The United States of America is supposed to
be the land of opportunity for all citizens. In this “post-racial” society, race should no
longer even be a category to be considered. If you
believe this society is a reality, you can stop reading right now—save yourself
some time and frustration. Freedom of
expression falls under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution’s
Freedom of Speech. This right is
supposed to be a cornerstone of this country.
An individual’s freedom to speak freely is what separates our government from dictatorships where expressing views would often lead to death. In case you are wondering: this right
includes an ability to express an unpopular view. It should not be restricted because some people
do not approve. So long as the
expression is not illegal, the conduct is afforded unbridled constitutional
protection.
“Controversy”
People are literally up-in-arms because
Colin Kaepernick decided to exercise his fundamental right of expression. At its
most fundamental level, people are upset because a man chose not to stand when
many other people chose to do so. Colin
did not burn, spit on, or otherwise defile the Flag (this is illegal). He did not decide to go streaking during the
playing of the National Anthem (this too is illegal).
The emotions regarding his action have been very high. I have actually seen videos of people burning
Colin’s jersey to demonstrate their disapproval of his action. I have also seen members of the Armed Forces
supporting his action, which is very telling.
If they—the protectors of this country—can see his point (notice: i did not say agree with his point), why is it that
media pundits and other people refuse to do so?
For those who choose to focus on his action as opposed to the cause he
is speaking against—injustice—you are missing the larger point.
I’m Not Standing
Colin is not the first black man to refuse
to stand during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. I am pretty certain he will not be the last
one either. Before Colin, there were a
number of famous black men who took stands against injustice. To be clear: Colin is doing just that. He is not un-American; he is challenging a
system that has over promised and under delivered for minorities in this country
for many, many years. His stance is
bringing attention to the many injustices perpetrated against minorities. His position makes me think about one of my
favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “ An injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.” Because
he is a millionaire should he remain perched on top of his pile of money (a la
Scrooge McDuck) as if people of color are not suffering grave injustices in
this country? Colin has decided to use
his celebrity status to make a statement.
Also, he has pledged the first 1 million dollars of his NFL salary to
community organizations. In an era where
obsession with personal branding and popularity on twitter are paramount, it
is admirable to see someone willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Now, if we could only get more famous black
folks to become more socially conscious.
I’ll digress for now.
What Have you Learned?
The Star Spangled Banner is this nation’s
national anthem. With that said—does it
represent the citizens of this land? If
you are unsure, let me provide a definitive answer to the question: NO. The song was written by Francis Scott Key in
1814 after the U.S. was defeated by the British in the Battle of 1812. Some context: In 1814, black people were still
slaves; they were disenfranchised; and they were considered 3/5 of a human
being. This was not a good time for
black folks. The first verse of the song
is what most of us learned in elementary school. The first verse is not offensive, but there
is a third verse. This third verse, as
written by Key, mocks the slaves who ran for their lives. See an exerpt from
the third verse below:
No
refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From
the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And
the Star Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er
the land of the free and the home of the brave
As a citizen, reading this verse should
evoke some emotion. That feeling might be anger, or surprise, or sadness. Either way, you should have a different
appreciation for what Colin is standing against—injustice. The focus really should not be on his chosen
method of expression.
Back to Colin who I am proud to say is a
fellow member of my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Speaking in business terms—he has nothing to
gain by making his decision. I seriously
doubt he will receive new endorsements; he will not be invited to host the
ESPY’s; he may very well find himself unemployed. If this happens—and it is not out of the
realm of possibility—he would not be the first casualty of war in the battle against
injustice. 20 years ago, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, an NBA player, decided that he
would not stand during the singing of the National Anthem. He was suspended, then later black-balled
from the NBA for his views. I find it
quite shocking and frustrating that we are still fighting for equality in
2016. This is a fight that has seen
great strides, but also painstaking losses.
Although Colin has not likely made any financial gains, he has reclaimed
control of his destiny. I hope his
actions have sparked other people—of all races—to find ways to combat
injustice.
Peace
