Despite perceptions by some readers, ESPN blogger Jemele Hill says that she does not write about race in sports all the time — but just bringing up race also doesn't make her racist.
"Why are you such a racist?"
I'm asked that every time I write a column about race. It baffles me. I've never used a racial slur in a column. I've never advocated discriminating against anyone based on race, gender or religion. I like white people. I like brown people. I like black people.
If they existed, I'm sure I'd like green people.
But according to many of those who responded to my recent column on Cam Newton — in which I point out that Panthers owner Jerry Richardson did Newton a favor by discouraging him from getting any tattoos or earrings — bringing race into the Newton discussion was unwarranted and further proof that I'm obsessed with race.
Michael Morris of Little Rock, Ark., wrote: "Why do you insist on writing about racism in the NFL? Racism is alive because people keep bringing it back into the picture."
Read Jemele Hill's entire column at ESPN.