Task: Tonight, continue the conversation we started in class. You can answer one of the following questions or address a topic of your choosing. Feel free to repeat and refine a point you made if your shared in class.
EQ's:
- Which subtopics or themes are emerging in this topic?
- To what extent does the conversation about the #takeaknee protests reflect our society's current issues and conflicts?
- OR go your own way
**Think about:
-Ideas across sources
-Big concepts
-Significance: Political, economic, social, psychological, ethical/moral
- Comment is fully developed; it’s the equivalent of one notebook page in length (250-350 words)
- Begins with a very brief THEY SAY by summarizing the arguments of others without repeating them verbatim. For example, you may summarize the argument of a classmate or one of the articles.
- Uses relevant vocabulary from the rhetorical situation and/or They Say, I Say
- Includes evidence from a minimum of two of sources from class this week in either summary or direct quotes
- Appropriate marker verbs "This demonstrates/implies/suggests" instead of "This quote shows"
- Is developed logically. It is centered on one important idea and is organized into one or two cohesive paragraphs
- Uses varied sentence structure and a conversational tone to engage the audience
- Contains few errors in spelling, grammar, and conventions
- On time (by 11:20 am tomorrow)
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DeleteIt has been common today to dismiss, Colin Kaepernick and his message about police brutality, and what he sacrificed to protest. On the other hand focus on people like, Ben Shapiro who share common views of Kaepernick and overall believe that he was trying to accomplish nothing by sacrificing nothing. According to Shapiro, “not only did he not sacrifice nothing, he only started doing it when became a useless quarterback to the San Francisco 49er’s.” (The Daily Wire) I disagree with Shapiro because Kaepernick didn’t create this protest for nothing or for fame. Kaepernick grew up feeling outcasted from the beginning, he was already adopted into a white family, and was black in a majority white town. He would hear racial slurs and experience discrimination constantly, even with his family around. This refutes the claims Shapiro makes because it demonstrates Kaepernick experienced discrimination in this country and he wants to end it. Using his voice as the quarterback for the 49er’s wasn’t to get publicity for himself, but, for the issue at hand. Kaepernick believed that if he did it on television it would cause controversy and lead to change. But, this is one of the beautiful moments in Kaepernick's story when he was slowly becoming the activist he is today. Since the difficult experience he endured is a part of the reason he knelt during the national anthem. In the New York Times article, The Awakening of Colin Kaepernick by, John Branch, Branch goes into depth about Kaepernick to shine light on his true motives as a black man in this country. Branch states, "“We used to go on these summer driving vacations and stay at motels,-And every year, in the lobby of every motel, the same thing always happened, and it only got worse as I got older and taller. It didn’t matter how close I stood to my family, somebody would walk up to me, a real nervous manager, and say: ‘Excuse me. Is there something I can help you with?’” The essence of this quote is that no matter how white Kaepernick was or his family was, he knew that the privilege granted to his family will never be the same for him because he didn't look like them. Even though, Kaepernick was biracial it didn't matter to those who saw him how he looked. Branch does this to remind us that this is what created Kaepernick to be the activist he is today because the experience of discrimination had to occur in order for him to realize it was a serious issue current to today, and has been for decades. It is significant that this is recognized because criminal injustices are still very much current amongst minorities and is continued to be overlooked. With Kaepernick he is demanding change and continues to use his voice for those who can't because there were times Kaepernick felt voiceless too. The Nike ad supports this because the message of the ad was to encourage people to push past their setbacks in life and become the best version of themselves. The ambassador of this ad was Kaepernick himself, which shows all the discrimination Kaepernick experienced and witnessed, is what made him the activist and athlete he is today. Kaepernick continues to push through any remarks against him before and after the #takeaknee stand and is the reason why Nike supports him because he does not deny that people who look like him are treated unfairly everyday.
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ReplyDeleteOver the past few years, there have been many cases where unarmed people of color are being attacked by police for no reason. Typically, politicians and everyday citizens are the ones to speak out on these ideas. However, in 2016 Colin Kaepernick, an athlete, spoke out to these unjustified acts by kneeling during the national anthem prior to his football game. Over time, he has received hate and support from both sides of the argument. Although Kaepernick sacrificed so much to follow this goal of making America a safer society, Ben Shapiro, a writer, lawyer, and analyst claims that Kaepernick had sacrificed nothing. As he states, "The question is, are you believing in the right things? Colin Kaepernick is not, he has never provided a shred of data to support his assertions that black people in the United States are being disproportionally shot by police because in fact they are not (Shapiro)”. Shapiro implies that Kaepernick is protesting something that isn't true, which is completely wrong. Kaepernick has made his case, people are being shot for simply nothing, and it is unfair that there are no consequences for these officers. There have been multiple examples of the unlawful killings of unarmed black men, such as Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, and more. Therefore, Shapiro's claim that this "isn't true" is wrong because there are many different cases where this has happened. Kaepernick is kneeling to raise awareness for the issues that people of color face everyday. There were many other players that supported Kaepernick, one of which is Malcolm Jenkins. Malcolm Jenkins, a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, began to kneel as well to raise awareness for the same issues. People who disagreed with the kneeling, often stated that it was a sign of hatred towards the military and army. However, it is not. Patriotism has become a key term in this controversy, people believe that those who kneel are not appreciative of being in this country. Yet the protests communicate a different idea. Malcolm Jenkins stated himself that it is patriotic to try and improve your country, which is what some people seem to misunderstand. Those who kneel are essentially protesting the wrongdoings of police offers all over the United States. These players are not promoting hatred, but they are promoting peace and solutions to a problem that is disturbing the citizens of America. Although they are athletes, they should still be able to speak their mind on any topic, they are still citizens themselves.
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ReplyDeleteTo what extent does the conversation about the #takeaknee protests reflect our society's current issues and conflicts?
ReplyDeleteThe take a knee movement which was created by Colin Kaepernick represents many different issues such as racial inequality, police brutality , and a flawed criminal justice system which still exists in our society today. Jenkins who is a defensive team caption for the Philadelphia Eagles for 9 seasons, asserts that the money bail system is a major flaw due to its effect on the lower class communities or people of color. Jenkins states " In 2016, police punched 58-year-old Gilbert Cruz in the face and arrested him for refusing to leave his own home during an investigation. Unable to make the $3,500 bail, Cruz spent more than two months in a Houston jail. By the time prosecutors finally dropped the case after concluding he had committed no crime, Cruz had lost his job, his car, and almost his home." This implies that the criminal justice system causes more struggle and hardships for the colored communities which tends to hold them back in society meaning that it could have a negative impact on a colored person future. This relates back to Kaepernick kneeling down on the floor because he wants to make people realize that one issue in society will cause more unless there is a whole community that will fight as a whole. When there are flaws in the criminal justice system most of the opportunities that the colored community lost will go towards the whites giving them an advantage in society.
