{"id":3871,"date":"2017-09-25T06:35:13","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T06:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/imjussayin.com\/blog\/?p=3871"},"modified":"2017-09-25T07:29:48","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T07:29:48","slug":"kaepernick-brings-sport-to-kneel-with-trumps-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imjussayin.com\/blog\/kaepernick-brings-sport-to-kneel-with-trumps-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaepernick Brings Sport To Its Knees With Trump’s Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kaepernick<\/a><\/p>\n

I admire Colin Kaepernick<\/a> which you probably know if you listen to my radio show.\u00a0 He is the Muhammad Ali<\/a> of the 21st<\/sup> century.\u00a0 A sportsperson who stands up, or rather kneels for what he believes.\u00a0 Kaepernick [Kap] knelt instead of standing during the American National Anthem 13 months ago and continued doing so.\u00a0 Kap was protesting at the brutality of the American police toward black people and people of colour.\u00a0That is his right under the First Amendment.\u00a0<\/a>Except for President Trump and white people don\u2019t think Kaepernick has a right to protest. \u00a0You see in Trump\u2019s America, it\u2019s okay for white supremacists to protest, even kill a woman<\/a>.\u00a0 But not for a black man to protest. \u00a0So Kap remains unsigned but Trump has raised Kap’s game.<\/p>\n

White NFL Overlords<\/h2>\n

The quarterback is the most prestigious position in American football and was the preserve of white players.\u00a0 It was Kap\u2019s position with the 49er\u2019s until he opted out in March 2016.\u00a0 He is one of the best in the game<\/a> so his lack of a signing is not due to inability.\u00a0 It\u2019s good old fashion racism in sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fans of the game are predominately white, male, conservative and old.\u00a0 So, when Kap\u2019s says ‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour’, it’s unpopular. \u00a0And executives of the game consider him \u2018An embarrassment to football<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n

Around 70% of NFL<\/a> players are black, yet none of the 32 franchises are owned by a black person.\u00a0 Just two are owned by non-whites.<\/p>\n

\"Kaepernick<\/a><\/p>\n

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‘Get that son of a bitch off the field’<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So when Trump says \u2018Get that son of a bitch off the field\u2019 (video below) he is not only talking directly to fans of the game but the NFL owners.\u00a0 They, like many fans, are also Trump supporters.\u00a0 Stan Kroenke of Arsenal is one of several NFL owners who gave financial contributions to Trump.<\/p>\n

Back in March Trump was bragging that \u2018NFL owners don\u2019t want to pick [Colin Kaepernick] up because they don\u2019t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump\u2019. \u00a0\u00a0The NFL is sidelining Kap but not just because of Trump’s tweet threats.<\/p>\n

The NFL is making an example of Kap.\u00a0 By not signing him, they are sending other players a message to \u2018toe the line<\/em>\u2019. \u00a0But that means they are exercising a control that would deny a player their constitutional rights.\u00a0 And that\u2019s wrong as well as dangerous for every citizen. \u00a0I don\u2019t understand why it is necessary to play the national anthem before a game.\u00a0 But an NFL stadium should not be a testing ground for patriotism or constitutional rights<\/p>\n

White Privilege<\/h2>\n

Trump said \u2018If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, [they] should not be allowed to disrespect [the] American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem.\u2019 Or be \u2018Fired.\u2019<\/p>\n

Interesting words from one privileged to be President. \u00a0Trump has been allowed to disrespect women, American military heroes taken prisoner, non-white people including veterans, and the very office he represents.\u00a0 It is not presidential to describe black athletes as \u2018Sons of bitches\u2019. \u00a0Yet the audience in Alabama applauded Trump like their lives depended on it.<\/p>\n

Kaepernick Brings Us To Kneel<\/h2>\n

But as much as Trump’s words brought joy in Huntsville, Alabama, it has created a backlash. And instead of Trump scaring teams into line with his speech, more players have knelt during the anthem. \u00a0Teams like\u00a0Cleveland Browns players have joined the\u00a0women of the WNBA<\/a> in Indiana where the Fever and Phoenix Mercury teams already kneel for the anthem. Several Miami Dolphins wore black T-shirts supporting Kaepernick before facing the New York Jets whose owner is a Trump supporter. And the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to stay in the tunnel. \u00a0Even the team managers are now openly supporting the rights of their players to protest.<\/p>\n

Now it has spread beyond American football. \u00a0In baseball, Oakland\u2019s Bruce Maxwell kneeled, in Detroit, the national anthem singer ended on one knee and raised fist and Superstar Stevie Wonder also took to his knees during his performance at\u00a0New York music festival. \u00a0Trump’s racist attack has spread the cause and made Colin Kaepernick victorious.<\/p>\n

imjussayin<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Connect with me on <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Editorial Policy:\u00a0Use quotations from this article subject to a full credit of the source and a direct link to the article on imjussayin.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trump On The War Path With Black Athletes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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President Trump is right, those that #TakeAKnee<\/a> during the National Anthem are losers. pic.twitter.com\/C7hgEhjCkT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Columbia Bugle (@ColumbiaBugle) September 23, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n