Football quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem in light of the recent events. He justifies his actions saying:
“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.”
Kaepernick's stance with the #BlackLivesMatter movement is truly commendable. African Americans have been getting shot down in the street without any justice. While many mainstream figures say that “something needs to be done,” others refusing to take a stance, we need more who are willing to put their own careers on the line to fight for justice.
Kaepernick has inspired Navy sailors, students, and many others to protest the anthem.
Additionally with the realization of the racist lyrics have provided further justification to their protest.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
…
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
The lyrics essentially those blacks who fought with the British in order to defend their freedom.
The protest of these lyrics and recent events raises many questions:
- Should children be required to recite the pledge regardless of the level of comprehension?
- Does any American have the right to not stand for the National American?
I believe that children should still recite the pledge however, public schools need to do a better job of teaching the history. Students should receive a fluff story that blatantly ignores the country’s racist foundations nor should they be taught that racism is now a non-issue because of the Civil Rights movement. Even in the most “diverse” school districts there is a disconnect between what actually happened and what is taught.
Subsequently, because of free speech, once a student learns the history they can ultimately decide whether or not to stand.
It goes without saying however that choosing to not stand at the pledge or to take a knee at the national anthem isn’t enough to actually make change. Petitions need to be signed, laws need to be passed that will create a more equal society.
To say the very least: our country has a long way to go.
