On August 26 of last year, NFL player Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem. People huffed and puffed for a while –– and then it quickly became something that happened "a long time ago". In the past month or so, however, NFL players have been kneeling in solidarity with Kaepernick and his causes-- and this has caused Mr. Trump to take notice.

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Kaepernick actually changed his form of protest because he realized how it could be interpreted as rude to the troops. He doesn't want to be disrespectful to those who lost their lives for our country, nor does any other protesting player. The protest isn't even about a lack of patriotism, but rather an abundance of it. You only protest if you believe you can bring about change. Kaepernick and his fellow football players believe in the United States enough to hope that, by taking a stance, they can help change our nation for the better.

But why is it that some people take such offense to sitting/kneeling during the national anthem? It relates back to the first amendment, after all. "Freedom of speech and (peaceful) protest". I think it boils down to the very issue being brought to light by the NFL: racism. It's very likely you rolled your eyes when you read that, but it's very true. Nearly all of the people I've seen condemning the protesters are the same who defended the rioters in Charlottesville.

While one group calls for genocide and the white-washing of a nation, the other simply wants equal treatment across all races. However, many of the figureheads for the second movement are African-American men. Cases such as Travyon Martin and Michael Brown have shown that white America has no sympathy for black males. Keep in mind the outrage when a white woman was killed by a cop, or when two dogs were shot by a cop.

Of course both occurrences were horrible and tragic, but it's hard to deny the difference of rhetoric in cases concerning white and black people. By this standard, it seems that white America values dogs over black men and women.

In case you can't tell, I have strong feelings on this tragic side-effect of modern America. As a matter of fact, I myself have participated in protests for the rights of my LGBT and African-American brothers and sisters (and gender-neutral siblings). For about four or five years, I have sat during every pledge of allegiance and many national anthems. It's my form of peaceful protest. I've rarely experienced trouble with it-- but keep in mind that I'm white. I have an insane amount of privilege. If a student of color did the same thing I did, it's very likely they'd be made fun of or accused of being "dramatic". Or, you know, the president might speak out against them.

As I said before, several people who care criticizing the NFL are classmates of mine who were okay with me abstaining from the national anthem and the pledge of aliegance. I've said it already, and I will keep saying it: I got away with it because I was white. You might say it's because I'm not famous and while that is true, I would like you to think for a moment. If Jennifer Lawrence or Shaeline Woodley or some other quirky white celebrity chose to abstain, would people care as much? Would they insult these women as they have Kaepernick and his teammates?

I don't know how else to make this clear: we have a race problem in the United States. If you're denying it, you're part of the problem.

There is no easy "fix" to something of this nature. The best we can do is try to be understanding; and while it is very important to avoid white-washing this protest against racism, it's also important that allies of all races speak up to protect our fellow Americans' peaceful protest.

You wouldn't tell a Jewish person that they're not allowed to still be upset about the Holocaust, just as you wouldn't tell a white American that they're not allowed to be upset about 9/11, so why are black people not allowed to be upset about things happening right now?

Listen. Understand that your world differs greatly from that of your neighbor of color. And, maybe, consider taking a knee yourself.