These issues were also represented in the article " In-depth profile of Colin Kaepernick" by John Branch. Branch explains why Colin Kaepernick has a large fan base and why people deeply connect with what he says. For example, he states " Finding an identity was a big part of him because, in some aspects of his life, he would get the racist treatment from white people because he was a black quarterback." Branch implies that it is easier to express the issues that exist in society if the audience is of your same race. Also, it could make the lower class communities join the protest because he knows that many families feel scared that they are going to be targeted next. Therefore all of the issues that are brought up by the "take a knee protests" tend to be larger than the game of football
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ReplyDeleteMany Americans believe that Athletes should not protest at a football game. Both of the articles i read, "The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning" by David Leonhardt and "Colin Kaepernick Sacrificed Nothing" by Ben Shapiro, try to assert this point as well. In the article, “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” the author Leonhardt, a New York Times columnist, responds to the Take A Knee Movement. He provides example of various and successful protesters in America. According to Leonhardt, in Marchers that went from Selma to Montgomery.The marchers carried American Flags. Within 6 months, the voting rights act was signed. The author makes the point that the protests were successful because they emphasized patriotism because the marchers held up American Flags. Leonhardt compares this to the athletes and how they didn’t show respect and that’s why Americans don’t think kneeling is appropriate. Americans also believe standing is a sign of respect. He also states the statistic that“only 36 percent consider the kneeling protest to be “appropriate.” (Leonhardt). This statistic suggests that many Americans disagree with the protests. The video “Colin Kaepernick sacrificed nothing” asserts that Colin Kaepernick’s protests didn’t sacrifice him anything and he is not a hero. The speaker, Ben Shapiro, is an American conservative political commentator, writer, and lawyer. The week after Nike’s Advertisement was released, Shapiro, on his own TV show, emphasized on various points to make Kaepernick seem less of a hero. For instance, he mentions that Kaepernick is not a good football player. According to Shapiro, Kaepernick was the lowest ranked quarterback in the NFL and he was number 32. In making his comment, Shapiro tries to get the audience to believe that Kaepernick didn’t lose anything by protesting. Overall, I believe that Kaepernick’s as well as other athletes protests were effective and were for a good cause. I believe protesting is an important thing to do in our society and I think Kaepernick's protests caused a big impact.
ReplyDelete-Celina Niemann
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ReplyDeleteTayo Drougas 11B
ReplyDelete2018
Recently the #Take A Knee protest has achieved huge relevance in social media and the United States. This protest is focused on highlighting the issues of police brutality and racism in the U.S, by NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. Many argue that this protest openly disrespects the United States and everyone in the country however, many others believe that this protest successfully brings the topic of police brutality into a national stage, and allows for a further discussion on the issue. I personally agree with this statement, as police brutality has become a huge issue in recent years, and by bringing light to the situation you are getting a closer step to solution. By taking a knee, Kaepernick highlights the apathy that the government has for this whole situation. When presented with the #Take A Knee movement, Donald Trump responded with “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race.”(Trump, Twitter, 2018) This quote shows that Donald Trump, the president of the United States, doesn’t care enough to even consider the movement as being legitimate. Colin Kaepernick himself acknowledges the impact his movement has on the United States, and the action he has trying to create “This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change”(Kaepernick, 2017). By stating this, Kaepernick shows that this movement is ultimately to help support minority groups who are under attack by police brutality in the United States.
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ReplyDeleteDuring debates regarding the #takeaknee protests of (former) NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a uniting issue that has illuminated was the role of athletes in society. The most recognizable aspect of the #takeaknee protests is the actions of Colin Kaepernick, who before a nationally televised game, opted to take a knee rather than stand during the National Anthem. This decision led to controversy as many of the NFLs viewers were disgusted by what they interpreted as a lack of respect for the country. Even President Trump chimed in on twitter addressing his followers, stating “A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of the money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be suspended without pay!”(Trump) this quote supports the notion that because of his background in business, Trump possesses a business focused point of view. This manipulated his response from acknowledging the message to focusing on the money that flows within the NFL. In response Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL issued the following response to the public. In an address to the public, Goodell stated a policy that was later contracted. However, the original policy determined that every player on the field will stand for the anthem. In the address, he stated “We believe that today’s decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it - - and on our fans who enjoy it.” This is an example of an attempt to silence those who are trying to make their voice heard. This can be shown in an article created by Malcolm Jenkins, veteran safety for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also a player that kneeled during the national anthem. In the article titled “what protesting players like me want to do next” Jenkins describes the reasons for his protest and why he won’t stop at kneeling. He’s made progress in truly understanding the system he wants changed. In a quote he states that “True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better.” This quote demonstrates athletes using the platforms that they have earned to attempt to make a difference. However, for that they are being negatively judged and are subjected to harsh ridicule just for voicing their opinions.
ReplyDeleteTo conclude, I believe that Athletes, like any U.S. citizen, have an obligation to speak up when in the presence of injustice. People tend to forget that Athletes have opinions and beliefs as well. In addition they have gone through multiple years of college, meaning that they are well educated. Using his elevated platform as an exceptional athlete and former Super Bowl level Quarterback, Kaepernick made him discontent known by peacefully taking action. His actions sparked a movement that other athlete around the sport and beyond, have joined coming together to work for change fueled by the desire to better their communities.
