The 2016-2017 football season is underway and unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about San Franciso's very own quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, refusing to stand for the playing of the United States National Anthem. Many people are outraged that Kaepernick would do such a thing, like refusing to stand during the National Anthem. Kaepernick spoke out after one of his games saying that his protest is "bigger than football" and that "he will not stand and show pride for a flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color."
Kaepernick is not the first famous athlete to protest against the American flag and national anthem before a big game and will definitely not be the last. Protests against this same national anthem date back to 1972 when Jackie Robinson was playing baseball during a time where African Americans and other minorities were looked down upon in the sport. Before Robinson, there were the two African Americans at the 1968 Olympics who raised their fist instead of putting their hand across their heart.
So the question is...what makes Kaepernick's protest different?
Social media's role in this is huge. Back then, these things would happen but you would only hear the side talking about how wrong the protest was and now it is the other way around. With all of the racial tension in America instead of talking about it and really trying to understand and put a stop to it. It's almost like society wants us to brush it under the rug and accept it, like minorities have been doing, in a way, after the Martin Luther King and Malcolm X era. So, when a well-respected person like Kaepernick speaks out and actually starts to get a following from other NFL stars all the way down to high school football players it's a scary for them. Not to mention that the NFL is a pretty nice money maker that doesn't need any race problems because there is already enough problems with concussions, domestic violence, and drug use.
Football Sundays were supposed to be a time where we could come together as a nation and forget about the real world, but in reality, it is the perfect place to talk about real life issues. I think what Kaepernick is doing, along with the other NFL stars, and high school players, joining in is very brave and notable. This country is great because we have the freedom of speech, whether or not everyone likes your opinion is not important, but what is important is bringing light to the situation so that people can talk about it and come to a solution or common ground.
