As a 21 year-old black man in this country, I could give a plethora of reasons why I stand with Colin Kaepernick’s decision to not stand during the national anthem.
I could talk about how I’m at a high risk to die at the hands of police just because of my skin color. And how last year, young black men between ages 15 and 34 were nine times more likely than other Americans to be killed by law enforcement. I could tell you about how my family members have been racially profiled.
But I’m not going to shove that perspective, what some would say is the “black perspective” in your face. We’ve heard that already and I fear you will tune out.
With the 15th anniversary of 9/11 upon us, I want to talk simply as an American.
As Americans, we are encouraged to stand and sing during the national anthem to honor the troops. It’s a token of gratitude to those who have fallen in the name of this country. It’s a sign of respect to our men and women who’ve put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe.
I understand all that. I do it proudly myself.
What I don’t understand is how people can say that Kaepernick’s decision to sit (or kneel for that matter) is disrespectful. Don’t our soldiers fight so that we can have the freedoms outlined in our constitution? They don’t put themselves in harm's way so that we do what they want us to do or what anybody else wants us to. They fight so that American citizens can maintain our right to exercise freedom of speech. So that we have the ability to make the decision to stand, or not to stand, during the anthem.
To say he should just, ‘do it anyway,’ is hypocrisy at it’s finest.
Americans should applaud Kaepernick. He’s ‘standing’ for what he believes in. Nonconforming can be an act of patriotism, after all. Patriotism is what this country was founded on. Our founding fathers’ made the stand against the British during the American Revolution to help the thirteen colonies gain independence.
Of course, many people do stand for Kaepernick’s causes. They recognize police brutality and minority oppression as a problem. Their issue is that he can protest in a different manner that would not be so controversial.
How exactly do you suggest he does that?
Violent protests clearly haven’t worked. The Los Angeles Riots of 1992 devastated Southern California, with more than 50 deaths and 2,000 reported injuries.
Nonviolent protests have even taken a turn for the worst in recent times. A 2015 demonstration in Ferguson on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death became a heated conflict between citizens and local police. Businesses were looted, gun shots fired, and buildings destroyed.
Just this summer, five police officers were fatally shot during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Dallas.
And after Ferguson, there were many who criticized the protest saying that the issue was violence. It is fine to protest, but do it in a nonviolent way.
Now, no one is being physically harmed or killed by Kaepernick’s stance.
He is using his platform as a professional athlete to bring awareness to an issue that plagues our country. The National Football League is the biggest stage in American sports. Kaepernick recognizes that and hopes to use it to start a national conversation.
“When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand,” he told ESPN.
Kaepernick has shown that he is more than just a rebel. He is setting the example of the two-sided dialogue that he expects of Americans.
During the anthem of the 49ers’ preseason finale, Kaepernick took a knee with teammate Eric Reid. The decision to do so came after a conversation with Reid and Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and Seattle Seahawk. He wanted to show respect to those he offended by his sitting down, but at the same time still gets his message across.
Other athletes are supporting Kaepernick too.
The Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall and Seattle Seahawks’ Jeremy Lane showed their support by kneeling and sitting during the anthem, respectively. Portland Pilot alum Megan Rapinoe, a member of the U.S Women’s national soccer team, displayed solidarity by kneeling during a Seattle Reign soccer match.
Kaepernick has pledged $1 million to his cause. He announced via Instagram that he will donate all the proceeds of his skyrocketing jersey sales to the communities in need.
He’s walking the talk. After all, every significant change that come in this country has not come without discomfort.
Martin Luther King Jr. endured backlash for his positions on racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement. He and other leaders persisted to get the Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law. The Supreme Court legalized gay marriage last year. Before the ruling, same-sex marriage was still banned in 13 states. It is still a hot button topic today.
Kaepernick can lose everything because of his stance. He is no longer the dominant dual-threat quarterback of a couple years ago. His endorsements can be retracted. His NFL career is up in the air. This season will be a defining moment for him on the football field.
His actions off the gridiron are defining him as a man.
His stance forces us to be uncomfortable. It has sparked people on both sides of the debate to give their two cents, which further proves the need to have a conversation. We cannot keep pointing the finger.
And until that day, Kaepernick will continue to kneel in silent protest. I can respect him for that.
Because it’s not just a black thing, it’s the American way.
