A black quarterback won the Super Bowl, and hardly anyone mentioned it

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PapaG

PapaG

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Second African-American QB to win one. Doug Williams was the first.

I didn't even think about it until watching the Cam Newton/Colin Kaepernik interview on SportsCenter, when they brought it up. Maybe it's not that big of a deal anymore? If so that's refreshing, culturally. Russell Wilson is just seen as a QB, and not a black QB. Of course, Wilson didn't make it an issue before the game, and with Manning getting all of the attention, the media didn't need to create another storyline. Could that be the case?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...he-super-bowl-and-hardly-anyone-mentioned-it/

On Sunday, a team with a black starting quarterback won the Super Bowl, for the first time since Doug Williams won with the Redskins in 1988. Although we wrote plenty about Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, and Kent Babb retraced the quarterback’s background, I don’t remember any instances in our coverage where we specifically labeled Wilson as a black quarterback about to play in the Super Bowl.

A few days later, co-worker David Betancourt asked me about it, and we had a nuanced conversation. I asked him to chime in with his thoughts here, and mine follow:

...

As the years went by, I’d watch my mother root for the Eagles whenever they played Washington (“I’m rooting for Randall,” she’d always say.) Then as I got older, I started reading between the lines a little bit. Whenever black quarterbacks were mentioned I sometimes heard key words like “scrambler,” “athletic,” “not accurate.” I saw black quarterbacks in college not get drafted or asked to change positions. Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward went to play basketball for the New York Knicks.

But when Russell Wilson was leading a dominant team with realistic title hopes, I said to myself, “He could be the first since Doug,” (although I was hoping it would be RGIII) and he was. But then something happened. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl and no one said anything about it. Not even Wilson. I wondered if the subject wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. Then I started asking myself questions. Is this not a big deal anymore? It’s 2014 not 1988. If Wilson isn’t making a point of saying anything, do I have a right trying to make historic points? Had I watched Super Bowl XXII with my father (who was at home recording the game, but is not black), would I have even cared about the subject?

I decided that Wilson’s victory, and the lack of mentioning him being the second ever since Williams to win it all, was just as much as a victory as Williams had back in 1988. A quarterbacks’ skin color isn’t a big deal anymore. Teams just want to win now. And they’ll put under center whoever they think gives them the best chance to win. That’s the victory worth celebrating.
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continued at link
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No one mentioned it because he's a clean black quarterback.

But now that it has come up I'm sure that Jim Rome will ask him about marijuana.
 
probably no one mentioned it because no one cares.
 
Unless he comes out, it's not news.

Homosexuality is the new black.
 
Russell Wilson is whiter than my cracka azz cracka ass

He's not a thug like Kaepernick
 
Despite what the mods say, I think it's a fascinating point, and one worthy of notice.

Repped.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Despite what the mods say, I think it's a fascinating point, and one worthy of notice.

Repped.
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Huh? SlyPokerDog the mod wasn't saying anything. SlyPokerDog the member made a couple of humorous remarks.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Huh? SlyPokerDog the mod wasn't saying anything. SlyPokerDog the member made a couple of humorous remarks.
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Nope. You're still a mod, even if you're not modding. Live it, love it.
 
RoyToy said:
Russell Wilson is whiter than my cracka azz cracka ass

He's not a thug like Kaepernick
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Kaepernick tries too hard to be street. He was adopted at birth and raised by a middle-class white family. His best sport was baseball in HS. I kind of feel bad for him having to pretend to be something he's clearly not. He just doesn't appear comfortable in his own shoes, while Russell Wilson, RGII, and Cam Newton all are just themselves.
 
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Hobbesarable said:
Yep. He's a great quarterback and I hope he wins more Super Bowls.
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I always love when white people get to decide when a man's race doesn't matter anymore. The title of this thread is copied directly from the WaPo article written by two black men. I suggest reading the article. It brings up some salient points in terms of society, and what matters at times, as well as what doesn't matter.
 
PapaG said:
I always love when white people get to decide when a man's race doesn't matter anymore. The title of this thread is copied directly from the WaPo article written by two black men. I suggest reading the article. It brings up some salient points in terms of society, and what matters at times, as well as what doesn't matter.
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Russell Wilson is a great quarterback and has shown tremendous character. He's a credit to his team and family. And I enjoy watching him play.

