State Mountaineers (4)
- Arizona Cardinals (2)
- Arizona State Sun Devils (8)
- Arizona Wildcats (3)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (6)
- Arkansas State Red Wolves (6)
- Army (1)
- Army Black Knights (6)
- Atlanta Falcons (4)
- Atlantic 10 (2)
- Auburn Tigers (16)
- audio (5)
- auto racing (1)
- B4 (292)
- Ball State Cardinals (1)
- Baltimore (4)
- Baltimore Orioles (7)
- Baltimore Ravens (6)
- band (504)
- band holiday (5)
- band on the road (92)
- baseball (14)
- basketball (112)
- Baylor Bears (10)
- BBQ (2)
- BCS (27)
- BCU Wildcats (7)
- beer (16)
- Before the Clock Starts (20)
- Ben Roethlisberger (1)
- bias (2)
- Big 12 (4)
- Big East (42)
- Big South (1)
- Big Ten (28)
- Big XII (11)
- Binghamton Bearcats (4)
- Black Music Month (3)
- blogs (4)
- Blue Devils (11)
- Blue Knights (1)
- Blue Stars (2)
- Bluecoats (5)
- Boise State Broncos (12)
- books (6)
- Boston (2)
- Boston Bruins (2)
- Boston College Eagles (5)
- Boston Crusaders (5)
- Boston Red Sox (3)
- bowl (9)
- Bowling Green Falcons (4)
- bowls (311)
- Brett Favre (1)
- Buffalo Bulls (2)
- Butler Bulldogs (1)
- BYU Cougars (11)
- Cadets (10)
- Cal Golden Bears (4)
- Carolina Crown (24)
- Carolina Panthers (9)
- Cavaliers (6)
- Central Michigan Chippewas (4)
- CFB150 (1)
- Championships (142)
- Charlotte 49ers (4)
- Charlotte Bobcats (1)
- Charlotte Hornets (2)
- Charlotte Hounds (1)
- Charlotte MLL (2)
- cheerleading (1)
- chess (2)
- Chicago Bulls (1)
- Chicago Cubs (1)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (17)
- Cincinnati Reds (1)
- Citadel Bulldogs (2)
- classic (10)
- Clemson Tigers (32)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (2)
- club sports (1)
- CMB150 (2)
- Coach K (1)
- Coach Kay Yow (1)
- coaching (15)
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (1)
- Colgate Raiders (1)
- college (599)
- Colorado Buffaloes (2)
- Colorado State Rams (4)
- colorguard (1)
- Colts (1)
- commercials (1)
- community service (3)
- Conference USA (3)
- conferences (9)
- contest (3)
- controversy (4)
- Cornell Big Red (3)
- coronavirus (11)
- Creighton Blue Jays (1)
- cricket (1)
- Crossmen (1)
- cymbals (1)
- D-League (3)
- dallas cowboys (6)
- Davidson Wildcats (1)
- DCA (1)
- DCI (110)
- decade in review (2)
- Delaware (12)
- Delaware 87ers (2)
- Delaware Blue Hens (4)
- Delaware State Hornets (2)
- Denver Broncos (2)
- Denver Outlaws (3)
- Denver Pioneers (2)
- Detroit Lions (2)
- Down and Dirty Dawg Band (2)
- Draft (3)
- drumline (17)
- Duke Blue Devils (19)
- dynasty (1)
- Eastern Michigan Chippewas (1)
- Eastern Michigan Eagles (1)
- Eastern Washington Eagles (1)
- ECU Pirates (15)
- electronics (5)
- ESPN (17)
- expansion (39)
- facebook (2)
- fail (1)
- family (4)
- FAMU Rattlers (18)
- fans (4)
- fantasy football (1)
- fashion (2)
- FCS (5)
- FIU Golden Panthers (2)
- Florida (2)
- Florida Gators (14)
- Florida State Seminoles (17)
- food (11)
- football (334)
- Fresno State Bulldogs (4)
- FSU Seminoles (11)
- fundraising (1)
- gambling (7)
- game of the week (68)
- Georgetown Hoyas (4)
- Georgia Bulldogs (21)
- Georgia Southern Eagles (2)
- Georgia State Panthers (1)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11)
- Glassmen (1)
- Golden Band from Tigerland (3)
- Golden State Warriors (1)
- Grambling State Tigers (3)
- Green Bay Packers (1)
- Greensboro Swarm (1)
- Hall of Fame (5)