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DeleteDuring debates regarding the #takeaknee protests of (former) NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a uniting issue that has illuminated was the role of athletes in society. The most recognizable aspect of the #takeaknee protests is the actions of Colin Kaepernick, who before a nationally televised game, opted to take a knee rather than stand during the National Anthem in protest against police brutality. This decision to take action, led to controversy as many of the NFL’s viewers were disgusted by what they interpreted as a lack of respect for the country. Even President Trump chimed in on twitter addressing his followers, stating “A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of the money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be suspended without pay!”(Trump) this quote supports the notion that because of his background in business, Trump possesses a business focused point of view. This manipulated his response from acknowledging the message to focusing on the money that flows within the NFL. In response Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL issued the following response to the public. In an address to the public, Goodell stated a policy that was later contracted. However, the original policy determined that every player on the field will stand for the anthem. In the address, he stated “We believe that today’s decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it - - and on our fans who enjoy it.”(Goodell) This is an example of an attempt to silence those who are trying to make their voice heard. Goodell is a businessman who is unable to back the #TakeaKnee movement because he is more concerned about his personal profit and the success of the NFL rather than an attempt to make a necessary difference in society . This can be shown in an article created by Malcolm Jenkins, veteran safety for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also a player that kneeled during the national anthem. In the article titled “what protesting players like me want to do next” Jenkins describes the reasons for his protest and why he won’t stop at kneeling. He’s made progress in truly understanding the system he wants changed. In a quote he states that “True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better.”(Jenkins) This quote demonstrates athletes using the platforms that they have earned to attempt to make a difference. However, for that they are being negatively judged and are subjected to harsh ridicule just for voicing their concerns of society.
To conclude, I believe that Athletes, like any U.S. citizen, have an obligation to speak up when in the presence of injustice. People tend to forget that Athletes have opinions and beliefs as well. In addition they have gone through multiple years of college, meaning that they are well educated. Using his elevated platform as an exceptional athlete and former Super Bowl level Quarterback, Kaepernick made him discontent known by peacefully taking action. His actions sparked a movement that other athlete around the sport and beyond, have joined coming together to work for change fueled by the desire to better their communities.
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ReplyDeleteOther people see kaepernick's protest as unpatriotic because he is disrespecting the national anthem and the flag. I disagree I think it is patriotic of him to be willing to risk his career in order to stand up for what he believes in. The article titled The Ties That Bind Muhammad Ali to the NFL Protests reveals that athletes have always been involved in current political hot topics and mohamed ali was one of these athletes. The article discusses how mohammed was able to get his work out on topics he was passionate about .”Muhammad Ali first spoke out publicly against the Vietnam War in 1967, when the legendary boxer and reigning heavyweight champ told a reporter from the Chicago Daily News, “I don’t have no personal quarrel with those Viet Congs.” He went on to file paperwork to excuse himself from service as a conscientious objector, becoming the most famous anti war figure at the time.” colin kaepernick has a similar situation because he is being shut down by the nfl just as mohamed ali was shut down by his boxing license being revoked. Athletes are asked to risk their bodies for the entertainment of a crowd but are not allowed to stand up for what they feel is correct. In the article the awakening it points out that “Almost immediately, many of the complex real-world issues of the times — police violence, presidential politics and the foment of racial clashes that continue to boil over in places like Charlottesville, Va. — all flushed through the filter of Kaepernick’s gesture.” He is just trying to stand up for what he believes is just and right and he isn't allowed to.
ReplyDeleteApproximately 21 months ago NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the national anthem during his game in protest of the disenfranchisement of minorities, African Americans in particular by the criminal justice system. However, there are many obstacles in his way of advocacy. One very glaring obstacle being economics. Although people have contradicted the idea of a sports player protesting and disrespecting the flag instead of just doing his job, they are not considering the fact that Kaepernick went out of his way to express his views, despite being faced with the pressure of the franchise owners who are deeply influenced by fan satisfaction and money. Economics and politics play a bigger role than it appears. Most actions within the NFL is politically driven. As iterated by the source, “The N.F.L. and its 32 franchise owners, none of them African-American, may be the most conservative fraternity of leaders in major American sports. They bathe their games in overtly patriotic ceremonies and discourage players, mostly hidden behind masks and uniforms of armor, from individual acts of showmanship”(Branch, 2017). The author here has implied that the stage is not set for Kaepernick to protest, rather he is “discouraged” intentionally to prevent controversy. Branch also subtly suggests that not only are the player restricted from protest but the franchise owners make it a point to create “patriotic ceremonies” to ensure that the fans are focused on how “American” the NFL truly is. The hypocrisy and politics within the games are making people believe that Kaepernick is wrong to have brought in politics onto the sports field. But what people don’t realize is there was always politics and economics involved. Roger Goodell for example, as the commissioner of the NFL, was pushed by Trump’s tweet to prohibit the protest and go back to that perfectly “patriotic” environment that the fans go to the NFL to watch. Trump declared his opposition for the movement and pushed the commissioner to take action, via Twitter for his 34.2 million followers (Cnn,2017), to lay, witness, He directly tweeted, “The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again - can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. First time kneeling, out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!” (Trump, 2017). This statement indicates that the protest has hampered the NFL image, something that has negatively affected sales and created a disparity between players and the NFL organization. As a result of being pushed by economic and political complications, Kaepernick was suspended from the team to prevent him from further aggravating the situation and fighting for his cause. Despite the glaring fact that there is racial tension and that perhaps everything is racially influenced, we must consider that this issue is far more economically and politically driven than race.
ReplyDeleteI noticed in both of the texts that I read, it speaks about people and their thoughts on the protests that have been happening during NFL games and the protest that Muhammad Ali started. The texts that I read are called “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” by David Leonhardt and “The Ties that Bind Muhammad Ali to the NFL protest” by Natalie Escobar. In the first article David Leonhardt argues that kneeling during national anthem is not like the civil rights movement and that it should not be done. However other people such as myself understand that kneeling during the national anthem is toward the police brutality in America and that it allows us to have freedom of speech. In the first article, it speaks on what people think when it comes to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. In this article, Leonhardt writes, “Almost 70 percent of Americans get that the protests are directed at police violence or Trump and not the flag, according to a YouGov/HuffPost poll. Yet only 36 percent consider the kneeling protest to be “appropriate”” (David Leonhardt). This quote suggests that people understand what these NFL players are fighting towards, but they still do not think kneeling during NFL games is the right thing to do. This statistic demonstrates how many people understand what these NFL players are fighting for and how many people do not agree with it. It shows how important popularity is in protesting because it can give you more supporters. In the next article, this is explained through an example of someone who protested and ended up being successful due to his fans. This article it states, “It helped to cement his status as a palatable symbol of civil rights, Thomas says...“He can mean many things to many different people. And people find the Ali that they’re most comfortable with.” (Natalie Escobar). This quote supports my view on popularity and how it helps make a protest more impactful. Muhammad Ali was able to use his image, popularity, and power to earn the support from all the people who agreed with him.
