The entire National Anthem protest in the NFL started last
preseason when Colin Kaepernick was photographed sitting on the bench during a
game versus the Green Bay Packers on August 26th, 2016. This began a
wave of NFL players joining Kaepernick in protesting the National Anthem. I’ll
fast forward to the moment in time we have now. The recent history of the
anthem protest has been well discussed and well documented. Now, I want to
share my point of views of where I stand on the entire issue.
I 100% agree with the entire Colin Kaepernick protest &
the entire TRUE reason behind the protest. As a PROUD young black man, I truly
appreciate Colin’s protest & him bringing light to the police brutality
& social injustice issues we have in this country. The unjustly &
unlawful killings of people like Oscar Grant, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin,
Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Laquan McDonald, & the list
goes on and on. This strikes near & dear to me because as a Black man I
don’t want to become a hashtag because a police officer decides to murder
another unarmed black man.
Many have said it’s a disrespectful against our nation’s
military. I must respectfully disagree with that. I’ve personally spoken to different
members of our nation’s military & have gotten different perspectives on
what the protest means to them. Some agree with the protest but not the method
of protest. Others disagree with the entire matter altogether. I personally
don’t feel it’s disrespectful against our nation’s military at all. I feel that
it’s bringing more light to the social injustice issues versus disrespecting
our nations flag.
I do have an ENTIRE issue with our “so called” President
Trump & his comments about people who protest our nations flag should be
“FIRED”. Telling athletes to just sit down and shut up & not have a voice
on topics that happen in this world is very disrespectful and tasteless. His
comments were very divisive and just added fuel to the reason that protests are
taking place.
My main problem with protest is that we’re spending more time
talking about the protest itself versus the reasons the entire movement started
in the first place. I feel the discussion needs to begin with what we can do
better as an entire nation to prevent the unlawful killings by the police in
the first place. The discussion needs to focus on what we as a nation can do to
cut the racial line.
Something I don’t’ agree with is protesting the NFL. While yes,
I do feel that Colin Kaepernick has been blackballed by the NFL and doesn’t
have a job, I don’t entirely agree with protesting the NFL itself. I feel that
they have been more welcoming of the players protesting & speaking their
mind more than other leagues have been. While yes hurting pockets will hurt, I
don’t feel the league is the main issue. I feel more of the mentality of our
society that feels that having Kaepernick will cause a distraction is the
bigger issue than the league blackballing him. The issue is bigger than the NFL
& more of a societal issue.
I truly hope the displays of unity & protest in the NFL
continue. The NFL can help play a part in bringing our nation together. I feel
sports play a big role in this country. I feel if all different races,
cultures, & personalities can get along on one team for a common goal why
is that we as a nation can’t do the same thing. I personally have friends of
colleagues of many different races & backgrounds and I only judge by the
content of character not color.
