A White Man Coached NFL’er Cam Newton On How To Discuss Race In Public

Cam Newton

If you’ve noticed a shift in how Cam Newton now discusses race, we may have discovered the reason. Since the Panther’s Super Bowl loss, some suggest that the NFL star’s public talking points concerning race have become more ‘white washed’. According to Black Sports Online (via Sports Illustrated),

Jeezy, Newton, Future

Part of the shift has to do with GOP pollster and PR advisor Frank Luntz. Luntz has worked with the Panthers before—Deadspin outlined some of his work with them and Cam Newton in a piece from 2014, which included, as the article says, “a campaign to enhance the image of several players and the organization.” He was called in (by whom is unclear) this off-season to help Newton frame discussions on race among other topics, according to people close to Newton. Luntz, who declined comment on this story through a spokeswoman, is often credited with prompting the phrase “climate change” rather than global warming and helping Newt Gingrich with his 1990s “Contract With America.”

The site adds,

Luntz doesn’t like Kaepernick at all, meaning he isn’t a fan of someone protesting for racial equality and ending police brutality. Just think about that for a minute. Newton who was pretty outspoken about race issues in the past and has been a target of racism and prejudice, now says the country is beyond racism.

Click here for the full story. Earlier this month, Cam was made headlines for his comments about race. During a recent interview, the NFL’er was asked about Colin Kaepernick’s decision to not stand during the national anthem. Newton decided not to choose a side, explaining:

What I can’t fathom is how does 1/8 of an inch, something so small, be the difference in such a big commodity in our whole lifetime, and that’s the thickness of our skin.

He added:

And under that, we’re all the same color. And that’s the big picture. A lot of scrutiny happens when the athletes start talking about race, but the truth of the matter is we just gotta do right by each other. No matter what color you are. Certain things that has happened in our life, in our lifetime, is kind of embarrassing to be affiliated with, but it still happens. Who am I to say, Colin you’re wrong. And who am I to say, you’re right. We all have the right to think whatever we want to think.

Check out a few reactions on twitter below.

Do you think Cam having an alleged white consultant coach him on discussing race has influenced his point of view? 

 
Follow us: @theJasmineBRAND on Twitter | theJasmineBRAND on Facebook| theJasmineBRANDcom on Instagram