ReplyDeleteIn recent discussions of Colin Kaepernick’s “take a knee” protest, a controversial issue has been the idea of patriotism. On the one hand, some argue that Kaepernick's action was unpatriotic and offensive to the symbols of our nation. On the other hand, others argue that Kaepernick was simply protesting against police brutality and racial inequality, not against the nation itself. I agree with this last statement because by protesting, athletes are simply shedding light to the wrong done in our society, not targeting the nations symbols. They are carrying on the legacy of past Civil Rights activists who had fought on behalf of all our rights and freedom.
ReplyDeleteAfter President Trump's tweets calling Kaepernick’s action unpatriotic, David Leonhardt, a middle aged white Op-Ed Columnist for the NY Times, used the Civil Rights movement to acknowledge that all of the professional athletes doing political battle with President Trump and police brutality are the true heirs to the activists in our past. He uses examples in “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” to advocate that by protesting against what they think is wrong in the right way, athletes are simply fighting for change. In his view, “When a young organizer named John Lewis spoke at the March on Washington in August 1963, he delivered a scorching rebuke of racism and its political, economic and social exploitation. But Lewis also did something else: He aligned his side, the civil rights movement, with the symbols and ideas of America.” By using this example, Leonhardt is corroborating that this is the right way to protest, a way that honors these same symbols and ideas of America described above and that Kaepernick failed to do. This however is not the case, because just like John Lewis, Kaepernick wasn’t fighting against the nation, he was protesting to reinforce the issues that constantly arise in our society instead.
Likewise, Natalie Escobar, an intern at Smithsonian magazine adds on to this point by writing a very similar story on Mohammed Ali’s resistance to joining the Vietnam war. She revealed that Ali was not disrespecting the country, he was simply protesting for the rights of African Americans who were forced to fight for the country but were not respected, an action, which just like Kaepernick's kneel, was very patriotic.
Although some may believe a football game is not the time and place for a protest, many beg to differ. Colin Kaepernick, an African American, once quarterback for the NFL sparked a controversy when he took a knee during the National Anthem before a football game. People put into question if he had disrespected the American culture. On the one hand, several suggested that the ideas Kaepernick presented insist that he is in fact betraying America and such a movement is unnecessary. On the other hand, many suggested that it is not fair to neglect an athlete who is attempting at making a heroic move in American history. I agree that Kaepernick was just attempting at making a heroic move and people just used it as a reason to give him unnecessary comebacks for it.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick, was given many repercussions due to his protesting by taking a knee before his football game. In an article by Yoni Brenner, who is a film writer for The New Yorker, Brenner advocates that NFL players have the opportunity to take a stance and should use it. Brenner uses sarcasm to voice his thoughts and observes, “The N.F.L. believes that sometimes the best protests are the simplest. Perhaps the most powerful statement that a player can make is to continuously collide with other players for sixty minutes—risking catastrophic injury and irreversible brain trauma—with frequent commercial interruptions” (Brenner, 2017). Brenner asserts that well-known athletes are expected to just play a game. However, they have a platform and should be able to use it to the societies and their own advantage. This move should be appreciated and seen as heroic rather than given backlash.
Similar to Kaepernick, Muhammad Ali who was professional boxer insisted that he won't fight in the Vietnam War. Due to Ali making such a choice, he was presented with multiple consequences. In an article by Natalie Escobar, a senior at Northwestern University who majors in journalism and Latino Studies discusses the aftermath of certain athletes that took a stance in a societal situation. Escobar uses cause and effect to contend, “He was stripped of the championship title he had been working toward his whole career. Athletic commissions across the country suspended his boxing licenses, leaving him out of the ring for more than three years” (Escobar, 2017). Escobar encourages that the consequences of Ali taking a stand were completely insane and inequitable. Essentially, Ali risked his career in order to make not only his voice heard but several people’s voice acknowledged. Though, he was still given unnecessary backlashes for it.
Both Kaepernick and Ali were stripped of their careers rather than apreciated for making a heroic move. People failed to acknowledge just how brave these two men were and used both atheletes' courage as a reason to dislike them.
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ReplyDeleteConventional wisdom has it that it's difficult to walk in another mans shoes. This is fair to say, when talking about the #TakeAKneeProtest. Colin Kaepernick who was an NFL quarterback, will be known for a silent gesture which was taking a knee during the National Anthem at his football game, an act to protest social injustice and police brutality. As a result of this Kaepernick is currently not on a team, however he sparked other players across players to stand up for these same issues he brought up. Such as defensive player Malcolm Jenkins for the eagles, who suggests that Kaepernick should be talked about forever, and his acts shouldn't go unnoticed. After Kaepernicks act, and many other players and teams kneeling during the anthem, Roger Goodell (The NFL Commissioner) released a statement regarding this topic. Roger Goodell who is a white, rich and educated man released a statement that basically stated, "We believe today's decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it, and our fans who enjoy it." Not long after Donald Trump took to twitter to share with his 50 million followers to say "A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest." This is important because these quotes illustrate that it's hard for Trump and Goodell as white men to put themselves into Kaepernicks shoes and feel why equality is so essential in society. Goodell and Trump want players to basically shut up and go entertain, they don't want players using their big platform to express themselves. How can we bash individuals for wanting to make the world a better place? Trump and Goodell would rather protect the money that goes in their pockets, then truly understand these protests are meant to bring awareness to inequality in society today. All in all, I agree with Jenkins statement that "True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better."
The solution to solving any problem is to acknowledge the cause and work towards the alternative. The #takeaknee protest has been a movement that aims towards bringing awareness to police brutality yet officials have avoided recognition on the topic. Malcolm Jenkins a NFL athlete of African descent argues that participating in this protest means that you are practicing patriotic actions. He defines patriotism as “loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better”(Jenkins,2017) Jenkins describes patriotism in a new aspect to modern day beliefs as a way of respecting your country and wanting to improve it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Jenkins re-defines patriotism President Donald Trump being a white business man does not support the #takeaknee movement. Trump used twitter as a platform to argue that football is merely for entertainment and not for social movements, kneeling during the national anthem is seen disrespectful. “Great solidarity for our national anthem and for our country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable”(Trump, 2017) Trump and Jenkins being two males with completely different backgrounds fail to see each other’s perspectives on the pre-existing issues in our country.
Malcolm Jenkins has made it a statement that he participates in protest for the better of his people. To address issues that have been compromised, swept under the rug, or silenced by higher officials within the government. Standing up for social injustice has been a significant factor to players like Jenkins and Kaepernick. Aside from the fact that it brings attention to NFL games and political issues it’s simply not enough for change. Representatives must take accountability for ignoring these pre-existing issues because this is what’s preventing the US as a nation from improving.
