By Ronald N. Guy Jr.
On 26 August, San Francisco 49ers backup QB Colin
Kaepernick did what backup quarterbacks do: He took a seat. Then all aitch-e-el-el broke loose.
Kaepernick didn’t sit quietly with a cap and a
clipboard. To raise awareness of persistent
racism, the uneven extension of Constitutional rights and, more specifically,
the recent killings of minorities by law enforcement, Kaepernick sat loudly in
silence while the Star Spangled Banner played.
In a post-game interview with NFL Media, Kaepernick explained
his anthem protest: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag
for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it
would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the
street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
The initial reaction to Kaepernick’s act - mostly
unproductive, misplaced outraged – was predictable. He was called un-America and told to leave
the country. His jersey was burned. Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck lauded the end
of his career as a starting quarterback.
Resident NASCAR hot-head Tony Stewart urged him to learn the facts
before “running his dumb_ss mouth” and called him a “#idiot”.
Former NFL safety Rodney Harrison produced this
best-of-the-worst reactions: “I tell you this, I’m a black man. And Colin Kaepernick, he’s not black. He cannot understand what I face and what
other young black people face, or people of color face on a every single day
basis.”
For the record, Kaepernick’s father is black and his
mother is white. To his credit, Harrison
apologized profusely for his ignorance.
These impulsive reactions are indicative of an increasingly
polarized society, one that is easily offended, quick to react and slow to
listen and contemplate different perspectives.
Whether it’s a majority of people or just a loud, obnoxious minority
that drowns out measured, objective thought, issues are increasingly classified
in either black or white, yes or no, left or right terms. Regardless of the political issue, scant
shades of gray exist or can be developed through constructive debate. No wonder Congress – representatives of the
electorate – is so divided.
Knowing this, maybe that’s why Kaepernick played the anthem
card. A few weeks ago, NBA stars Carmelo
Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul and LeBron James collectively addressed this
same issue during the ESPY Awards. Despite
the star power, the message lacked staying power. But Kaepernick’s protest boiled blood. While the words expressed by those NBA stars
were important, the approach was too polite.
History indicates that social change is often only achieved through
intense agitation. Kaepernick agitated
us and demanded an outcome all Americans should desire: equality and improved
relations between communities and law enforcement.
Whatever you think of Kaepernick’s protest, his
vilification should raise concerns. We
are a nation founded on discord - it is as much a part of our fabric as the
anthem itself. The Second Amendment is vehemently
defended. The Thirteenth, Fifteenth and
Nineteenth Amendments were secured, in part, by passionately using the same
First Amendment rights Kaepernick exercised this past August. Yet Kaepernick was personally attacked for
his peaceful – albeit intentionally inflammatory - public protest. And this while the state of Texas has been
flirting with succession – the ultimate defiance of our American union - for a
decade.
This excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letters
from a Birmingham Jail” is inscribed on the north wall of the MLK Jr. Memorial
in Washington, D.C.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere. We are caught in an
inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly.”
Dr. King’s quote captures Kaepernick’s fundamental
point: We have a problem that cannot be ignored. We must address this American imperfection – this
disconnect between reality and the promises of our Declaration and Constitution
- and collectively work toward a common solution.
That only happens if the message is received by open
minds. Maybe we need something
other-worldly to remind us of our shared human cause. Scientists did receive a strong
extraterrestrial signal last week. E.T.,
if that was you calling, your timing was impeccable.
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