If you are any type of sports fan, the kneeling protest by former San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick, is one that didn’t go unnoticed. This began in 2016, when the former quarterback chose to kneel during the national anthem at games. Kaepernick’s goal in doing this was to protest police brutality and racial injustice, specifically towards Black Americans. This simple gesture created a wave of responses in all aspects of the game, from fans and viewers to public figures and media outlets and everything in between. This also quickly spread across not just the NFL, but other sports including the NBA and high schools, where some athletes chose to join in solidarity against this issue. Wherever you were, a major national debate was sparked by this action. Some were in favor of what he was standing for and understood what he was trying to say. Others were upset that this was a sign of disrespect towards our country. In 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers and was not signed by another team. This caused some to believe he was “blackballed” for his kneeling protest. But despite losing his NFL career, what he did do was help create a wildfire of conversations related to racism and athlete activism in sports. So, was this worth it?
Media communicated about these events in different ways, depending on where you were watching or reading your information. Traditional news outlets more so portrayed Kaepernick’s acts as disrespectful to the military and America’s flag. They seemed to overlook why he was kneeling in the first place and what his protest was actually about. The differences in media and what was happening created major debates in response. Online social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, allowed Kaepernick and other athletes to speak up directly, giving them the opportunity to speak the facts straight from the source, unlike news outlets secondhand. This gave clarification that the protest was against racial injustice and fighting against police brutality, not anything to do with the flag, military or America. Of course, like anything you post online, Kaepernick and other athletes received a lot of supporters, as well as a lot of hate and critique. During this major time in the digital age, where everything is put online, these events quickly became one of the most widely discussed sports activism moments of our time.
During interviews, Colin Kaepernick was able to help shape the narrative of his own story, explaining the reasons behind why he did what he did, as well as his continued efforts off the field, following the end of his NFL career. Despite these interviews, media still often diluted or deflected attention away from his efforts and what he was really fighting against. Regardless of what you do, the stance you take or in this case, the major protest that sparked the nation, there will always be supporters and critics. Ultimately, you could say Kaepernick lost everything he’d worked for by kneeling. No longer playing in the National Football League, but to others and himself, what he stood for (or didn’t stand for in this case), meant so much more than his football career. Standing up for what you believe in and doing something that people are going to notice, takes more courage than anything else. And the potential risks can be devastating in the end. Only you know what is worth it to you and people who stay quiet, don’t speak up and remain bystanders, never create change.
Colin Kaepernick is just one example in the sports world among many, who chose what he thought was right over everything else. He never wavered in his stance and he gave all or nothing. This protest shows all of us, no matter what side you lean towards in this example, the power as well as complications in the relationship between sports, media and activism. It’s never just black and white.