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ReplyDeleteThe knee that Collin Kaepernick took towards the national anthem on September 1st, 2016 raised many controversies about an athletes duty in society and what they should or should not do. Many people believe that protesting during the game of football is unpatriotic which means that people tend to not show love and devotion to there country. On the other hand, many people argue that Collin Kaepernick's protest had a positive impact on the behalf of the people because it allowed him to inform others on issues such as racial inequality, police brutality, and a flawed criminal justice system which still exists in society today. Roger Goodell who is the Nfl commissioner for 12 years straight states “ Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.” Goodell indicates that the players should just stay silent in order to give people a wider focus on the game of football and entertainment. This raises many more issues because if the athletes are separated from their fans and audience then how will the protest be informal or gather the attention of different communities. This demonstrates that Goodell is trying to show his passion and love for the NFL and he is trying to protect his occupation. Athletes only have once chance to protest and that is on the field, where the fans are much focused on the player's actions. When a player protests in the stadium it makes many fans think of the larger issues that exist beyond football but if the player protests outside the game of football people will tend to not pay that much attention or just ignore the issue. But John Branch a journalist for the new york times asserts that having a voice is important because it will allow athletes to become something greater than who they are. He states “ The NFL and it’s 32 franchise owners, none of them African - American, maybe the most conservative fraternity of leaders on American sports. They bathe their games in overtly patriotic ceremonies and discourage players, mostly hidden behind masks and uniforms of armor, from individual acts of showmanship.” This demonstrates that the Nfl players tend to not portray their real selves to the public due to the policies that they have agreed with. But I agree with Branch that protesting with a voice or image is helpful because Kaepernick doesn’t only speak for himself but for all of the communities and people who continue to face racial hardships. To conclude, I disagree with Goodell because Kaepernick's protest isn’t hurting America it is trying to make it better. Protests, especially with a larger crowd, could create larger communities allowing people to discuss potential ways to solve these issues which would create equality. Athletes shouldn’t be limited to only sports they should go above and beyond without commissioners setting restrictions.
Recently the #Take A Knee protest has achieved huge relevance in social media and the United States, and has become a polarizing issue throughout the country. This protest is focused on highlighting the issues of police brutality and racism in the U.S, by NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. Many such as Donald Trump and his supporters argue that this protest openly disrespects the United States and everyone in the country. However, many such as Colin Kaepernick and his supporters believe that this protest successfully brings the topic of police brutality into a national stage, and allows for a further discussion on the issue. I personally agree with this statement, as police brutality has become a huge issue in recent years, and by bringing light to the situation you are getting a closer step to solution. By taking a knee, Kaepernick highlights the apathy that the government has for this whole situation. When presented with the #Take A Knee movement, Donald Trump responded with “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race.”(Trump, Twitter, 2018) This quote shows that Donald Trump, the president of the United States, doesn’t care enough to even consider the movement as being legitimate. Colin Kaepernick himself acknowledges the impact his movement has on the United States, and the action he has trying to create “This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change”(Kaepernick, 2017). By stating this, Kaepernick shows that this movement is ultimately to help support minority groups who are under attack by police brutality in the United States.
ReplyDeleteOne subtopic that is seen in the take a knee stand, a protest started by Colin Kaepernick after he kneeled during the National anthem due to police brutality. Is whether the NFL has done enough to solve the situation. Ben Shapiro a political commentator argues that the NFL has anything. And that isnead if killing the issue at the offset they let it grow.
ReplyDeleteThough it is true that the attempts at settling this protest were a failure, I disagree that they didn’t put an effort and try to end it. In response to the protest, Roger Goodell, posted a speech talking about the situation, and the new requirements that would be made for the players during the anthem. . The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a middle-aged white man, stated that “all the team and league personnel on field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.“ (Goodell, may) This demonstrated that Goodell believes that the players should respect the flag by standing, but goes on to say that if they want to protest they should do it silently and not in front of thousands of people. To summarize Goodell is saying that he respects the NFL’s players beliefs and voices, but as Schapiro said, they should protest on their own times instead of on television. Because of this I do not agree with Shapiro’s statement that the NFL didn’t do anything to stop the protest. They did but the problem was that it was not received well from the public
The author of The Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, John Branch, who’s a sports recorder for the New York Times reminds us about the #takeaknee protest that sparked controversy throughout the media. Branch explains the movement had to do with protesting social injustice, specifically on the deaths of people from police brutality. Branch comes down to inform us and support Kaepernick’s movement on how kneeling down is a way to raise our voice in society to make a change. From this perspective, I agree with Branch’s point of view because by voicing, Kaepernick risked his career to protest the issues we have in our society that needs to be changed.
ReplyDeleteThe #takeaknee movement emerges topics of racial inequality, patriotism, and justice that needs to be mentioned in our country. As the article continues, Branch provides a narration of Kaepernick’s impact outside the media as a way to demonstrate his position that also spreaded awarenesses. According to Branch, “In Kaepernick’s absence, other players will kneel. Demonstrators will protest... His jersey will be seen, more as a political statement than a sporting allegiance..” This example implies that despite Kaepernick being a free agent, his message remains remembered because of how his beliefs made him speak and stand up for these issues that gained attention. This is significant because he is showing activism. By kneeling, it’s a gesture that symbolizes a change in our society to make a difference. Connecting to Malcolm Jenkins, the team captain of the Eagles, he acknowledges Kaepernick’s #takeaknee in which he recommends sparking the discussion about injustice on the criminal justice system. He uses the definition to disagree with the idea that protesting is being unpatriotic to our country. Jenkins himself writes, “..people say that my colleagues and I are un-American and unpatriotic...We want to help make our country safe and prosperous. True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better.” In other words, Jenkins believes that protesting is not what makes people unpatriotic, it’s a way to show we should come together and recognize these issues to make our country better.
Many Americans believe the #TakeAKnee protests are unpatriotic and inappropriate. I disagree because they were patriotic and effective and did not have to be appropriate. In the article, “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” the author Leonhardt, a New York Times columnist, responds to the Take A Knee Movement. He provides examples of protesters in America. According to Leonhardt, in 1956, marchers went from Selma to Montgomery carrying American Flags. Within 6 months, the Voting Rights Act was signed by Lyndon Johnson. The author makes the point that the protests were successful by emphasizing patriotism. Leonhardt compares this to athletes and how kneeling is not believed to be patriotic and appropriate by Americans. Standing during the national anthem is a sign of respect towards America. I disagree that Kaepernick’s protests were unpatriotic and inappropriate. The protests actually make athletes more patriotic because they are trying to improve our country’s equality and freedom. Fighting for what you is patriotic and no one should decide whether a protest is "appropriate".
