Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White showed there are people who will create a whole narrative about someone solely based on their name and paint a negative picture of him or her.
On Monday, Aug. 3, White responded to a Twitter user who said he wouldn’t hire him because of his first name. That person implied that the name “Tre’Davious” is attached to someone who wouldn’t know how to conduct himself in a workplace environment.
“If im hiring and I see a name onna application ‘Tre’Davious’ nope im ballin his app up and tossin it inna trash like a George Gervin finger roll..I can just HEAR his pants saggin,” wrote the internet troll.
White shot back by running off his academic achievements, both as a student at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, and at Louisiana State University, where he graduated in 2016 with a degree in sports administration.
“Shame on you !!” tweeted White. “This Tre’Davious is a high school class valedictorian and a two time All Sec Academic Honor Roll Student. Also, I graduated in 3 1/2 years from @LSU !! But it don’t matter ima be the one doing the hiring !! I’m my own damn boss. NEXT.”
If White’s response was graded like one of the many tests he probably aced as a student, it would be given an A-plus.
“Man I already liked you, but I respect you more and more every day, good sir. Honored to have you representing the city of Buffalo,” one person tweeted.
“It’s appalling that you even had to write this tweet,” wrote another one of White’s Twitter followers. “But I’m proud of you for addressing the obviously racist remarks from this person #blm.”
In 2016 the standout defensive back surprised many observers when he elected to return to LSU for his senior year instead of entering the NFL draft. He was expected to be picked in the late first round of the draft that year, meaning White turned down a chance to start earning millions a year early.
He said the decision had to do with being the first person in his mother’s family to graduate from college.
In 2017, White was selected as the 27th overall pick by the Bills, and earlier this year the team exercised his fifth-year option that will keep him on the roster through next season.
White is already considered to be one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks despite his short tenure in the league. He was named first-team All-Pro last season and selected to his first Pro Bowl.
The 25-year-old had 58 tackles last season, defended 17 passes and had six interceptions.