by CJ Hagler
In current media and television shows, players and sports commentators scrutinize the NFL for current actions on banning a word. The new rule states that players using the word on the field makes the team suffer a 15-yard penalty.
CBS sports interviewed NFL owner Roger Goodell on the new ruling. He stated that the N-word makes an uneasy environment for Caucasians surrounded by it.
Why one word?
NBC sports interviewed Douglas Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks he stated, “If you look at it, the only people who say the N-word on the football field are African-Americans[…] So, for the rule to specifically to hone in on one word, it’s kind of odd to me when there’s so many other things that are more offensive that have been said on the football field. That word, like you’ve heard many guys say, they’ve never heard it towards them in a disrespectful way [on the field]. “If you want to ban offensive language, let’s ban all offensive language,” Baldwin said. “Not one particular word that is only used by one particular group.”
After reading up on the situation I wanted to hear from the peers around. I interviewed 4 student athletes at SVC, Javasha White & Jermaine Campbell who are African American, & 2 Caucasians who requested for their identity to be withheld. The question I asked all 4 was, are you uncomfortable around the N-word & do you think it should be banned from the NFL? Javasha said, “The N-word is just another word now a days, if people want to use it let them, just let the players play.” The student athletes and the few NFL players I’ve quoted don’t seem to have an issue with the “N-word”. Even though Jermaine believes the word should be banned, he thinks a 15-yard penalty is excessive.
Public Opinion
-Jermaine’s response: “we shouldn’t use it because it’s a bad word and we don’t want the whites to call us that. So yes it should be banned, but not no 15-yard penalty for its use”.
-Caucasian #1 “I know better than to say it, but I am fine with themsaying it, I don’t see why it should be banned.”
-Caucasian #2 “Giving a penalty for one word is stupid, might as well penalize someone for saying faggot.”