Respect the Movement!
“Is it possible to respect and admire San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his refusal to stand for our national anthem and be disgusted and offended by it at the same time?”
I respond to this question by stating a simple NO! We should have been less offended and more understanding of the Brothers struggle. Disgust should have been in the images of Black bodies senselessly gunned down while men go free and the streets left to weep. Now you are left annoyed at the platform he has formed and what you tried to hide away is now in your face sitting on your coffee table.
The time was 4:00 pm and my social media was a harmonious flood of this fair skinned brother with an Afro and Black leather jacket. I knew who he was, but was excited to see that his message was made present through the eyes of GQ. The amount of likes, comments, and repost was enough to make any man boast. Colin Kaepernick was named the “GQ Citizen of the Year”, but it was just too bad that the NFL and number 45 didn’t feel the same. Excitement turned into frustration. Excitement because he wasn’t was always right to take a stand, but frustration because I knew brainwashed America wouldn’t understand his plan. It was like the storm clouds had come and washed away my sunny day.
He did it for the culture.
A young man stood up for the community and for taking that stand he lost his career, but stayed true to his plan. Black America (yea you) at times didn’t support this man; nope we wished he would stop the kneeling and pick up a ball and score touchdowns and gain yards again. To this day we still watch football and cheer on our teams who decided that their paychecks were worth more than a fight for justice for bodies that look like me. When will we wake up? Face the adversity head on like the defensive player securing the end zone. I believe many of us have suffered from this brutal helmet to helmet collision, which has caused us to forget the constant struggle we face and cloud our judgement on things Black and unequal. This cover isn’t the answer and although I am happy for its existence it took a hell of a long time to get there with a positive underscoring.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL Media. “There are bodies in the street.”
He is the current Black American superhero! All of this at the age of 30 and it took many their lifetime to exude the power and presence he has silently protested for. He has an impressive record of achievements, but his greatest success yet is bringing awareness to what so many of us want to forget. His plan came with more than just a kneel, but a image of one man’s determination to help America heel. From his support of public education to his provocative expressive of color (Blackness), Colin has woke America up to see that injustice is still prevalent and ignorance forever breeding. I know we are all celebrating his cover, but the work still has to be done. It just doesn’t stop on the pages of colorful pictures and lines of subject verb agreements. This picture of excellence should be a national statue for generations to see. It took a football player to stand up when everyone else took a seat. GQ we applaud you and Colin Kaepernick you are a forever hero, but the fight is on to help awake more. More Brothas, More Sistas, More Counties, More Citizens, until we are truly at an United State of thinking and being.
mOOd: Silent no more!
SayWhatNOW?!?! 