The Cam Jam

The Cam Jam

The Oppression of Manhood

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

I didn't think anyone need to explain what Cam Newton is going through right now with the media but maybe I was completely wrong. America doesn't get it at all or, at least, she is playing blind to the fact they Cam Newton is being singled out because he is a black man who has chosen to use his voice. For many people, the Cam Newton story started during the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. But for me, the story started a year or so back. At that time Cam and the Panthers football team were having a tough year and Cam's responses to the press came under the microscope. His response was not widely accepted by the mainstream media and a lot of them started demonizing Cam for some of his responses. In my mind, Cam was only being himself and responding as he felt he was allowed to as a man.

See this is where the trouble begins for the young football star. Cam Newton a grown man was thinking, I can just be myself and America will understand and act accordingly. Maybe someone should have given Cam a lesson about what happens to outspoken black men in America. Those of us in the black community understand this and we know what can happen when a young black man speaks out. This is seen as a break in the slave code for the racist power structure anytime a black man takes a stand on principles of manhood America sees it as her responsibility to break that black buck down. In my granddad's time, they described what Cam is doing as being uppity. In their minds Cam is being ungrateful and uppity when he speaks up for himself and America has a long history of trying to destroy any black man who would be bold enough to display any kind of manhood.

There will be those who will say I'm playing the race card but that's only because they want to reserve the right of playing the race card for themselves. The history of this kind of reaction to black men speaking up is well documented and no one can claim otherwise. It's too bad the media doesn't take the time to really listen to Cam because I feel his message is a positive one for our children to hear no matter what their race may be. Cam is saying something that should be valued all over the world but in America most of all. In the America that prides herself on being freedom loving and a respecter of its citizens rights to be treated equally. She should of all peoples of the world be in total agreement with Cam's message of individuality and pride in oneself. Why is it so bad what Cam is saying??? When we can honestly answer that question then what's really going on here will reveal the whole racist scam.

If we all could be honest for a moment, I think we know that what is happen to Cam Newton is shameful. We should be embarrassed but sadly we are not because this sickness is so ingrained us that we don't even see a problem with what is going on. It's not just white folks either because there are many blacks who have because of their slave programming said just as ugly things about Cam as white folks. It seems they are just as blind to the racist tactics of the power structure. Cam is being held to higher standard than any of his white counterparts and everyone  knows this but they play dumb. I only wish I could have given Cam some advice back when he was having an off year. I would have told him what all black men in America should be told about this country.

We must begin to teach our sons that we are behind enemy lines. We must tell them the truth about this country and never allow them to get comfortable as long as America continues to live out her racist behaviors. Our sons must learn to speak in code when talking to the enemy's press. We must teach them the tricks that the media plays and how to avoid the traps they set for us in their questions. Cam Newton is changing the game of football forever and we need to change the way we respond to these racist tactics. When the media attacks one of our people we need to be united in our efforts to support them when it is clear they have done no wrong and the media is targeting them for assassination. Lastly, to my people I want to say, teach your children the truth and should they become successful like Cam instruct them well on the tactic of our enemies and let Cam Newton be the last black man they try to use their buck breaking tactics on.