There is no doubt that an ever present tension between races and different ethnicities exists in the United States today. Due to this constant increase of societal pressure, a decent number of professional athletes, musical artists, and many other celebrities have decided to use their platforms to bring the injustice of racism to light. How these protests have been received by the general public is an issue that must be discussed. Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing protest of racism in America, practiced by taking a knee during the national anthem, should be heard out and further examined by all American citizens rather than being labeled and brushed off as unpatriotic and disrespectful. This only fuels the tension of the issue that is racism. Rather
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By doing this, he was able to maximize the amount of attention his protest received. What those opposed to Kaepernick’s acts seem to forget is that protests are supposed to make noise and catch the attention of the masses. Their general purpose is to challenge something that is wrong but perceived as right. What better way to challenge popular belief and command the attention of an extremely proud and loyal country than kneeling before something so highly regarded by its citizens on one of the biggest national stages? The answer is nothing. Yes, albeit the protest can be seen as extremely disrespectful and presents itself as an almost unthinkable act to the everyday patriotic citizen. But, it is supposed to be this way. In other words, the response Kaepernick’s protest is receiving shows that it is serving its purpose and that it is truly patriotic. It is challenging the very core of every American citizen. If Kaepernick’s protest was not as discomforting as it is, his efforts would be pointless and not impactful. We all must understand that the noise an effective protest makes must match and correlate with the severity of the problem it is bringing to attention. Professor Blackistone for Christian Science Monitor wrote, "Just like in 1968, it wasn't Kaepernick's message that drew so much reaction; it was his method for dissemination...He dared to protest in the athletic arena, where we wrap sporting events in a prophylactic of patriotism used to demand political conformity and suppress discourse," (Henry Gass Staff). As stated earlier, racism has been an ever-growing social issue in America and it needs to be discussed, regardless of the level of discomfort that comes along with it. Because Kaepernick’s protest matches with this level of discomfort, the protest is proving to be effective, widely discussed, and
By doing this, he was able to maximize the amount of attention his protest received. What those opposed to Kaepernick’s acts seem to forget is that protests are supposed to make noise and catch the attention of the masses. Their general purpose is to challenge something that is wrong but perceived as right. What better way to challenge popular belief and command the attention of an extremely proud and loyal country than kneeling before something so highly regarded by its citizens on one of the biggest national stages? The answer is nothing. Yes, albeit the protest can be seen as extremely disrespectful and presents itself as an almost unthinkable act to the everyday patriotic citizen. But, it is supposed to be this way. In other words, the response Kaepernick’s protest is receiving shows that it is serving its purpose and that it is truly patriotic. It is challenging the very core of every American citizen. If Kaepernick’s protest was not as discomforting as it is, his efforts would be pointless and not impactful. We all must understand that the noise an effective protest makes must match and correlate with the severity of the problem it is bringing to attention. Professor Blackistone for Christian Science Monitor wrote, "Just like in 1968, it wasn't Kaepernick's message that drew so much reaction; it was his method for dissemination...He dared to protest in the athletic arena, where we wrap sporting events in a prophylactic of patriotism used to demand political conformity and suppress discourse," (Henry Gass Staff). As stated earlier, racism has been an ever-growing social issue in America and it needs to be discussed, regardless of the level of discomfort that comes along with it. Because Kaepernick’s protest matches with this level of discomfort, the protest is proving to be effective, widely discussed, and