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Richard Sherman: Thug the New “N-Word”? By. Jordan Watters C2015 Picture this: A Black male from Compton, CA; scholar-athlete: graduates high school as salutatorian; accepted into Stanford University: achieves a 3.9 GPA in college: graduates with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications; drafted into the l\IFL; but is now labelled a “thug.” Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has been the headliner of many reports since his passionate post game interview after winning the NFC Championship on Jan. 19. After a gruesome fight on the gridiron, Sherman and his teammates were victorious against the San Francisco 49ers, 23-17. During this game, the No. 1 -ranked Seahawks defense made clutch plays in the fourth quarter. With 0:22 left in the game, 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s intended touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree was tipped by Sherman into the arms of linebacker Malcolm Smith. Thus sealing the deal for a Seahawks win. But instead of Sherman receiving credit for his performance, he was more condemned for his comments in an interview with Fox’s Erin Andrews. “I’m the best corner in the game,” Sherman said. “When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the results you’re going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me [Crabtree.] Don’t you open your mouth about the best, or I will shut it for you real quick.” These words have resonated all around the world and resulted in Sherman being labelled derogatory terms including: thug, villain, classless, and many more. In a Seahawks press conference days later, Sherman responded to being called a “thug.” “The only reason [being called a thug] bothers me is because it seems like it's the accepted way of calling somebody the ‘n word’ nowadays,” Sherman said. Sherman also referenced the NHL and how hockey players literally fight on the ice during games. “There was a hockey game where they didn’t even play hockey,” Sherman said. “They just threw the puck aside and started fighting. I saw that and I’m like ‘Wait, I’m the thug? What’s going on here?”’ According to the Webster’s dictionary, a thug is defined as: a violent criminal; a brutal ruffian or assassin. In Sherman’s defense, he has a clear criminal record and is far from a “thug.” It is unfortunate that he was stereotyped and that his character was judged from a 20-second interview. Therefore, it is important to highlight Sherman’s accomplishments off the field and how he gives back to the community. Sherman is the founder of “Blanket Coverage: The Richard Sherman Family Foundation,” where the goal is to provide as many children with proper school supplies and adequate clothing. Additionally, he often volunteers with the “Students with a Goal (SWAG)” organization. Though Sherman’s short post-game interview was blown out of proportion, it teaches the world another lesson about why you should not judge a book by its cover. After all, this “thug” is now a Super Bowl Champion. Looks like Sherman gets the last laugh. Deserted and Hungry: Tlie Realities of Living in a Food Desert By: Kevona Belcher C2015 Can you imagine yourself in the middle of a desert, a food desert that is? A desert left desolate and barren not because of minimal precipitation, but due to the fact that it has been stripped and deprived of nutritious food. A land flooded with KFCs and multiple McDonald's chains, with not a single vegetable in sight. Does this sound familiar? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as a “low- income census tract where a substantial number of residents have low access to a grocery store.” According to the Huffington Post, food deserts specifically refer to urban or rural areas where access to quality fresh produce and poultry are limited, and finding these products are difficult and time consuming. Unfortunately, our community of the West End fits this definition perfectly. Yes, the West End Wal-Mart provides minimal quality produce and poultry. Feb/March 2014 SpelmanPaper@gmail.com However, it is our only source. And before 2013, there were no grocery stores within walking distance of the AUC. We live off of cafeteria food and fast food, stuck in the middle of our desert. But we aren’t the only ones deserted. According to the USDA, there are as many as 23.5 million Americans living more than a mile from a supermarket. These same Americans are also in socio-economically disadvantaged communities and have limited access to vehicles and public transit. This should ring a bell; our community fits perfectly into that statistic. Food deserts can have grave impact on health and have a concrete connection to America’s obesity epidemic. According to the Huffington Post, a greater number of convenience stores in an area (common within food deserts) are linked to an increased risk for obesity. Obesity is prevalent in low-income communities- communities where it is more likely to see a pig flying in the air than a Whole Foods on the corner. Where we live is a risk factor to our health. Our limited options have major impact on our lives, and the community around us. So how can we combat this problem? The answer isn’t easy. Socio-economically disadvantaged communities have been mistreated and misrepresented since the Industrial Revolution. Environmental injustice is prevalent and thriving. Community programs such as the Atlanta Local Food Initiative want to transform this corrupt system, and provide affordable nutritious food to every Atlantan. But it is ultimately our responsibility to take intuitive in our communities. With new student initiatives such as the SSGA Fruit Market to be held on Fridays in Lower Manley, we are one step closer to surviving life in the food desert. For more information on the ALFI visit http://www.atlantalocalfood.org/ The BluePrint