December 18, 2012 4:00 A.M.
RGIII, ‘Cornball Brothers,’ and the Blackness Code
The new enforcers of racial authenticity use racist logic to define blackness.

By Lee Habeeb


Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (RGIII, as he is known) has a problem. It turns out that some black commentators, and probably some black elites, don’t think he is black enough — because he dared to publicly state that he didn’t want to be judged solely by his skin color as an NFL quarterback.

Last Thursday morning on First Take, ESPN’s Rob Parker uttered a comment for which he was later fired, although he probably only said what some African Americans think but don’t publicly express: “My question is, and it’s just a straight, honest question: Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?”

I’d never heard the term before, so I did a quick search and landed at UrbanDictionary.com. Here is the definition I found there:

Cornball brother: An African-American man who chooses not to follow the stereotype . . . life choices include marrying white women, being a Republican, and not being ‘down with the cause.’

UrbanDictionary also lists “corn dog brother” as a related term and gives this example in its definition:

Leroy is a Republican who listens to country music, enjoys golfing on weekends, and drives [an] eco-friendly car. He is a corn dog brother.

I love it when I get an example with my definitions!

Little did Parker know, he was performing a public service by reminding the country of the interesting concept of the not-black-enough brother.

And you wonder why there are not more black Republicans?

Things got more interesting as Parker continued his riff.

“He’s black, he does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause,” Parker continued. “He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really like the kind of guy you really want to hang out with.” Parker admitted that he needed to learn more about Griffin’s personal life before he could accept him as authentically black. “I just want to find out about him,” he said.

Read more:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/3...ode-lee-habeeb#

I've been told that my humor is "cornball", do I qualify?

Let me tell you something, Mr. Parker, my brotha....

Black folks who cry the most about race are usually the most racist of all....even against our own people. As evidenced in this article.

Mr. Robert Griffin III, a young black man, and a rookie no less, is a starting Quarterback in the NFL and breaking down a stereotypical barrier and all you're concerned with is that he's not ghetto enough? You're tearing this young man down just because he doesn't fit the stereotypical mold of what you've been brainwashed to think a black man should be.

No, Mr. Parker, it is you who is not black...enough.

Could Mr. Parker give commentary on Mr. Griffin's performance on the field without making a reference to Mr. Griffin's race? Or is his brain stuck on stupid?