We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

Equal has three popular definitions:

Adjective - being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value.

Noun- having the ability or resources to meet (a challenge).

Verb - be the same as in number or amount.

So when rules and justice systems are put into place it is expected that they will be followed right? Let’s go through the list of definitions and see how blacks were treated then versus now. Being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value. In 1776 not at all, blacks were still slaves at that time so they shared the same value as cattle and other forms of living property. Having the ability or resources to meet a challenge. Nope. We were not given the same resources and benefits as others in 1776. By others I mean whites. Be the same in number or amount. Remember the three- fifths rule? Three no’s in a row. But things have gotten better right? At least that’s what the media politicians and our grandparents tell us. They tell us we should be proud of how far the black community has come. Slavery is over and we should praise the lord that our country has finally realized that we are humans too (shocking!).

But have we really made progress though? I mean yes we are no longer slaves. Yes, we can go to the same restaurants and public areas. But have we really achieved equality? No not at all. Almost everyone you ask assumes that the black community should be happy now that we are no longer being led in shackles by the white man. They say we have nothing more to fight for. The bad parts are over. But the bad parts are not over they are just not as overt as it has been in the past. We are not the same in quantity, size, degree or value. Unless it is in areas that whites in power can profit from. They love to pay us handsomely in areas of entertainment; like sports, music, and etc. But in terms of the typical nine to five jobs that’s not the case. We are not valued unless we are some sort of spectacle to be watched for entertainment of the masses. No one celebrates a black CEO. But a black football player on the other hand is filled with praise. Unless he does anything crazy like voice his opinion. Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers has been the source of privileged white people everywheres heart palpitations. He decided to sit down and not participate in the national anthem. Gasp! How could he do such a thing. In an interview after his initial protest Kaepernick said the following:

"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."

I see no lies in his statement. For years in school we are taught to pledge our allegiance to a flag that represents “freedom”. But it doesn’t it represents a torrid history of climbing on top of peoples backs so white people could be free. Not just the backs of slaves, the backs of Native Americans, Irish people, Hispanics, and lord knows who else. That is what that flag represents. White supremacy and minority struggles. So why be mad at someone who finally decided they no longer want to be brainwashed into showing patriotism for a country that was against them from the beginning? Kaepernick has started a movement and as most movements that represent anything then the white agenda he and it are being harshly criticized. With this country so against black people standing up for equality there is no reason to be patriotic.