- Hampton Pirates (1)
- harebrained schemes (18)
- Hartford Hawks (1)
- Hawaii Warriors (2)
- hazing (11)
- HBCU (64)
- Heisman Trophy (1)
- Herd of Thunder (2)
- high notes (64)
- high school (7)
- hockey (4)
- Hofstra Pride (1)
- holiday (7)
- homecoming (3)
- Honda Battle of the Bands (19)
- Houston Cougars (12)
- Howard Bison (3)
- i (1)
- Idaho Vandals (1)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (3)
- Illinois State Redbirds (1)
- Inauguration (2)
- Indiana Hoosiers (2)
- Indianapolis Colts (4)
- injury (1)
- interleague (1)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (7)
- Iowa State Cyclones (5)
- Jackson State Tigers (7)
- Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2)
- James Madison Dukes (1)
- Jersey Surf (1)
- Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (10)
- Kansas Jayhawks (1)
- Kansas State Wildcats (15)
- Kent State Golden Flashes (1)
- Kentucky Wildcats (2)
- lacrosse (85)
- Las Vegas Golden Knights (1)
- logo (16)
- Los Angeles Lakers (1)
- Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5)
- Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (6)
- Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1)
- Louisville Cardinals (12)
- LSU Tigers (23)
- Madison Scouts (5)
- Marching 100 (8)
- Marquette Gold Eagles (1)
- Marshall Thundering Herd (5)
- Maryland (7)
- Maryland Terrapins (35)
- mascot (3)
- MEAC (7)
- media (14)
- Meineke Car Care Bowl (1)
- Memphis Tigers (6)
- metaphor (2)
- Miami Dolphins (1)
- Miami Hurricanes (10)
- Miami Redhawks (1)
- Michael Vick (3)
- Michigan State Spartans (9)
- Michigan Wolverines (16)
- Mid American Conference (2)
- Mid-Atlantic (1)
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2)
- military (1)
- Minnesota Golden Gophers (6)
- Minnesota Vikings (2)
- mission (1)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (8)
- Missouri State Bears (1)
- Missouri Tigers (5)
- mlb (12)
- MLL (8)
- MLS (1)
- Morgan State Bears (1)
- movie (7)
- MTSU Blue Raiders (2)
- NASCAR (3)
- National Battle of the Bands (3)
- National Signing Day (1)
- Navy Midshipmen (14)
- NBA (21)
- NC A and T Aggies (21)
- NC Central Eagles (1)
- NC State Wolfpack (12)
- NDSU Bison (1)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (7)
- Negro League Baseball (1)
- Nevada Wolf Pack (5)
- New Jersey Nets (1)
- New Mexico Lobos (2)
- New Orleans Saints (4)
- New York Jets (1)
- NFL (56)
- NHL (6)
- NIT (3)
- Norfolk State Spartans (3)
- North Carolina (25)
- North Dakota State Bison (4)
- North Texas Mean Green (2)
- Northern Illinois Huskies (8)
- Northwestern Wildcats (6)
- Not Box 5 (1)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (30)
- odds (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Ohio State Buckeyes (42)
- Ohio State Buckeyes' (1)
- Ohio University Bobcats (12)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
- Oklahoma Sooners (18)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys (10)
- Old Dominion Monarchs (1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (11)
- Olympics (4)
- Oregon Crusaders (1)
- Oregon Ducks (17)
- Oregon State Beavers (3)
- Pac-10 (1)
- Pac-12 (8)
- parade (8)
- Penn State Nittany Lions (19)
- pep band (34)
- Pepsi Max (1)
- petition (1)
- Phantom Regiment (3)
- Philadelphia (10)
- Philadelphia 76ers (6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (35)
- Philadelphia Flyers (4)
