The only person hated more than a supremely confident individual is a supremely confident Black individual.
It’s an issue that has long existed for Black athletes. Their self-confidence, coupled with their hard work and attitude create a package that breeds success and hatred.
Yet that’s not self-hatred.
We’ve witnessed athletes with this type of unrelenting confidence be labeled as arrogant. These are athletes fans hold great contempt for and wish for nothing but their downfall. They even tune in simply to root against them and revel in their failure.
Now, cheering for an opposing athlete or a team to lose is an expected part of sports.
But with Black athletes, “arrogant” is oftentimes followed by derogatory words and phrases that white athletes don’t receive, and that’s where fandom ends and racism begins.
Confident Black athletes generate a type of venom in some that inspires ignorance and often exposes racist feelings. It’s an anger that aims to belittle, humiliate, demean and hurt.
These are fans who believe that their fandom and monetary support entitle them to the right to spew hatred.
And don’t let a Black athlete stand up for themselves or a cause outside of football that rocks the social norm. They’re instantly vilified and shunned by society. Just ask John Carlos, Tommy Smith and Colin Kaepernick about being ostracized and expelled.
Even expression can cause vile reactions. During Texas’ game against Alabama on September 9th, dancing Longhorns players were verbally abused by a group of fans who unleashed a racist, homophobic tirade against them.
“Go back to the projects, fa****s,” screamed the fans. Normally Africa is the preferred destination of racists, but apparently, they took the domestic racist route instead.
Less than two weeks ago, Vikings running back Alexander Madison was inundated with racist messages on social media after the team lost to the Eagles.
These incidents exemplify the torment Black athletes have experienced since they first stepped on a field of play, only now more platforms and outlets exist to expose the racist treatment they receive.
With Black athletes, the adjectives quickly morph into humiliating daggers aimed solely at their skin color or physical attributes, a disgusting and denigrating experience white athletes aren’t subjected to.
Just ask Sha’Carri Richardson about some of the hate she’s received since she first turned pro simply because she’s unapologetic about her self-confidence.
The latest target of hatred is Colorado Buffaloes head football coach, Deion Sanders, and after Saturday night’s bad loss to Oregon, the floodgates of venom flung open.
Some fans who jumped on the Coach Prime bandwagon quickly jumped off after the Buffaloes’ loss. Others took the time to savor Sanders’ first loss of the season through mockery and commentary. Those responses “ain’t hard to find,” as Coach Prime would say.
These horrible fans want Sanders to fail because they don’t want to see an overtly confident Black man succeed. They will argue that Sanders is arrogant and that has some merit.
But don’t be fooled into thinking the hatred revolves solely around his unabashed deep belief in himself and his purpose and blind yourself to his complexion not playing a major part in the hatred.
It exists, and it also exists differently depending upon the darkness of a Black athlete’s skin tone, but that’s another story.
Deion Sanders has brought Black families together on Saturday to watch the Buffaloes, a phenomenon I wrote about previously. But he’s also brought out those who seek to belittle and mock him.
Some of it is humorous like the Oregon Duck mascot wearing shades and attacking a “Primetime” clock before Oregon’s game against Colorado last night.
But some of it is vicious and racist.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
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