The ongoing Colin Kaepernick Saga is a surprisingly powerful, prominent, lingering, and controversial cross-mixing in American culture and history, involving sports, politics, civil rights, and even private commercial business.
It's interesting folks, and it keeps hanging around. It appears both sides of this issue appear stagnated into their respective opposite and nonmoving mindsets.
Let me set the stage, in case you've been living under a rock with no access to Television, Talk Radio, Advertisements, Billboards, Sports, Politics and Commercials.
There is a former San Francisco 49'ers NFL, Super Bowl and NFC Champion Quarterback named Colin Kaepernick. What did he actually do? During the Pre-game singing of the United States Star-Spangled Banner National Anthem performance and song, Colin Kaepernick simply KNEELED during the song's performance.
According to Wikipedia. "His actions went unnoticed for two weeks before he was questioned by the media. In the 49ers' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, after talking to Boyer,Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games."
The name often lost and overlooked when Colin's kneeling episodes come up, is Nate Boyer. Nate Boyer, was an NFL player and Military Veteran himself. Nate Boyer fought in multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also kneeled alongside Kaepernick. Nate Boyer is also a proud Alumni from the University of Texas and a fellow Longhorn football fan like me!
Now, why did Colin Kaepernick choose to KNEEL during the performance of the National Anthem song? The answer is, we truly don't know the exact reasons. Colin himself to this day is not a very talented public speaker or outward communicator. My guess is that Colin Kaepernick did not foresee, nor was prepared for the public storm that would ensue his peaceful kneeling protest action. We the public, have thus inferred the main reasons why Mr. Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem. We believe it was to draw attention to racial inequality and police brutality against Black Americans. Before, currently and still ongoing today, there are National Media stories which highlight police brutality against African Americans. For example, there was the Travon Martin, Black Hoodie Death. There was the choking death of Eric Gardner by a Staten Island, New York Police officer. Eric Gardner died in 2014 after a police officer placed him in a chokehold for 15 seconds while arresting him. Also in the year of 2014, a black man, Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Police Officer in Ferguson Missouri. In Michael Brown's case, the police officer was eventually acquitted after trial.
The general consensus was that Colin Kaepernick's kneeling action during the National Anthem was a public relations message. It was an attempt to bring to light and discussion the desire for more racial equality in America. The United States of America has a disheartening, and cruel history in regards to its treatment of black or African American Residents. Whether it was slavery, segregation, or police brutality, the history is just saddening.
A similar example to Colin Kaepernick's athletic protest had been performed before. This event occurred in the year 1968, decades before I was born in 1981. Again according to Wikipedia...."During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". While on the podium, Smith and Carlos, who had won gold and bronze medals respectively in the 200-meter running event of the 1968 Summer Olympics, turned to face the US flag and then kept their hands raised until the anthem had finished. In addition, Smith, Carlos, and Australian silver medalist Peter Norman all wore human rights badges on their jackets.
Now you may ask, why do some citizens try to vilify and refute Colin Kaepernick's kneeling performances during the Star-Spangled Banner? Well, some folks on the right, think kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful to the flag and to the military soldiers who fought and continue to fight for the peace and sovereignty of our nation's 50 states and borders. This can be considered a valid argument.
Yet in my humble opinion, I think Kaepernick's kneeling in addition to highlighting racial inequality, also pays homage and praises the American Military and Veterans too! Why do I think this? Kapernick is simply exercising his Freedom of Speech and citizen freedoms the Military has fought so hard to uphold. What is Freedom and Rights if not used? So folks, instead of getting bent out of shape, realize, peaceful protest can be achieved because our Military fights to uphold the military-industrial complex, along with our peaceful civil rights, and law-oriented country.
