The Cam Newton conundrum

Cam Newton did some talking without saying a single word.

Another Sunday went by in the NFL and, predictably, there was the sign of more protests during the national anthem.

For those who’ve been living under a rock or not well informed, the protests started to bring awareness to the fact that unarmed black men across America are being killed by police. This has not only spread throughout the NFL but it’s reached the NBA, WNBA, NCAA and even high schools across the country.

It’s become the topic of discussion and last week, it hit home in a particular NFL city.

Last Tuesday, Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by Charlotte police just outside of his apartment complex. From that afternoon to this past Sunday, the city has dealt with protests and damage done across the metro area.

Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton one of the faces of the NFL. While African American athletes in the NFL and the sports world are speaking up on these issues, Newton finds himself in a precarious situation.

I am a fan of Newton. I think he’s great for the game and the sports world in general. Newton and I also have a few things in common and no, the amount of zero’s in the bank account is not one of them.

Cam and I are both 27-year-old African-American males.

Newton has said on multiple occasions that he’s in a “lose-lose” situation when it comes to speaking out on these issues or race and violence in America.

It’s frustrating, confusing and sometimes aggravating to see and hear because there’s so many others who are actually speaking up on the issue. But I get it, I’m not a fan of his stance but I get it. He ends up pissing people off and goes through what many other athletes are dealing with. Would you want to go through that? Hell no, so I understand why that might be difficult.

That hopefully may be changing soon.

This was the scene right outside Bank of America Stadium before, during and after the ballgame on Sunday. In that stadium before the game, Newton wore a black shirt with a famous quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

Following the contest, Newton wore an interesting outfit with a hat that had a message attached to it…

Was this a message to the public? His owner Jerry Richardson? The press, who’s been on him ever since his infamous Super Bowl 50 press conference? Who knows.

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Cam will continue to face scrutiny for his perceived “straddling the fence” approach to these issues in the black community until he chooses a side. While he may not take a knee or raise a fist, a city and a community is looking towards him for leadership at this time.

It may be difficult. Newton might piss a few people off. But sometimes you’ve got to do that if you want to be an agent of change.