We Need to Talk About How We Talk About Colin Kaepernick
San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick rose to fame last month when he started kneeling during the national anthem in protest of the lack of accountability against police officers killing innocent people, especially people of color. His reasoning is simple… “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told the NFL media after his first kneeling. Many players have begun to join Kaepernick in solidarity.
Of course, his protest hasn’t only been met with support. Many (predominantly White) people have called Kaepernick’s use of his right to free speech disgusting and unpatriotic, despite that being exactly what our founding fathers fought for. Some Republicans have appealed to totalitarian school of thought, hinting that people should be forced to salute their flag. Deplorable confederate-flag-flying has-been Kid Rock shouted “F*ck Colin Kaepernick” while playing his song “Born Free,” in Boston this week, and the irony is just too much. Congressman Steve King even called Kapernick an “ISIS Sympathizer,” because why not, right?
But the discussion on patriotism is distracting everyone from the issue at hand: the discrimination of people of color in the United States.
Ignoring what Kaepernick is actually saying with his protest and making it about respecting America is something that’s easy to do when you benefit from white privilege, and that’s exactly what is going on. People are ignoring the outcry of a person of color and attacking him, taking refuge in the idea of being patriotic. But what is that?
When we salute the American flag, sing the national anthem and honor our founding fathers, we are idolizing people who owned slaves. Kaepernick’s protest, though it is immediately of modern American racism, is rooted in American history itself, and so skipping a ritual that honors that history only seems appropriate. Our flag was sewn by a slave owner, our patriotic presidents – who are on our currency along with mention of “God” – owned slaves, and redeeming these sins should not be easy for a person of color. So how can you expect that of them? While people who benefit from white privilege are celebrating revolution and freedom when they partake in traditionally American rituals, people of color are being asked to commemorate a history of violence and body snatching against their people.
Let me make this as simple as I can: when you attack Colin Kaepernick on the basis of “not being patriotic,” while white, you are benefitting from white privilege, and though you may not identify as a racist, you are contributing to a culture that tips the scales in your favor. I don’t need to show you the statistics, Black People are constantly and disproportionately wronged by our inherently racist criminal justice system, and Kaepernick is patriotically (yeah, I said it) speaking out against this injustice.
Here’s another choice. If you’re someone like me and you benefit from white privilege but wish it weren’t so, why not use it to get rid of it… in other words, why not stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. As a white person who cares I feel responsibility to encourage others to listen to what is being said with these national anthem protests, and it’s ironically because of my privilege that people will actually listen to what I have to say on the matter. Take it upon yourself to sit during the pledge of allegiance or national anthem. That’s as patriotic as you can get: sacrificing your privilege with hopes of attaining the perfectly equal society we envision when we think of liberty. That can start on campus; we can sit down or take a knee during the pledge of allegiance at assemblies. That’s what I plan to do. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but white people, it’s on us to help out and make noise.
If we’re truly going to celebrate the ideas of our founding fathers, of all men being created equal and of a more perfect union, it’s time to open up conversation and listen to what Kaepernick has to say, and I pledge to force people to open their ears.
Sam Smith • Sep 28, 2016 at 2:06 pm
I loved the article very much and loved how you really showed how passionate you are towards solving the problem of police brutality. But my only concern through this topic is that he’s sitting down for the national anthem. Do you think that the way he is protesting is a good way to go or is it wrong to go? if so, how would you protest a problem like this?
Colten Katcher • Sep 23, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Dear Ian Zigel
I loved the pure passion and emotion that you poured into this, it was a phenomenal piece of writing, you should be proud. I enjoyed a different perspective than the same one on espn every Sunday discussing this issue. You made a great point about Kid Rock, it is Kapernick decision to protest and no one ever should say F them for speaking his mind. The right to protest is a constitutional right and it is almost embarrassing that fact that he is getting death threats from a country that advertise freedom. You shed a new light on this topic and I still love my country, but I do feel that things have to change and no more innocent black lives should be lost.
Max Berlowitz • Sep 23, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Dear Ian,
I really appreciate what you wrote about Colin Kaepernick. I will admit it, as you did, I take advantage of white privilege. But as you said, we as a community need to take a stand and show people that our country shows the core values of what our founding fathers said. We need to be able to show people that every man is treated equally. Also, I really am thankful that you wrote about this topic because kids our age don’t fully understand what’s going on unless it’s from facebook, twitter, snapchat, or instagram. We (kids) are biased towards the media and what they tell us. I think that kids need to be enlightened and shown that not all colored people are bad. And you’re showing a great example of what we kids should do to support this movement. After being so distraught on this topic, I plan to join you in sitting down during the national anthem. People need to realize what our country is turning into and how this will affect all of us if we don’t do something about it.
Thanks Ian,
Max
Natalie Zigel • Sep 21, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Courageous , well thought out, and passionately written ! Bravo Ian.
I agree with Mr Valdes, however. How can you take this important issue and CREATE VALUE out of it at MCDS, to bring a deeper awareness that actually MANIFESTS in some sort of CHANGE?
Does a new club need to be formed? An event created? A film made?…..
Irrespective, I’m proud you’re my son.
Keep Caring.
✌?️????
Annette Fulton • Sep 22, 2016 at 11:19 am
Thank You Ian,
I am thankful that you wrote this beautiful article. Your peers need to be enlightened. It starts as awareness, then conversation , then action. Colin is bringing awareness to those who have taken a blind eye to the unfair treatment of African Americans and Police Brutality here in the U.S. . Malcom, Martin and Marvin Gaye even sang about it. Whether we sit , or take a knee. Let’s all be honest. There is a color disparity here in the U.S. Thank you for being a part of change. Colin as well as others are exercising their freedom of speech. The song… the song,,,, Mr. Key himself was a slave owner. The very passage that he wrote about his disdain about the slaves wasn’t published with the final product. I say an omission on purpose.
Annette
David Valdes • Sep 21, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Great insight Ian. However, the gesture alone is just a gesture! Some coaches and ball players in the NFL have actually donated huge sums of money to support the training for police officers with regard to sensitivity of race. They did this because of what Kaepernick’s gesture meant to them. I think that Kaepernick made the gesture with hopes that he could draw attention to the issue. HE SUCCEEDED! And many of his peers and coaches DID SOMETHING to positively be a solution. So just by sitting down during the National Anthem is not an answer – Kaepernick already did so – just as Rosa Parks “did so” on the bus. The result was the passing of Civil Rights laws; not having all black people sit in the front of the bus. I think asking your class mates to sit during the National Anthem is not the solution. Students may consider doing it because of peer pressure, or because it is a radical thing to do. And some just like the idea of being disrespectful. But a better solution might be to put your money where your mouth is, and try to make a positive change in community. How can we make the gesture change what Kaepernick is fighting for? Kaepernick already brought attention to this matter, now, let’s all try to BE a positive influence for change. I am a fan of Colin Kaepernick and I applaud his brevity for taking a stand. But there has to be a better way to fight for change; other than sitting on our butts.
Akbar R. • Sep 21, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Excellent article! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.