ReplyDeleteMany also state that Kaepernick’s protests didn’t sacrifice him anything so they weren’t effective. The video “Colin Kaepernick sacrificed nothing” asserts that Colin Kaepernick’s protests didn’t sacrifice him anything and he is not a hero. The speaker, Shapiro, is a conservative political commentator. The week after Nike’s Advertisement was released, Shapiro, emphasized on various points to make Kaepernick seem less of a hero. For instance, he mentions that Kaepernick is not a good football player. According to Shapiro, Kaepernick was the lowest ranked quarterback in the NFL. In making his comment, Shapiro tries to get the audience to believe that Kaepernick didn’t lose anything by protesting. I disagree because it’s not necessary to sacrifice something in order for it to be an effective protest. Protests are an opportunity for people to practice one of their fundamental rights and stand up for what they consider right. Sacrificing something is not always a necessity.
Overall, I believe Kaepernick’s protests were powerful and for a good cause. Protesting is an important duty in our society and these protests were very relevant to current issues.
In recent years, a protest has begun under the name of “#Takeaknee. On one hand is the idea of Kaepernick protest being unpatriotic and disrespectful to American culture. On the other hand, others argue that Kaepernick was protesting against police brutality and racial profiling/inequality, rather than america itself. I agree with this statement, athletes are only shedding light to the wrong in our society, not targeting the nation's many symbols. They are carrying on what past Civil Rights activists who had fought on behalf of all of our rights and our freedom fought for.
ReplyDeleteAfter Donald Trump's tweets calling Kaepernick’s actions unpatriotic, David Leonhardt, a white Op-Ed Columnist for the NY Times, used the Civil Rights movement to show that all of the professional athletes are not unpatriotic, but carrying on the legacy of people before them who fought for racial justice. He uses examples in “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” to advocate that by protesting against what they think is wrong, athletes are just fighting for a change. In his words , “When a young organizer named John Lewis spoke at the March on Washington in August 1963, he delivered a scorching rebuke of racism and its political, economic and social exploitation. But Lewis also did something else: He aligned his side, the civil rights movement, with the symbols and ideas of America.” The example above demonstrates that Leonhardt is confirming that current day protesters are using their reasons for protesting, to honor the same symbols and ideas of America described above. They aren’t fighting against them, they are reinforcing the issues that rather arise in our society.
Natalie Escobar, an intern who works at the Smithsonian magazine adds on to this point with a similar story about Mohammed Ali’s resistance to joining the Vietnam war. This connects to Kaepernick and how he is carrying on what others before him started. She implied that Ali was not disrespecting the country, he was instead protesting for the rights of all people of color who were forced to fight for America, which was just like Kaepernick's kneel, and considered extremely patriotic.
-Noah Johnston
Which subtopics or themes are emerging in this topic?
ReplyDeleteOften people say ,that kneeling during a football game is disrespecting our nation , and the people who served America . But , the kneels are a way of a football player raising awareness for the people who face injustice in our country . Football players are more than just men in uniforms tackling each other , Football players use there publicity to there advantage and can stand up for people’s rights such as victims from police brutality and injustice who can’t bring as much awareness as the football players do such as Colin Kaepernick etc. According to the article , “What protesting NFL players like me want to do next” states “I’ve heard people say my colleagues and I are in-American and unpatriotic. Well, we want to make America great . We want to help make our country safe and prosperous. We want a land of justice and equality . True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better.” Malcolm Jenkins is implying to come together , and to stand up for what’s right and that’s all that truly matters when you are talking about politics and the moral standpoint of this. This connects to how Trump believes how kneeling on the field is Unpatriotic and however that statement is not true . “ NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes , but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.” Says Donald Trump , which is completely untrue like Jenkins says “ True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better” This connects back to how Trump believes that people stay away because they love America so much , but if they truly loves America they would see how corrupt America really is when it comes to social injustice to people of color as well as police brutality . This is an important topic because Football stars can use there high popularity to their advantage and bring awareness to situations.
After Colin Kaepernick’s #takeaknee protest in 2016, when he opted to kneel during the national anthem, Kaepernick received a lot of backlash from many Americans while some supported his actions. Many people thought his protest as disrespecting and professional because they believed that it wasn’t appropriate timing and that standing during the national anthem was a sign of respect. What those people failed to realize was that Kaepernick was trying to persuade people to protest against the main issues of police brutality and racial inequality. Thus, I agree with Kaepernick’s actions because he tried to gather attention from society and inform them about our society’s issues, and not trying to target the nation’s symbols in any way.
ReplyDeleteDavid Leonhardt, an American journalist for New York Times, supported Kaepernick’s protest, stating in his article “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning” that they were “true patriots here, defending life, liberty, and equality under the law”. In other words, Leonhardt believed that the football players who protested were truly patriotic because he implied that a form of showing patriotism is by fighting for what’s right in a nation. In addition to Leonhardt’s argument, he also suggested that Donald Trump was racist and didn’t care about the issues harming people of color. For instance, Leonhardt stated, “Trump, meanwhile, is heir to yesterday’s racist demagogues. He called an athlete “a son of a bitch” not long after saying that white supremacists included “very fine people” (Leonhardt, 2017). The author’s point in this is that Trump was looking down on people of color and clearly favored white people more than other ethnicities. So, this demonstrated the significance of fighting for a change in the impactful ways minorities are treated due to issues like racial inequality and police brutality. In other words, Leonhardt suggested that Kaepernick’s protest may have drawn attention of those who actually care to resolve the issues mentioned during the protest, which meant that no groups would have to feel excluded in our nation. Clearly, these are some emerging subtopics/themes that matter and resulted after Kaepernick’s protest.
