In case you forgot, think back to early February when a Black, University of Missouri football player announced on ESPN that he was gay; becoming one of the first openly gay college players.
Well, now he is the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.
Anyone can understand the statistical feat of joining the select few who can say they are members of the NFL. Consider, then, the prospects of a gay man, brave enough to allow others into his truth, awaiting the call that would change his life.
The emotion of it all could not have been more apparent:
Wait.
What did you just see in that footage?
If your answer is two men kissing, or a big, burly athlete weeping in the arms of a (smaller) man, then you would be correct. However, if this is all you noticed, you are so very blind.
What I, and many others, witnessed was what could be the happiest moment in an athletes life: a personal and professional, public validation. A pledge of faith in his abilities and personhood for the league. Affirmation from the St. Louis Rams that his sexual orientation is not a factor in his professional abilities, and quite possibly, a symbolic throw of support for his coming out in a league so notoriously known for rampant homophobia and gender-normativity.
Whether or not the Rams are purposefully engaging in a social justice cause, the act made waves.
People took to Twitter, some congratulating Sam on his historic accomplishment, others spewing outrage over ESPN's broadcast of two people celebrating a joyous occasion.
How many times have we watched players celebrate important career moments with an embrace, or even a kiss, from loved ones and girlfriends? So many times.
This time however, the significant other was not a blond, cheerleader girl-next-door. It was a man. So, of course, "the call" becomes something shameful to watch, and too personal to display in our most sacred American homes, right?
The twitter feed of ESPN2 talk show host, Bomani Jones, says it all. When he chose to acknowledge the moment by changing his avatar to a screenshot of Michael Sam's celebration, followers lashed out, and he responded:
Comments like these are, unfortunately, not unexpected.
Bigotry is rarely a surprise.
But, let's not overlook Jones' point in these tweets. Quite often, a bigot's disgust radiates beyond just one demographic of people; their hatred is pervasive. Where there is outrage over gay affection, there is anger over interracial marriage. Where there is unjustified uncomfortableness, there is a demand for status quo. No one is safe. What is required for the societal dissolve of such narratives is the consistency of a "new normal"-- the challenging of prejudicial structures by major networks, respected figures, and peers at the office water cooler; all of which could eventually force people to consider their involvement in a greater cultural sentiment.
What am I afraid of? Why do I think my level of comfort is more important than the next person's?
Consider Micheal Sam: an openly gay, southern, Black man who plays a hyper-masculine sport.
He is pretty much a cultural oil-and-water.
His decision to reveal his sexuality resists a troubling "down-low" culture, especially prevalent in the Black community. This is a step in adjusting the public to what is acceptable for the heroes of our youth (the athlete, the musician, the actor, etc.), and quite possibly combating the attitudes that prompt unhealthy sexual and mental health behaviors across communities.
What remains significant is that Michael Sam's journey this year has invited a conversation about what it means to be accepting, and how sports institutions respond to the personal lives of their players.
And for those who question whether or not Sam deserved a draft spot (according to the NFL network), four teams were set to make an offer to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
Michael Sam was good enough, gay or not.
Big ups to Michael Sam for refusing to bow to others' expectations... and for making it on an NFL team.
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