Back in December of 2016, Cam Newton was benched for the first series of the game, as punishment for an alleged “dress code violation” as punishment. That punishment only lasted for ONE PLAY; as Derek Anderson immediately threw an interception on the first play. Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera could have stood on whatever measure of principles he thought mattered and extended the punishment; but he knew that this would be the very definition of insanity. 
But this week, Derek Anderson (who has only thrown the ball 6.7 passes in the past three years) will be the starting QB for The Buffalo Bills. Oh, and of those 67 passes, five of those were intercepted. He did throw for two touchdowns; but ummm yeah. Another career backup, that’s a backup for a reason, is being sent out to start a game while Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned…
A few weeks ago, I wrote about some teams that I felt should consider at least adding Brother Kap to their roster. Let’s take a look at the state of affairs, as week seven begins... 

​The Buffalo Bills currently rank last in Total Offense, Passing Yards, Receiving Yards, and First Downs. Collectively, between Josh Allen and Nathan Peterman, The Bills have only THREE Touchdown Passes thru six weeks. Add nine INTs and an injured Josh Allen to the mix, and you what you get is one big mess. Prior to all of this, they ran Tyrod Taylor out of town in very disrespectful fashion. And now they want Derek Anderson to put down his clipboard, and throw some more interceptions…

As a resident of The State Of Tennessee, I’ve seen and heard a lot in regard to it’s lineage of quarterbacks. From McNair to Young to Mariota, and all the trash in between, it’s been a lot of good and a lot of bad. But never have The Titans been this impotent. Based on the callers to the various talk radio shows, the fans have largely lost all optimism that the once-heralded Marcus Mariota would lead the team to a brighter future. And to have been sacked 11 times this week, by a Ravens Team that does not include Ray Lewis or Ed Reed??? The Titans rank in the bottom three in Total Offense, Passing Yards, Receiving Yards, and First Downs. And Mariota still can’t stay healthy. Last year, it was reported that Colin Kaepernick actually reached out to The Titans requesting an opportunity to workout for a roster spot. Instead they chose Matt Cassel; and this year Blaine Gabbert. Don’t you think it may be time to return that call and reach back?  

​In my earlier piece, I questioned if The Cardinals understood the ramifications of going forward with an injury-prone Sam Bradford and an unexperienced Josh Rosen under center. Predictably, Sam Bradford went down to yet another injury. Josh Rosen did okay at first; but after being mauled by Denver 45-10 Thursday Night, it is clear that he may already be damaged goods. Last night Rosen threw the ball 39 times; but for only 194 yards. He threw one touchdown, versus three pics, for a QBR of 3.0. Horrible. Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy was fired after the game; and Byron Leftwich will now be tasked with saving this kid’s career. As if reviving an offense that ranks in the bottom five in every statistical category so far this year. More specifically, the rank next to last in passing yards and total offense-while ranking dead last in third down conversion percentages at a lowly 23.1%. 

​Eli Manning threw the ball 43 times on Sunday; but could not throw a TD. He did throw an INT though. His teammates are publicly and privately expressing frustration over his play. For the season, he has only thrown six touchdowns-versus four interceptions and four fumbles. Colin may not be the shiny new toy in which a high 1st round pick this year would have been viewed as; but he would at this point be a breath of fresh air and new energy. Currently at 1-5, what do The Giants have to lose? In a pretty weak NFC East, it’s not to late to make a comeback? 

​Like The NY Giants, The Oakland Raiders throw the ball an awful lot to not be scoring many points. I don’t even have the patience to do the math on calculating the Yards Per Pass Average for the 142 yards gained off Derek Carr’s 23 completed passes. I know I haven’t been watching; but does anyone throw the ball downfield anymore? Like The Giants, The Oakland Raiders are in a weak division, that can still easily be won. Perhaps a little fresh energy would help energize the squad and muster a turnaround for a team that has fast become the laughingstock of the NFL.

