As one can imagine, reaction was swift.
The usual major forces of social media Facebook and twitter nosedived into excessive commentary, much of it highly critical of Kaepernick. Comments ranged from “ungrateful,” “unpatriotic,” “mulatto” (referring to the fact that Kaepernick is biracial), “incompetent” and “worthless” to disgraceful expletives. Not surprisingly, much of the criticism directed toward Kaepernick came from Whites, many who were not above engaging in racial slurs and other forms of racial invective.
It is also important to note that there were some Black folk who jumped on the “Kaepernick is out of line” bandwagon. Jerry Rice, Tiki Barber, Rodney Harrison (who questioned Kaepernick’s Blackness), and Stephen “We Black people must start looking in the mirror” A. Smith took the pro football player to task for various reasons for what they saw as misguided behavior and actions.
Back to Harrison and others who share his misguided view for a moment.
It always seems to perplex and, in fact, disturb me when certain fellow Black folk decide to wallow and sit in judgment of another person’s Black bonafides. This was the same “he is not a authentic brother” venom that was directed toward Grey’s Anatomy actor Jessie Williams following his impassioned speech at this year’s the BET Awards.
They had the respect of segments of the White power structure of the day and utilized their influence to make change for the large community.
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What these critics of men and women like Kaepernick and Williams fail to realize or tend to forget is the fact that many leaders of the Black community from Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, Walter White, (hell, our current president for that matter) and many others were/are biracial Black people. While they (to some extent) may have been afforded certain advantages that other Black people of their respective eras were denied, they still were largely viewed and treated as colored people (the term used to refer to Black people of that time period) by the larger society and they saw themselves as such. They had the respect of segments of the White power structure of the day and utilized their influence to make change for the large community. They realized that White racists, systematic and systemic racism and racial oppression did not discriminate when it came to Black folk, including themselves.
The majority of Whites who threw shade on Kaepernick did so from old fashioned racist rhetoric.
These were the White men (and some women) who saw him as uppity, ungrateful, unpatriotic and some even referred to him as “ugly” and arrogant. Constant references have been made about Kaepernick’s multi-millionaire status and is supposed “ungratefulness” to all the fans (read, White people, mostly White men) and the nation that have made his financial situation possible. This is a common theme in the many acerbic comments that have permeated social media. The message is that Kaepernick should shut up, keep his mouth shut and play ball.
The not so subtle (in fact blatantly racist) and profoundly arrogant and ignorant argument being made here is that Black Americans are not legitimate citizens of America and that our very existence is supposed to be periodically reviewed and verified by others. Please! Guess what? The 14th amendment settled this questioned once and for all in 1868. Singed sealed and delivered!
To be sure Kaepernick has garnered the support of many people including fellow athletes, a number of military veterans, and politicians and legendary entertainers such as Georgia congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte and others. The late esteemed congresswomen Barbara Jordan observed that the flag is a symbol, an important symbol that has the right to be debated.
It is evident that these people see dissent and free speech as reserved for Whites only.
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It is very troubling and telling that many of these same individuals who would deny Kaepernick the right to utilize his first amendment rights are the very people who have no apprehension engaging and exercising their constitutional rights no matter how vile, unprofessional, racist or disrespectful. Moreover, many of them are the same people who enthusiastically cheer when Donald Trump engages in vicious diatribes in his criticisms of America. It is evident that these people see dissent and free speech as reserved for Whites only. If you are not White you are supposed to shut up, keep quiet and know your place. In essence, free speech for me, but not for thee. The obscene level of arrogance and hypocrisy is staggering.
The fact is that many of these so-called patriotic Americans who have been adamant in their efforts to vilify Colin Kaepernick for taking the position he has that they have failed miserably in their efforts to even listen to or consider his position. This is the classic example of White supremacy and White privilege manifesting itself.
Source: 30dB.com – National Anthem and Colin Kaepernick
“Vilified is the right word. Social had some initial support for Kaepernick but it has been downhill since his stance, or non-stance began. Overall there was some growing support for sitting during the National Anthem in social but that took a sharp decline over the recent football weekend.” – Howard K. 30dB
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
I think it absolutely bullshit that people are buying into this oppression thingy going on. You think it oppressive here, then go anywhere else in the world and you’ll get a taste of it you’ll sorely regret. The flag and the anthem doesn’t reflect perfection. Never has from day one. What it does reflect is the ability to work toward it, starting with a premise that it’s possible. But folks today are incredibly stupid and egotistical and think this is anywhere near the right way to do this. Go get involved in the inner city schools then, kaepernick. Most of… Read more »
The noble Colin was wearing socks that depicted police officers as pigs- http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000693574/article/colin-kaepernick-releases-statement-regarding-socks
As a celebrity the privilege comes with scrutiny. Colin is often at events where police officers provide protection. Sad to see how he feels about the people he relies upon.
So if we criticize his socks does that make us racist?
@SEEEEDubya … Yes, in the eyes of many it would be seen as racist depending on who was wearing the socks.
