I know...this is exactly what the world needs. Another ignorant white guy, giving his take on racial issues. It’s ok though! I’ve seen Black Panther three (3!) times. I know I'm woke. I got this. Now onto the important stuff.
The NFL recently banned kneeling during the National Anthem, forcing players to either stand or remain in the locker room during the National Anthem. The decision was criticized by many on both sides of the issue--those in favor of kneeling feel that the ban infringes on their rights to protest discrimination, and those against kneeling (including the President) feel that the ban is insufficient.
Speaking of the President, Trump, when asked about the ban, stated that “you have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.” This is grossly authoritarian and frankly terrifying. Anytime that blind patriotism becomes compulsory, there is a reason for fear.
Another problem with the ruling is that it validates the viewpoint that kneeling is unpatriotic. One of the methods used to undermine the movement is to reframe the protest, which means to challenge police brutality and racial injustice, to one that is against the Armed Forces, the flag, or the USA itself.
This is to say that the protests are often viewed as “black athletes disrespecting the flag” or “black athletes disrespecting our troops” rather than “black athletes peacefully protesting the racial injustice that is hardwired into our society”. These methods antagonize those who protest and distract from the real purpose of kneeling.
Kneeling is, in fact, patriotic, in that it is part of a movement which aims to create a better and safer country. It says nothing about troops or veterans (in fact, it was a veteran who suggested kneeling during the anthem to Colin Kaepernick, rather than sitting), and peacefully promotes positive change.
But I get it. I really do. Protesting racial injustice is somewhat anti-American. Because racial injustice is very American. Racism is so woven into the fabric of the United States that we have reached a point where it has become anti-American to protest it.
This is why we need to reframe this argument away from where it has moved and back to its origin. Rather than focusing on how players are or how players ought to be protesting, we should be focused on why they are protesting. Police brutality is an epidemic in the United States, which disproportionately affects people of color.
Instead of instituting this ban, the NFL needs to support its players in their pursuits. The League needs to reassure its players that they will remain employed should they protest (Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid are two examples of NFL-caliber players who are unemployed because they chose to protest in this manner), and that they have a right to speak out and use their platform to affect change, regardless of the backfire they may draw.
This support has been there before. We saw the league come together after the President called players who kneel “sons of b******”. We saw owners and coaches and players, of all different backgrounds and ethnicities, link arms during the anthem in a show of unity and support. Where is this now, NFL?