While many of us remember the 1991 beating of Rodney King, by The LAPD; how many remember the name Latasha Harlins? Shot in the head by a Korean Store Owner that suspected the 15-Year-Old of stealing a bottle of orange juice, the murder of young Ms. Harlins was just as much a core reason for the riots as what happened to Mr. King. Latasha died with $2 dollars in her hand-the money to pay for the $1.79 bottle of OJ (no pun intended). Did I mention that she was shot in the back of the head? Soon Ja Du had confronted young Latasha physically; resulting in Ms. Harlins attempting to just leave the store. But instead her life ended on that Saturday Morning of October 9th, 1991. As for her killer? Soon Ja Du was initially charged with 1st Degree Murder, with Special Circumstances; but ultimately, she was only convicted of the far lesser charge of Voluntary Manslaughter. Soon Ja Du was only sentenced to 5 years on probation and 400 hours of community service (with a $500 fine as restitution to The Harlins Family), despite recommendations that she receive the full maximum sentence of 16 years in prison allowed under California Law. Judge Karlin actually argued that Latasha, the murdered victim, was actually the implied criminal in this case. Sound familiar???
The murder of Latasha Harlins occurred just six days after the beating of Rodney King. And while Soon Ja Du’s Empire Liquors store would become the constant target of protests, the building would be torched and destroyed during the riots that went down after the officers that beat Rodney King were acquitted in April 1992. The store never re-opened. While the entire country would have an opinion as to what happened to Rodney, anyone of the requisite age in South Central California would surely tell you that it was the unpunished murder of young Miss Harlins that was the true defining moment that led to an angry rebellion. The verdict in Simi Valley was just the lighter fluid added to an already smoldering fire. Latasha Harlins would be 42 today…
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SOURCES:
https://www.theroot.com/a-fallen-black-girl-remembering-latasha-harlins-1790898980
https://www.good.is/articles/latasha-harlins-rodney-king-anniversary
https://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2017/04/los_angeles_riot_25_years.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/24/news/judge-who-gave-probation-in-a-slaying-may-be-moved.html

On the morning of September 15th, 1963, a bomb was detonated from under the front steps of The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. While most of the church members had already transitioned upstairs to begin, five young girls were still downstairs in the basement area of the church. As a result, Cynthia Wesley, Denise McNair, Carol Robertson, and Addie Mae Collins would be killed in the explosion. Addie Mae’s sister Susan Collins would survive; but would be blinded for life due to her injuries. Another 14-20 people were reportedly injured in the bombing; and two teenagers (Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson) would be killed for protesting the murders of these young girls. This horrible moment of domestic terrorism and racist evil would serve as one of the most notable events among those that would galvanize the fight for civil and human rights in America and around the world.
“The blood of our little children is on your hands.”
The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church had been the base of operations for most of the activities centered around the fight for desegregation and equal rights in Birmingham; and was also considered to be a centerpiece of The Black Community. After intense efforts by Dr. King and The SCLC to mobilize the masses, a victory in the overall war had been achieved. On May 10th of that year, Birmingham officials would relent to desegregating the local restaurants, public restrooms, public fountains, stores, and more. This led to an onslaught of retaliatory violence from white groups that included fire-bombings and other bombing attacks at The Gaston Hotel (where Dr. King has previously stayed), the home of Dr. King’s brother A.D., and twice at the home of NAACP Attorney Arthur Shores. Four members a local KKK Splinter Group (The Cahaba River Group) would be named as suspects in 1965; but no indictments would come after an almost five-year investigation. In 1971, a new investigation would be launched, by then Alabama Attorney General Bill Blaxley. Robert Chambliss would eventually be found guilty of murder in 1977.  As for the other three assassins, Bobby Frank Cherry and Thomas Blanton would be sentenced to prison after The State Of Alabama again re-opened the case files in the year 2000. Herman Cash escaped punishment, as he died in 1994. 
SOURCES:
https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/1963-birmingham-church-bombing-fast-facts/index.html
https://www.nps.gov/articles/16thstreetbaptist.htm
https://www.britannica.com/event/16th-Street-Baptist-Church-bombing
BONUS READING:
https://www.npr.org/2013/01/25/170279226/long-forgotten-16th-street-baptist-church-bombing-survivor-speaks-out

Dr. Ossian Sweet was highly successful Detroit physician, and graduate of Howard University Medical School. But he would most well known for an incident that occurred at his home in the Fall of 1925. Having purchased a two-story home in an all-white neighborhood that July, the residents immediately began to protest. Dr. Sweet and his wife would not actually move in until September of that year; and he came escorted by armed "associates" and a police escort. One night later, a mob of whites would attack the house-throwing rocks and bottles. Their attempts to intrude further, and enter Dr. Sweet's home were met with gunfire. One member of the racist mob was killed; and another one was wounded. Dr. Ossian Sweet, and his associates would each be arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder.  

