Just Write: Thugs

Having grown up in Seattle during the time when they didn't have an "American Professional Football" team, celebrating when the Kingdome was constructed and the Seahawks were finally a part of the NFC West (then later the AFC West, then back again to the NFC West), and cheering for Jim Zorn and Steve Largent like they were family members (Seattle fans have always been the 12th man), I was thrilled to see the Seahawks beat the 49ers and head to their second Super Bowl.
Enter Richard Sherman's interview with Erin Andrews ...
I have no issue with Richard Sherman. He is a 25-year old who had just made the play of a lifetime to win the game of his lifetime. He was fueled by adrenaline and competition. He was in the moment - raw and unfiltered - and gave FOX some amazing footage.
I do, however, take issue with the name callers that clogged social media.
Racial slurs and innuendos were hurled far and wide, and all that I could think was, "These are the same people who teach my son in school, who will interview him for jobs, who will watch him closely as he walks through department stores. These are the people who think these thoughts, but keep them undercover until they feel protected and fueled by the anonymity of the internet."
THUG
It was the most common word I saw used to describe Richard Sherman.
Dictionary.com defines THUG as:

a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer

Richard Sherman is an American Professional Football player, not a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.
One has to wonder if the same word would have been used to describe J.R. Sweezy or Zach Miller had they had similar post-game interviews.
My heart tells me no - they would have been seen as "intense" and "competitive".
Do not be fooled, racism is alive and well, society has just gotten much better at keeping it to themselves ...
At least until they have the protection of anonymity on the internet.
And that hurts my heart.
~*~*~
In an attempt to revive this blog, I've decided to participate in Heather King's "Just Write" campaign:

Write whatever is happening around you WHILE you are writing (sometimes that’s the very best) OR whatever DETAILS you remember about your day or a specific recent-ish experience.

Next, try not to clarify or explain what you want to speak through your post too much. (Try not to force a theme or message.) Just write your experiences. What did you: See? Smell? Touch? Feel? Hear? What did it make you think?

Then watch how your ordinary and extraordinary experiences speak all on their own. That’s it!

A special thank you to Jana for continuing to blog and inspiring me to attempt to get back to the platform that was (and still is) my first love.