The #TakeAKnee protest was started by Colin Kaepernick who was a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick is a half white and half black man who was adopted by a white family. He grew up very privileged household in a wealthy part of California. Growing up he was amongst mostly white people and faced the adversity of being colored. The take a knee protest was to use the televised event of a NFL football game to get his views across about the police brutality in America. Some argue that Kaepernick was unpleased with the amount of attention he was getting as a second string quarterback, so he started the take a knee movement to gain publicity. Ben Shapiro, an American political commentator, stated “Not only did he not sacrifice nothing, he only started doing it when he became a useless quarterback to the San Francisco 49ers and then after that he has kept his name in the headlines.”(Shapiro) Shapiro is conveying that Kaeprnick only kneeled during the anthem to attract attention to himself. I believe that he truly did it for a greater cause, not only for him to benefit from it. Ezra Shaw, a writer for The New York Times, stated that “In Kaepernick’s absence, other players will kneel. Demonstrators will protest. Some will boycott. His jersey will be seen, more as a political statement than a sporting allegiance, as the game goes on without him.”(Shaw) she is arguing that Kaepernick‘s main reason for protesting was to get others to do it alongside of him. He wanted to make himself an advocate for change in America, which didn’t mean attention for himself, but in the end it was all for something much greater than just him. I agree with Shaw’s beliefs over Shapiro’s. He did an amazing job of bringing into the light the issue of police brutality in America, which is the start for a potential revolution.
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ReplyDeleteOver the past few years, there have been many cases where police officers have been abusing their power towards people of color. Usually, politicians and reporters are usually the ones to speak out on these ideas. However, in 2016 Colin Kaepernick, an athlete, spoke out to these unjustified acts by kneeling during the national anthem prior to his football game. This would ultimately be known as the “#takeaknee” movement. Kaepernick believed that people of color were being discriminated when it came to the law and justice system. While others believed that Kaepernick disrespects the military, they also believe that Kaepernick started this controversy for publicity. I agree with Kaepernick’s stance, athletes are citizens as well and they should be able to voice their opinions just like anyone else. Also, Kaepernick is correct about his argument. Over time, the level of hatred that Kaepernick received became so bad that Donald Trump began to chime in as well. People who disagree with his statement believe that Kaepernick had sacrificed nothing. However his supporters insist that Kaepernick sacrificed so much to follow this goal of making America a safer society, Ben Shapiro, a writer, lawyer, and analyst claims that Kaepernick had sacrificed nothing. As he states, "The question is, are you believing in the right things? Colin Kaepernick is not, he has never provided a shred of data to support his assertions that black people in the United States are being disproportionately shot by police because in fact they are not (Shapiro)”. Shapiro implies that Kaepernick is protesting something that isn't true, which is completely wrong. Kaepernick has made his case, people are being shot for simply nothing, and it is unfair that there are no consequences for these officers. There have been multiple examples of the unlawful killings of unarmed black men, such as Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, and more. Therefore, Shapiro's claim that this "isn't true" is wrong because there are many different cases where this has happened. Kaepernick is kneeling to raise awareness for the issues that people of color face everyday. There were many other players that supported Kaepernick, one of which is Malcolm Jenkins. Malcolm Jenkins, a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, began to kneel as well to raise awareness for the same issues. People who disagreed with the kneeling, often stated that it was a sign of hatred towards the military and army. However, it is not. Patriotism has become a key term in this controversy, people believe that those who kneel are not appreciative of being in this country. Yet the protests communicate a different idea. Malcolm Jenkins stated himself that it is patriotic to try and improve your country, which is what some people seem to misunderstand (Jenkins 2017). Those who kneel are essentially protesting the wrongdoings of police officers all over the United States. These players are not promoting hatred, but they are promoting peace and solutions to a problem that is disturbing the citizens of America. Although they are athletes, they should still be able to speak their mind on any topic, they are still citizens themselves.
Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for SF 49ers, is an advocate for racial equality. He has led the #Takeaknee protest during the football games’ national anthem . His silent gestures were seen as unpatriotic by many Americans including President Trump. They say that he is disrespecting our flag. However, I say his actions were erudite and patriotic. About 21 months ago, he started protesting about police brutality and injustice the African Americans were facing. This had influenced many other athletes, regardless of their race, to protest with Kaepernick. This increased the awareness of racism and flaw of our nation. In September of 2017, African American football player for the Eagles, Malcolm Jenkins, had written an article about the protest for the Washington Post. This article was written towards the football players and people who were interested in the relationship between sports and politics. “We want to help make our country safe and prosperous. We want a land of justice and equality. True patriotism is loving your country and countrymen enough to want to make it better.” This quote implies how the athletes never tried to insult our country. Kaepernick tried to make our country better because he loves it so much. Today, he is working towards his goal by doing the charity work that could potentially help the minorities. Clearly, his actions were patriotic and he should be supported by many of us.
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ReplyDeleteThe take a knee protests, led by Colin Kaepernick, have received criticism for being unpatriotic. Many people, including President Trump, believe kneeling for the national anthem is disrespectful to America. However, I believe protesting is a fundamental part of our society. It’s a right that the NFL is unjustly denying their players. In May of 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement detailing the league's new anthem policy. The league insists they support protesting, but the policy requires all players and coaches to stand for the national anthem, or face a fine. Players are also permitted to stay in the locker room for the anthem if they do not wish to stand. This exemplifies the NFL's intention to stop these protests, mostly due to backlash from those calling it unpatriotic. Denying players freedom of speech and expression is unpatriotic, protesting is not. Additionally, Yoni Brenner, writer for The New Yorker Magazine, calls out the hypocrisy of the NFL's policy. He does this by using sarcasm, stating; “The N.F.L. strongly supports the right of all of its players not named Colin Kaepernick to express their First Amendment rights by playing football until such time as racial justice is achieved and/or after the Super Bowl.” This quote implies the NFL simply pretends to care about social justice. They are only concerned with the economic success of the sport. In an effort to please viewers, they chose to implement a policy denying players of their constitutional rights. The NFL faced intense backlash from the public following the release of this policy. Goodell has since retracted his statement and backtracked on the policy. The intention behind the policy initially was to persuade viewers to perceive the nfl positively. When the policy had the opposite effect, they retracted it. Thus demonstrating the nfl's intentions are solely economic and not for the benefit of the players.
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ReplyDeleteColin Kaepernick is known as the NFL quarterback who began the #takeaknee protest. The protest consisted of him kneeling during the national anthem. His protest was considered a civil disobedience, and was viewed as disrespectful by many Americans who honor the national anthem. However, he was in protest against social injustice and police brutality, rather than protesting against patriotism. I agree that he protested for issues such as police brutality and social injustice, not patriotism because my from my own experience I am constantly informed of the lives lost to the tragedies of police brutality from the news and media. Kaepernick has been advocating for these issues on the media before showcasing them. Like many famous people and athletes, Kaepernick used his high platform to spread awareness and bring attention to these issues. In 2016 Kaepernick tweeted, “Another murder in the streets because the color of a man’s skin, at the hands of the people who they say will protect us. When will they be held accountable? Or did he fear for his life as he expected this man.” Kaepernick brought this issue to attention as it was affecting people from his community(people of color), and it was a form of social injustice. Police brutality has sparked much controversy because as it happens, justice is not being served to the innocent black lives that are being lost.
