Cam Newton, ‘Eclectic,’ and the Problem with How We Judge Intelligence
Cam Newton, the former NFL quarterback, recently went viral after struggling to spell and pronounce the word “eclectic” during a televised interview. Clips of the moment quickly circulated online, with many using it to mock Newton’s intelligence.
What gets lost in the laughter, however, is the broader context: Cam Newton earned over $133 million in NFL salary over his career. He is a highly accomplished athlete, leader, and public figure. The fixation on a single word—especially one that is not commonly used in everyday speech—says more about societal biases than about Newton himself.
This incident highlights a recurring issue in the Black community and beyond: intelligence is often equated with formal education or the ability to use certain vocabulary. Athletes, particularly Black athletes, are frequently subjected to this narrow standard. Those who enter professional sports without advanced degrees or who focus on athletic achievement are sometimes unfairly labeled as “less intelligent,” reinforcing harmful stereotypes with racial undertones.
Moments like Newton’s should be approached as teachable moments rather than fodder for ridicule. Struggling with a word does not erase years of hard work, discipline, and accomplishments. Instead of mocking, we could use these opportunities to discuss the many ways intelligence manifests—on the field, in business, in leadership, and in personal growth.
The viral clip of Cam Newton is a reminder that language proficiency, while valuable, is not the sole measure of intelligence. By tying intelligence to narrow markers and ridiculing figures like Newton, society continues to perpetuate biases that have a racial component. It’s time to stop fueling these narratives and broaden our understanding of what it truly means to be smart.
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