Sunday morning, NFL players from the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens kneeled and locked arms while the national anthem played before their game in London. The Jacksonville Jaguars locked arms with owner Shahid Khan, a Muslim American, who has in the past taken a stand against President Trump when he first announced his plans to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Players from other NFL teams including the Miami Dolphins also took part in a stance against the remarks President Donald Trump made at an Alabama rally for Luther Strange, an Alabama politician running for re-election.

“Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired.” the President said.

Being that this had nothing to do with the senatorial election in Alabama, it seemed the President was still upset with Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry. Earlier this week, Curry rescinded his invitation to the White House because of his feelings towards the president. Many supported Curry’s decision including fellow NBA star Lebron James who called the president a “bum”.

These events are a continuation of the social commentary NFL player Colin Kaepernick started last fall when he decided to take a knee during the national anthem. His purpose was to make a statement against the police brutality Black people face nationwide at the hands of law enforcement. Many were offended, especially NFL owners. Kaepernick, who's a free agent, ended last season without his contract with the San Francisco 49ers renewed and not having a new team to play for.

Many people which includes celebrities and fellow NFL players have tried to appeal to the sentiments of NFL owners to bring Kaepernick on board their teams as a quarterback, but they were unsuccessful. ESPN contributor Kevin Seifert wrote an article on the sports outlet’s website titled ‘Kaepernick’s Biggest Problem? Performance Not Politics’ arguing the former 49ers quarterback’s performance in the past two years has not been up to par. However, he contradicts himself at the end of the article saying, “When given a choice between players with relatively equal projections in terms of production, teams are likely to choose the one who brings what they perceive to be less controversy.” Standing up for Black Americans’ basic human rights should not be considered controversial especially when Black people make up about 70 % of the players in the NFL.

At this point in the game, NFL ownership has shown how it feels about Black people and Kaepernick’s stance against racism in America. Of course there is hope for things changing in the NFL because of players’ recent display of unity against the words of the president including Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Both quarterbacks have advocated for the return of Kaepernick to the field within the last year. However, the overwhelming whiteness of the NFL in regards to its ownership and fan base (83 % of NFL fans are White) makes it difficult to say whether there will be any consistent progress made in terms of players being able to express themselves even if it is in conflict with the interests and views of NFL owners.

Kaepernick in a recent interview with journalist Shaun King expressed he is still interested in playing in the NFL, and maintains a strict workout regimen. Teams are now saying that the season has already started so the likelihood of Kaepernick finding a team is low. However, if he was still maintaining his regimen prior to the beginning of the season why couldn’t he find a team before the season began?

The bottom line of this situation is that although Kaepernick may not have performed at his best last season there is more than reason to believe he is being blackballed by NFL ownership. Of course it sounds outrageous to many whose experience in the United States strongly contrasts the experiences of Black Americans. However, when one thinks of the days of Senator McCarthy and the red scare during the 1950s it’s not so hard to believe that one can be blackballed simply for their political beliefs. This is especially not far-fetched in an era where the president of the ‘free world’ publicly decried American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.

Colin Kaepernick is a man that has stood for his beliefs and not folded. He has made it through a clearly tough time in his career, and he is still moving forward and keeping a positive attitude. But if we are being completely honest, Kaepernick is too good for the NFL. Talent wise there are definitely better players on the field; however, they do not have Kaepernick’s courage to make such a bold statement in a White male dominated industry. Kaepernick not only makes me proud to be a Black man, but he makes me proud to be an American. Through his courage, he has shown young people of color to not to falter in the face of inequality and oppression but to take a knee and hold their heads high.