Famed Attorney Clarence Darrow would be brought in by The NAACP to defend them at trial. A mistrial would eventually be declared, and the subsequent retrial would ensure the freedom of Dr. Ossian Sweet and his comrades.  

Though racial codes were already routinely used in real estate contracts, this practice would be made more aggressively in the aftermath of his victory in court. Dr. Ossian Sweet's life would never again be the same. His wife and daughter died shortly after he was freed; and he would be harassed over taxes, medical licenses, and more for decades. He would ultimately commit suicide in 1960. The house on Garland Road is now listed upon those preserved by The State Of Michigan, as a historical landmark. 

SOURCES: 
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/sweet-ossian-1895-1960
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/detroit/d4.htm
http://www.detroit1701.org/SweetHome.htm

On Monday August 20th, students at UNC-Chapel Hill dismantled a statue erected in remembrance of Confederate soldier that would later become known as “Silent Sam.” Students had been protesting the existence of this statue, erected at the urging of The Daughters Of The Confederacy, since at least 1965.  Previously “Silent Sam” had been vandalized with red ink thrown on it to symbolize Black Lives lost to White Supremacists. A similar instance had also occurred in Nashville, TN; but with pink paint.
 Thankfully this increases the number of White Supremacist and/or Confederate Conspirator Monuments taken down legally, or by force of the people, to at least 110. Unfortunately, there are another 1700+ that remain in place as a reminder of when White Supremacist Laws and Customs were the accepted norm. Unfortunately, there are groups like The Sons of Confederate Veterans have refused to go away quietly; as they claim to have built four new monuments in Alabama and are building a new headquarters in Columbia, Tennessee. Additionally, the governments of the governments of most of the states have laws in place to protect these eyesores. There is even speculation that a vaguely-worded North Carolina law stipulates that "Silent Sam" will be restored.
As far as “Silent Sam” is concerned, additional protests took place over the weekend; and 11 people have been arrested overall. Most have been arrested for things like resisting arrest, while others were charged with “simple assault for blocking the way of a man carrying a Confederate flag” or “damage to property for breaking a Confederate flag pole.” See a messed-up pattern here? Per usual, the people there to protest racism are always the ones targeted by the police, Ijs. But are these not the monuments of American History & Culture that they are claimed to be (I know, no new information here). But seriously, are these not statues commemorating those who sought to overthrow the government? Is that not treason? Nothing but the history of a failed attempt to build a government of White Southern Men able to legally exploit all others.  But yet they position those who led such a deviant cause as being heroic? During the unveiling ceremony for “Silent Sam” then-UNC trustee Julian Carr bragged about having “horse-whipped a negro wench” 100 yards from the site of the dedication, because “she had publicly insulted and maligned a Southern lady.” But uh, yeah, these monuments need to be defended and protected. And let’s not even waste typing time on demons like Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest…
The simple fact of the matter is that these are monuments erected to honor people that had no real sense of honor. They were only social deviants that represent the worst of humanity. Once we call it what it really is, the conversations that pave the way for a brighter future can begin. Sadly, the current social and political climate leave little hope that this will happen anytime soon…
https://www.splcenter.org/news/2018/06/04/splc-report-more-1700-monuments-place-names-and-other-symbols-honoring-confederacy-remain
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/21/which-confederate-statues-were-removed-running-list.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/a-look-at-confederate-monuments-removed-across-the-us/
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article217064990.html
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/protesters-topple-silent-sam-confederate-statue-at-unc/ar-BBMbY07?ocid=spartandhp
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/protesters-topple-confederate-silent-sam-statute-campus-180821144853129.html
https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article168765227.html
https://www.apnews.com/4b82a9ff3bb4436ea80b569fe6358f46/Report:-110-Confederate-monuments-removed-in-US-since-2015
https://www.wral.com/three-charged-in-silent-sam-protests-appear-in-court/17798723/
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