- Philadelphia Phillies (5)
- Philadelphia Soul (1)
- pictures (2)
- Pittsburgh Crawfords (2)
- PIttsburgh Panthers (13)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (3)
- playoffs (65)
- PLL (1)
- podcasts (14)
- politics (9)
- polls (1)
- pop culture (2)
- Prairie View A and M Panthers (3)
- Preakness (1)
- preseason (2)
- Prince (1)
- Princeton Tigers (4)
- Pro Bowl (3)
- pros (1)
- Punkin Chunkin (1)
- Purdue Boilermakers (6)
- Queen City Battle of the Bands (5)
- quidditch (1)
- Radford Highlanders (1)
- radio (3)
- random thoughts (1)
- rankings (4)
- realignment (68)
- review (3)
- Rice Owls (4)
- RIP (6)
- rivalry (31)
- Ron Artest (1)
- Rose Bowl (8)
- rules (13)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (16)
- San Diego State Aztecs (7)
- San Francisco 49ers (1)
- San Jose State Spartans (2)
- Santa Clara Vanguard (6)
- scandal (1)
- schedule (1)
- SDSU Aztecs (1)
- Seattle Seahawks (1)
- SEC (26)
- shout-out (1)
- SMU Mustangs (5)
- soccer (15)
- South Alabama Jaguars (2)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (17)
- South Carolina State Bulldogs (3)
- Southern Conference (6)
- Southern Jaguars (11)
- Southern Miss Golden Eagles (4)
- Staccato (8)
- Stanford Cardinal (19)
- Stanley Cup (1)
- Stony Brook Seawolves (2)
- Sudler Trophy (11)
- Sun Belt Conference (1)
- Super Bowl (13)
- survey (1)
- SWAC (5)
- Syracuse Orange (14)
- tail (1)
- tailgating (32)
- Talladega College Tornadoes (4)
- Tampa Bay Rays (1)
- TCU Horned Frogs (13)
- Teal Sound (2)
- Temple Owls (11)
- Tenessee State Tigers (1)
- Tennessee Volunteers (12)
- Texas (3)
- Texas A and M Aggies (16)
- Texas Longhorns (13)
- Texas Southern Tigers (2)
- Texas State Bobcats (1)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (4)
- the South (1)
- The Undersigned (10)
- theater (1)
- Toledo Rockets (6)
- Toronto Nationals (2)
- Tour of Champions (13)
- tournament (69)
- Tournament of Roses Parade (5)
- Track and field (1)
- tradition (4)
- travel (74)
- Troopers (2)
- trouble (2)
- Troy Trojans (2)
- Tulane Green Wave (3)
- Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4)
- TV (44)
- twitter (13)
- UAB Blazers (3)
- UAPB Golden Lions (1)
- UCF Knights (22)
- UCLA Bruins (6)
- UConn Huskies (6)
- UMass Lowell River Hawks (1)
- UMass Minutemen (5)
- UMBC Retrievers (90)
- UNC Tar Heels (27)
- UNCG Spartans (25)
- uniforms (25)
- USC Trojans (9)
- USF Bulls (87)
- Utah State Aggies (6)
- Utah Utes (7)
- UTEP Miners (1)
- UTSA Roadrunners (1)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (5)
- Vermont Catamounts (1)
- video (25)
- video game (1)
- Villanova Wildcats (2)
- Virginia Cavaliers (18)
- Virginia Tech Hokies (14)
- vision (1)
- VMI Keydets (2)
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons (24)
- Washington Capitals (1)
- Washington Commanders (2)
- Washington Huskies (9)
- Washington Nationals (1)
- Washington Redskins (8)
- Washington State Cougars (5)
- West Liberty Hilltoppers (1)
- West Virginia Mountaineers (12)
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4)
- Western Michigan Broncos (5)
- WGI (3)
- Wichita State Shockers (2)
- Wilmington Blue Rocks (1)
- Wisconsin Badgers (14)
- World Cup (2)
- wrestling (1)
- WSSU Rams (2)
- WVU Mountaineers (7)
- Wyoming Cowboys (1)
- Yale Bulldogs (1)
- Year in review (8)
- Youngstown State Penguins (1)
No comments:
Post a Comment