Throughout history, black athletes have always stood up for what they believe in and voiced their thoughts regarding politics and issues around the world. In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and John Carlos won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter run and held their fists up in salute for Black Power on the winners’ podium while the national anthem played. They also wore badges of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, a group against racial segregation and racism in sports.
A famous quote that really stood out was, "If I win I am an American, not a Black American. But if I did something bad then they would say a "Negro". We are Black, and we are proud of being Black", said by Tommie Smith.
Now, almost 50 years later, Black athletes are still protesting. Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, created national debate when he took a knee during the national anthem before games as a way to protest and shine a light on police violence and racial injustice. Now a free agent, he has been unable to find a job, leading to speculation that teams are steering clear of him because of his controversial stance.
In a society that is built around controversy, from a divisive presidential election to the rise of President Donald Trump, who sparked heated debates over race and social issues into mainstream media, to the increase of racial conflicts and police brutality, many athletes are becoming politically active in a way not seen in decades -- not too many people are happy about it. Kaepernick has yet to get signed to an NFL team due to the fact that he is bringing a certain "light" to an organization that they might not want.
In the words of an anonymous NFL executive, a good proportion of league decision-makers “genuinely hate” the anthem-protesting quarterback and cannot stand what he did. Sports is no longer an escape from the "real world" that it used to be. Sports is now a mirror of our society.
Athletes have always been political and they should continue to be. Sports are a key aspect of America and these star athletes have a huge voice, especially in a time where social media and technology is highly used. Many of these stars have over a million followers on social media sites, which will encourage people to listen to what they have to say.
Sports organizations, like the NFL and the NBA, are not very lenient on players speaking out because it causes controversy that they do not want to face. As a result, athletes have been encouraged to take a stance on social and political issues. In the summer of 2016, the WNBA fined players who wore black shirts before their games after a rash of racial inequality and injustice among police shootings against Black people. The WNBA initially fined the players but later backtracked and realized the players had a right to freedom of speech. They soon realized that fining the players caused even more controversy. The WNBA players would continue to protest despite the fine they would continue to receive.
It’s obvious that sports, in general, has an important impact on our society. Regardless, the United States of America should always stand as a land where athletes can express their political, social, and/or religious beliefs for freedom.