Now let's fast forward to the present day summer of 2019. In current times, the Colin Kaepernick drama and saga has lingered in American culture and history. As of summer 2019, currently, Colin Kaepernick is no longer an active player in the National Football League? Why was his NFL glory and tenure so fleeting? Well athletically he started throwing a bunch of interceptions, defenses caught on to his hybrid running and throwing QB game style. Basically, he started losing games and sucking. The 49er's began a lengthened losing streak, and after re-signing him to a multi-million dollar contract, they decided to get rid of him. Post NFL playing career, Kaepernick won a settlement suit against the NFL which proposed the league was "blackballing" him and purposely not granting him training camp or back-up quarterback invites because of his continued kneeling anthem stance.
Although half of the country relished in Kaepernick's righteous, gusto and moral cause, the other half of the country revolted against his supposed disrespect to the nation's flag and beliefs. This other half that detests Kapernick's political and civil right's stance then began to shun the NFL business. The NFL began to notice lesser interest, fewer commercial sponsors and lower Television ratings. With half of the country shunning the NFL partly because Kaepernick's Politics, the greedy NFL, like any other for-profit private business, needed a way to get rid of Kaepernick and retrieve those beer and pizza buying, uneducated, rural and casual NFL football fans. When it comes to business, ethics and morals often get tossed into the burning fire when confronted by a corporation's profitability.
In regards to historical figure relevance in my opinion, is Colin Kaepernick on par with Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King Jr? I would personally say no. Yet his modern impact and desire to continue the racial civil rights equality fight is admirable and to be commended. Racial equality should continue to be spotlighted. It is a just cause.
Because he is no longer employed as an NFL Quarterback, Colin Kapernick was available for work and hired by Nike as an Advertising and Branding Messenger. Kaepernick's' aura, image, political messages, and likeness is gainfully employed by our nation's largest Athletic wear provider and brand = NIKE. Just Do it, Nike. The Swoosh. Nike is the Brand of the Best Athletes to ever compete professionally. Michael J. Jordan and Tiger Woods are living sport icons in Basketball and Golf. Why does Nike employ and advertise with Colin Kaepernick's image and messaging? It is because it sells and resonates with Nike's target buying market and demographic. Which are kids, youths, teens, twenty-somethings and all aspiring athletes? Hell, I'm 37 and even I am inspired by Colin Kapernick's gusto and huge Afro hair and civil rights spirit! Just not his football game-time interception throwing. So there's your answer. Kaepernick's Nike marketing images sell, connect and work for the 40 years old and under buying crowd. That's who Nike really cares about. Their apparel buyers! Most successful athletes, Tom Brady, Nolan Ryan, Roger Federer, and Drew Brees excluded do NOT achieve continued athletic recognition after turning 40 years old. Nike doesn't choose to market to the even older athletes.
The ongoing Kapernick Saga continues to exist today. Megan Rapino is a Gay and Lesbian Soccer player for the United States Women's team. Don't forget our U.S.A Women's Soccer Team kicks balls! While our Men's Team didn't even get accepted to the last World Soccer Cup. Our US Women's team is athletically awesome. They are winners and perpetual World Cup Champions. Megan Rapinoe is a goal-scoring machine and skilled scorer striker! She's a Sports Hero for men, women, girls and all of humanity to admire. I personally was so inspired yesterday, I bought Megan's #15 USA Women's Soccer Jersey for 38 bucks myself to proudly wear! This is definitely the first women's sports jersey I will have ever owned and worn. I'll be super stoked when it arrives in my mail. Megan herself detests our current President Trumps' awful policies and equality failures. In general social, civil rights and racial equality efforts during the Trump Presidental administration have been backward failures. His economy may be strong, but his social issues and trans military banning and border cruelty policies are sheer stupidity. Ms. Rapinoe's main message she reiterated and held onto during her post World Cup Media Tour was the advocation of equal pay for women.
So there ya go. There's some insight into the ongoing Sports and Political Saga Debate. What do you think? I hope you'll join with me, in believing in the power of peaceful protest and civil rights advocacy! Go USA! Happy July 4th people.
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