I'm not exactly sure what you're wanting as a response.
 
Wilson sounds white, therefore he's an Oreo, so a true black QB did not win the SB.
 
RoyToy said:
Russell Wilson is whiter than my cracka azz cracka ass

He's not a thug like Kaepernick
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How is Kaep a thug? Wilson isn't a thug, so he isn't black? So the discussion was never the lack of black QB's succeeding, but of thuggish QB's succeeding?

Racist much?

To the main topic.... I think at this point, people have stopped talking about the novelty of black QB's because there are several good black QB's now. And their teams are winning. Kaep, Russ, Cam.... They're far from the historical QB's though. They're a new trend/breed. They're so athletic and mobile. They're what Vick was supposed to be. They've produced enough the last couple of years that there's not much to talk about at the moment. I dunno, that's just my thought at the moment, anyway.
 
Hobbesarable said:
Russell Wilson is a great quarterback and has shown tremendous character. He's a credit to his team and family. And I enjoy watching him play.

I'm not exactly sure what you're wanting as a response.
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I agree!
 
BLAZINGGIANTS said:
How is Kaep a thug? Wilson isn't a thug, so he isn't black? So the discussion was never the lack of black QB's succeeding, but of thuggish QB's succeeding?

Racist much?

To the main topic.... I think at this point, people have stopped talking about the novelty of black QB's because there are several good black QB's now. And their teams are winning. Kaep, Russ, Cam.... They're far from the historical QB's though. They're a new trend/breed. They're so athletic and mobile. They're what Vick was supposed to be. They've produced enough the last couple of years that there's not much to talk about at the moment. I dunno, that's just my thought at the moment, anyway.
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You should really read the article. :cheers:
 
They were saying this in the late 70s because the NFL had 2 black quarterbacks who shared time with whites in starting.

"The struggle is over, it's downhill from here, fans accept black quarterbacks now."

1988, then 2014. Wow. Another 26 years is...2040. It's owners who need to change. They're worried about fan reaction. Seattle's liberal, so it was easy for Paul Allen.

Non sequiter: Before the Euro invasion, most NBA teams carefully found a couple of white scrubs to make the team so it wasn't all black.
 
jlprk said:
They were saying this in the late 70s because the NFL had 2 black quarterbacks who shared time with whites in starting.

"The struggle is over, it's downhill from here, fans accept black quarterbacks now."

1988, then 2014. Wow. Another 26 years is...2040. It's owners who need to change. They're worried about fan reaction. Seattle's liberal, so it was easy for Paul Allen.

Non sequiter: Before the Euro invasion, most NBA teams carefully found a couple of white scrubs to make the team so it wasn't all black.
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Washington DC has the most African-Americans in the country, yet a bunch of their fans want Cousins as QB over RGIII. I find that to be social progress.
 
You're thinking only within the city limits. D.C. suburb-dwellers work for the Federal government. Overpaid, fat, and slow. You can have them.
 
Wilson is a black guy that thinks more like a white guy. Doesn't really count. They need someone a little more chocalatey like McNabb or Vick to win one and then it would be more newsworthy.
 
MickZagger said:
Wilson is a black guy that thinks more like a white guy. Doesn't really count. They need someone a little more chocalatey like McNabb or Vick to win one and then it would be more newsworthy.
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Like.... Chris Weinki white or like Tom Brady white?
 
I can't wait till martin luther IV is president and we can put this all to rest
 
The word "they" is popping up at an alarming rate in this thread. :sigh:
 
Its all about the "we"

"I wish we would stop being black so much"
 
Natebishop3 said:
You live in a diverse urban center, no?

Maris is from the streets!
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I certainly have if Hollywood and Portland are diverse urban centers.

As for being from the streets, I was a skateboarder before skateboards were commercially made. :devilwink:
 
M3Mpb0l.jpg
 
3RA1N1AC said:
I can't wait till martin luther IV is president and we can put this all to rest
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You want some Lutheran from Germany to be our President? Why not just get Arnold Schwarzenbeggar?

MARIS61 said:
As for being from the streets, I was a skateboarder before skateboards were commercially made. :devilwink:
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I didn't know that. Unless I did, years ago, and forgot. I've probably told you about my beauties I made in shop class in Hawaii. They're probably worth some money now.
 
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