@ L.Simmons @ Tom Brechlin @ Mark When we talk about opportunity and whether black people have the same opportunities as whites, I think it’s important to consider a story Brother Frank tolf us in high school. He was driving down a rural road and another car was approaching the intersection at the same time perpendicular to his. It was driven by an older black woman. He waited to let her go through, but she just stayed there. He decided to motion her to cross with his hand and she just shook her head. He rolled down his window and… Read more »
There are a couple of things. Too many things are conflated, which causes the point to be missed. People who criticize Kaepernick and BLM in general are merely exercising their free speech rights. Freedom of speech does not confer the right to agreement. The second thing that gets conflated is that BLM sees that 300 black people were killed by police so they state that 300 black people (90% of whom are men, but that wouldn’t fit the narrative so it gets discarded.) were killed by racist police because they were black. They ignore the fact that in many of… Read more »
Join the discussion More often than to when it comes to Black people and the police, the police are the ones who are likely to engage in excessive force. Remember Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer.?! I can give you numerous other examples. Law enforcement has a horrendous and murderous history of being hostile toward Black people.
@ G.Johnson ” Remember Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer.?!” The Laquan McDonald thing was probably excessive, but it does illustrate something that people never consider in these cases. When police use force, they use it not just to protect themselves, but also the rest of us. As I understand it, McDonald was walking down the street threatening people with a knife and had stabbed the tire of a police car. If that’s the case and they’re not supposed to shoot after he disobeyed the order to drop the knife, then when? Where they supposed… Read more »
“The majority of Whites who threw shade on Kaepernick did so from old fashioned racist rhetoric” Talk about a classic doublebind- basically by what you’ve written no white person can criticize Kaepernick’s actions without being racist. I don’t think Kaepernick should consider himself “oppressed” because, in our country the privilege afforded by a high 10 figure net worth is astounding. He moves in more elite circles than 99.5% of the American people. He and his family will never have to work again if they so choose and can live in comfort and luxury. I certainly believe he has the right… Read more »
Join the discu Many of Kaepernick’s critics live in material comfort as well. are you saying that simply because he is wealthy that he forfeits any right to be critical of his nation? As far as attempting to understand his critics position, the fact is that his critics have made no effort to listen or understand his (Kaepernick’s) position. Rather, as the author has stated they have decided that since he is wealthy that he should be grateful to those (read White fans and people) who made his situation possible (despite his natural talent), shut up and pretend that racism… Read more »
Both Mark and Tom need to listen to this commentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAAgOSVAtjg
The interesting part of that clip was that the police need to police the police. Most activists seem to take the position that civilian oversight (ie the community polices the police) id isr best way to solve the problem. Organizations do tend to protect themselves, Abu Ghraib, Penn State, the Catholic Church, etc. I don’t think Abu Ghraib would have ever come to light if a soldier didn’t blow the whistle and even thenn there was speculation that the military was trying to get back at him by “crediting” him with the disclosure. Maybe they need to start treating police… Read more »
Mark,
What do you mean by “you guys”? You are demonstrating the exact sort of racist, arrogant, condescending attitude the author is talking about.
You just proved my point Timothy. But at least you prefaced it by asking what I meant. You guys was not you black guys, but you leftist guys, the liberal lines of communication as always tossing out someone being racist or sexist or whatever, the minute anyone disagrees with you. You do it to humiliate, to demean, to shut down any form of exchange, because of your belief in your moral superiority over lesser beings. The tactics of Saul Alinsky have fully penetrated the lefts arguments. The DNC fully embraced them as how they plan to make their pitch.
Join the discussion Oh please. Since the mid 1960s, beginning with the southern strategy, with Nixon onward, conservatives have engaged in sinister racial histrionics and racial politics by scapegoating non-whites, in particular Black Americans for the problems facing the nation
Give your examples ethanol as to how conservatives did this from the 60s and your implication that it hasn’t stopped. You said since, which infers ongoing. Without examples of your thoughts it’s just opinion.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that this site is being sponsored by a far left financier. The content goes far beyond just being good men. Individual contributors is one thing. But the removal of pots, the type of articles, the type of articles are not just good men, but have a decidedly slanted point of view. If that’s true, then say so, because you’re then contruibuted to the lies. I think you’re better than this.
Do you guys always see this as racism and white supremacy? First of all his job is to play a game he gets alot of money to do it. His job is not to make his bullshit statement while doing that job. Off the field he can do what he wants. Secondly, his new found angst was influenced by his girlfriend. He hadn’t said a word until her. Thirdly. I’ll also be brutally honest here. Blacks are now getting a pass on just about every cockamamie thing they bring up on race. It used to be tossing the race card.… Read more »
Can you honestly say with a straight face that Black people have the same opportunities as White people? I am not sure what planet you are living on unless it is the planet of deep denial
Yes. I stand by it. We all have opportunity. Whether any of us make something of them is another issue altogether. No one, anywhere is saying only whites can be electrical engineers. Whatever anyone’s dreams are can be made real if they move forward to get them. No one is entitled to happiness, only the pursuit thereof. Now that also doesn’t mean we stick black kids in shifty schools because they’re black either. We have to ensure as best we can that everyone has the same basic opportunity to get what they want. But that however is dependent on alot… Read more »
Perhaps you can explain to me why you feel blacks lack the same opportunities? We’ve had almost 8 years where a black president could have made a difference, should have made a difference but didn’t. Perhaps there should be a #butwhataboutus” movement in the black community asking the president to divert his energy away from Mexican immigration and focus on the black communities that were and continue are to be in bad shape? Do you realize the costs involved in providing services for illegals? Those costs don’t include the cost of housing countless refugees Obama has brought in and plans… Read more »
Brutally honest article!