When Colin Kaepernick made his stand against racial injustice in America and police brutality I told you that his political actions would cost him. I predicted that this move could oust him from the NFL and divide a locker room. I wrote an article basically foreshadowing Kaepernick’s demise. I told you a lot of things, but I’m here now writing to tell you how wrong I was.
Since Colin Kaepernick made his stand on august 27th, NFL players and coaches have shown solidarity with the 49er quarterback. Eric Reid and Jeremy Lane were the first players to sit or knell alongside Kaepernick a week after the quarterback made his silent protest. Now, we are two weeks into the regular season and there have already been countless demonstrations of silent protest in the NFL. Even high profile pro-bowlers like Arian Foster have put their reputations on the line to speak out for the social cause.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the rationale behind Kaepernick’s protest, but I never thought his single action would turn into a movement.
When Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf protested the national anthem in the name of his religion, the young, sharpshooting point guard was fined by the NBA and, eventually, shunned from the league.
Just recently, Abdul-Rauf spoke to ESPN’s The Undefeated on the relationship between his stand and Kaepernick’s saying; “Whether I go broke, whether they take my life, whatever it is, I stood on principles. To me, that is worth more than wealth and fame.”
I thought the same fate would await Kaepernick, who plays as a backup quarterback for one of the worst teams in the league. It would have been easy for the league to punish Kaepernick like the NBA punished it’s rising star, Abdul-Rauf. But the NFL neither condemned the protest nor fined Kaepernick. Instead the 49er’s quarterback has started a nationwide movement.
Pro and amateur athletes across the country have also been resisting the national anthem. US Women's National Soccer team star, Megan Rapinoe, took a knee during an NWSL game and international match to protest the way the LGBTQ community is being treated in the United States. High school students, from football to volleyball players, have made headlines taking a knee for games, usually to protest racism in America.
I never would have predicted this kind of environment for athlete-activists in 2016. I had grown accustomed over the years to see athletes shy away from social justice causes. I never thought we would see athletes channel their activist spirit like Muhammad Ali.
I never thought Colin Kaepernick would inspire a movement of this magnitude. But I'm glad he did, and I hope he keeps proving me wrong.
