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‘Blackness' questioned? Russell Wilson responds

By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
A report Thursday claims some African-American players on the Seahawks team are questioning the "blackness" of quarterback Russell Wilson.

SEATTLE — Regardless of how true it is, Wilson had to addressed the issue.

Wilson and Percy Harvin could clearly connect to move the football. And Wilson denies there was friction off the field.

“Percy and I never had differences,” said Wilson at his news conference Thursday.
However, citing several interviews with unnamed Seahawks players, Bleacher Report writer Mike Freeman concluded "That some of the black players think Wilson isn't black enough.”
For perspective, we dropped on Earl Landcaster's Barber Shop in Seattle's Central District. He's been a Seahawks fan since the team took the field in 1976.
“It's a low blow to Russell Wilson to say he's not black enough,” Lancaster told KIRO 7.
“I don't like it and I think it's a disgrace,” he continued.
"Questioning somebody's blackness, I think that's wrong,” said barber Chris Bailey. Still, Bailey understands why some might do that to the straight-laced Wilson.
“I think that would take away from everybody's blackness if you don't like the straighter black guy that carrying himself professional,” Bailey told KIRO 7. 
And there is a white barber, serving this largely black clientele. Stu Reed grew up in North Seattle.
“To me it's not black or white, are they from the hood or not,” Reed said.
Wilson didn't answer the question directly at his news conference. No one asked him a direct question. 
“I have complete confidence in who I am,” Wilson said.
And at Earl's they're confident in him.
“I look at Russell Wilson as a leader, a champion who will lead us to another Super Bowl,” said Lancaster.

KIRO

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