America’s National Anthem Dilemma
America has always been a haven for freedom of speech, refuge for those under religion persecution, and a relatively diverse country. With these characteristics of America, people have always been able to express their right to protest in America. While protesting has been used numerous times throughout our history, it has been scrutinized and debated by the masses this current year. Football players have begun to kneel during the national anthem in protest of our current justice system, police brutality, etc. This was ignited by Colin Kaepernick, a football player, kneeling in protest of police brutality. This caused an uproar with many varying opinions on Kaepernick’s protesting. Some feel as if him kneeling disrespects the flag and those who fight for our country. Other’s believe that he should be able to exercise his right to protest as an American citizen. As an American citizen, I support Kaepernick’s right to protest and practice his 1st amendment right.
Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem set off a debate throughout the country: Is it disrespectful to kneel or not stand for the national anthem? Kaepernick explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” (Stoffers 2). This quote explains his stance on the current issue on race relations and how our government has not been active in helping people of color dealing with unfairness in our justice system. Not long after Kaepernick’s protest, professional athletes around America joined in an attempt to stand with him. Shortly after, Kaepernick lost his role as starting quarterback from the 49ers, which was supposedly based solely off of his performance. Some still wonder if it was due to his surge in the media and the outrage from American’s and our President, Donald Trump. On this debate, the reasons I support Kaepernick are based on the right to exercise our amendments as Americans, the protest brings awareness to social injustices create dialogue, it sheds light on the racial injustices faced by people of color in America, and may help spark a sense of harmony within our country.
Kneeling during the national anthem or not standing for the flag is a form of peaceful protest, and a right that all people are guaranteed in the 1st amendment. When the war on Vietnam was called into question, thousands had protested in opposition to sending off our troops. Kaepernick and many others are questioning our police force, justice system, and other government offices when it comes to people of color. Many people believe that there is a level of prejudice people of color encounter with the justice system, police especially. When people decide to kneel for our flag or national anthem, it is not out of hostility towards our military but as an issue of social injustice. The pledge of allegiance states that it stands for liberty and justice for all. When a group of Americans feel as if liberty and justice isn’t being applied to them, then refusing to stand for our national anthem should be justified.
National figures who use their platform to speak on social issues and bring awareness shouldn’t be condemned for it. Athletes who have begun to kneel are using their platform and igniting conversations for the reasons that they kneel. When Kaepernick kneeled for the first time, he was blackballed by all those around him. Travis Boyce, professor in Africana Studies, states, “…Kaepernick, an African American, played football quarterback, a position historically reserved for white men. When he became outspoken about black inequality, he found that media, politicians, and lay people condemned him for his actions.” (Boyce 24). This shows how Kaepernick and other athletes are being persecuted for exercising their rights as citizens. Along with criticism, the protest has opened up a dialogue for differing opinions on social issues. Kneeling for the anthem and the flag has started a discussion across the nation and hopefully people get to hear and understand the different sides to this protest.
With these protests being held at a national level, it sheds light on the racial injustices in our country. Police brutality has been prevalent in the minority communities for years, and it is finally being spoken about nationally as a race issue. For years, people of color have felt targeted by police based off of their race and the profiling that comes along with being a person of color. This protest was for those who died or suffered cruel and unusual punishment due to police brutality. Even with police using body cameras, people still are being killed unarmed because an officer feels “threatened”. When black athletes protest something that could be their reality, they are seen as “unpatriotic”. These protests finally bring light to situations that are often snuffed out after the propaganda is over. Athletes are showing this issue as important and a necessary role race plays when it comes to police brutality.
While people are denouncing the NFL, others have joined in alliance with Colin Kaepernick, using the hashtag #IStandwithColinKaepernick. This protest should be seen as promoting unity. When people of color protest, it is not out of hatred but as way to let everyone know that we want the same rights as everyone else. As athletes were protesting, Trump was calling those practicing peaceful protests “son of a b******” and deserved to be fired from their jobs. Trump’s words create a divisiveness between people, not athletes who protest racial injustice and police brutality through kneeling and locking arms (Altman et al). After his comments, more athletes came together in objection to what Trump said. When Trump used hate speech in opposition to athletes protesting, it created a sense of unity between those who use their platform to ban against speech similar to what Trump said.
People often counter kneeling during the anthem as disrespect to our veterans. There have been multiple veterans who have came out in support of those kneeling for the anthem. Some have died and faced critical injuries protecting our country. As insensitive as it may seem, they died so we could have the right to protest and use other forms of free speech. Many veterans are living in poverty, yet kneeling is one of the chief ways of disrespecting a veteran? Another counter to kneeling during the national anthem is that some claim it to be ineffective. After Kaepernick’s kneeling, others joined not just in the NFL, but other athletes as well. The kneeling has created conversation on those on opposing sides.
As the debate of kneeling during the national anthem continues on, so will the people who protest. Athletes at local levels during games have protested and so have professionals from other sports. Along with people who join the kneeling, there are those who denounce it. Some have gone as far as getting refunds because of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem (Segarra 1). The DirecTV Sunday Ticket contract increased DirecTV with increasing payments from the NFL network (Crepeau 158) in 2005, but may decrease because of the protests and upset customers. This protest has affected Kaepernick’s jersey being the most sold in America, celebrities standing with Kaepernick, and getting responses from political figures such as Donald Trump and our former president, Barack Obama.
Though there are different opinions on whether or not athletes should be kneeling during our national anthem, I stand with the athletes who are using their platform to protest against the injustices in a country promoting equality for all. As the athletes continue to protest, they continue to shed a light on issues such as police brutality and racial injustice. Hopefully, this will create a sense of unity within our country and a better relationship with the justice system. Throughout history, all great people were condemned for fighting for what they felt was right, whose to say these athletes aren’t doing the same?
Works Cited
Altman, Alex et al. “Trump’s Offensive Playbook. (Cover Story).” Time, vol. 190, no. 14, 09 Oct.
2017, EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url.
Boyce, Travis. “Putting Learning into Practice: Integrating Social Media, Crowd Learning, and
#Colinkaepernick in an Introductory African American History Class.” Radical Teacher,
no. 109, Fall2017, pp. 24. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url
Crepeau, Richard C. NFL Football : A History of America’s New National Pastime. University of
Illinois Press, 2014, pg. 158. Sport and Society. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url
Segarra, Lisa Marie. “People Are Trying to Get Refunds from DirecTV Because of the NFL
Anthem Protests.” Fortune.Com, 27 Sept. 2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url
Stoffers, Carl. “Anthem Uproar: Why Has an Athlete’s Refusal to Stand for the National Anthem
Sparked Such Intense Debate?.” Junior Scholastic/Current Events, no. 3, 2016, p. 6.
EBSCOhost, ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url