Similar to Kaepernick, other athletes who are aware of these issues have protested. For instance, Malcolm Jenkins, a safety and defensive team captain with the philadelphia in the NFL, was one of the several NFL players who began protesting. Jenkins believes that protesting is a way of changing America’s flawed system which is mainly affecting people who are poor or of color. In Jenkins words, from The Washington Post article “What protesting NFL layers like me want to do next”, “The system has unleashed an extraordinary burden on communities of color. Mass incarceration and the war on drugs have destroyed live, families and whole communities for generations. Communities of color have also had to watch video after video of unarmed black men and women being handled without regard for their lives or well-being. As a black man, I see these images and I see myself; I wonder whether this will happen to me or one of my loved ones.” Jenkins has advocated through protest for his community and the issues they face. What Jenkins and Kaepernick have accomplished, is bringing these issues in their communities to the attention of American citizens, and they continue striving to help resolve these issues using their high profiles.
In the wake of the #takeaknee movement, many Americans have become much more aware of the social issues occurring in the United States. Many critics of the movement have stated that sports is no place for political or social protest, as it is meant to bring people together through entertainment. These protests however have forced people to question race relations within the United States, so although this has caused controversy around the U.S., it is necessary we confront these issues and fix them.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest critics to this movement is Ben Shapiro, a political and social analyst with a strong following. He claims that this protest should not be done on the field, as it has defeated the purpose of bringing people together through sports. It appears to be true that this protest has caused a stronger division in the U.S., but people have also started to ask serious questions about racial equality and tensions within our nation. Athletes have much more to offer to society outside of just their physical abilities, so they use their voice to bring awareness to issues they feel strongly about. Athletes using their platform to spark change and honest dialogue is nothing new, most notably with Mohammed Ali. Ali infamously refused to go into the Vietnam war, and was as a result stripped of his achievements. He faced great backlash, but ultimately he brought awareness to the issues surrounding the war. Athletes have a powerful platform, and sometimes it is necessary for them to inform people of issues, which they would otherwise be unaware of. Ali’s actions transcended the sports world, and challenged society to see a new perspective, as put by the Smithsonian, saying,”The legacy of his activism would end up matching, if not surpassing, his incredible achievements in the boxing ring. His visibility led other Americans to ask questions about the war”. These debates are often times triggered by people of influence such as Ali or Kaepernick, and they can have a rather dividing effect, but more importantly it confronts the scars of a society head on.
So I myself wanted to figure out what these protestors wanted to prove. People believe that this form of protest is extremely disrespectful to the flag, so since the protestors aren't trying to disrespect the flag, then what exactly do they want us to get from their messages? Well, an article I read titled “The Choice Between Kneeling and Winning,” by David Leonhardt, discusses what these athletes want to tell the world with these protests and clarifies exactly how many people understand. So what was the athlete’s motive? Well, Leonhardt suggests that “The professional athletes doing political battle with President Trump are heirs to the civil-rights movement. They are protesting government-sanctioned violence against African-Americans” (Leonhardt). Basically what he is trying to say here is that that these athletes are the most concerned with showing that they don't want african americans to be targets of police brutality. This is very obvious as a majority of american football athletes are african americans themselves. However, these protestors might not realize how big of a fight they're trying to win. Leonhardt gives us statistics from a huffington post poll that shows us how many americans understand these protests. Leonhardt elaborated by saying “Almost 70 percent of Americans get that the protests are directed at police violence or Trump and not the flag, according to a YouGov/HuffPost poll. Yet only 36 percent consider the kneeling protest to be “appropriate” (Huffington Post, Leonhardt). As we see, many Americans UNDERSTAND what these protestors are fighting for, however only about a third of those americans actually believe it is a fine way of protest. The other two thirds believe this form of protest is offensive to america and the flag. The rest of america either does not understand or care. So, to sum it up, these athletes are protesting police brutality targeted towards african americans and have a lot of people understanding the athletes motives, but still not agreeing with it.
ReplyDeleteToday in society we are faced with the #Takeaknee issue that has grabbed the attention of the media and the people of America. However there are two sides in the argument, one side claiming Kaepernick’s protesting during the NFL game was a disgrace to the the country, while the other believe his protest was ethical of him to do as he was fighting to prevent Police brutality and Racism in America. I agree with the idea that Kaepernick's protest were a symbol of fighting for Racism and Police brutality, Although many may take offense to these protest, many athletes among Kaepernick are only trying to bring justice to those wrong doings in America.
ReplyDeleteSmithsonian Musuem writer Natalie Escobar compares the legacy of two well known athletes who when fighting for what they believed in, suffered severe consequences. Professional wrestler Muhammed Ali and NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick both protested against violence and racism within races among the country. Muhammed Ali backed out of joining the army during the Vietnam war because he refuased to fight for a nation that expressed hatred and discriminated African americans. Due to this he lost his heavy weight champion title, something he had worked all his life for, and had gotten his wrestling license suspended from several of countries. Although many had believed Muhammed was shaming America, he was only bringing justice to unethical situations in America. In this case it was racial discrimination. Former President Barack Obama spoke during Muhammeds furneral, discussing the spark of light he brought during the Civil Rights movement “He stood with King and Mandela; stood up when it was hard; spoke out when others wouldn’t,” Obama wrote. “His fight outside the ring would cost him his title and his public standing. It would earn him enemies on the left and the right, make him reviled, and nearly send him to jail. But Ali stood his ground. And his victory helped us get used to the America we recognize today.” This implies that Muhammed Ali’s actions only brought justice to the people in America during the troubled time, Although many people had taken offense to his actions, he was fighting to tell the people that Justice needed to be brought to the people of America. New York Times writer Davisd Leonardlt Argues that “Symbols matter in politics. They often matter more than the detailed arguments that opposing sides make. Symbols are a shortcut that help persuadable outsiders figure out where to line up.” David is implying that a small gesture can trigger a reaction and show the audience of what the person is trying to persuade. Kaepernick was fighting for the justice in police brutality cases that caused the lifes of numerous African Americans. It demonstrates how Colin only brought justice in his protest.