Colin Kaernick Taking A Stand Analysis

Superior Essays
Jordan Mixon
Professor Snyder
EN 101
November 17, 2016
Taking a Stand by Sitting Down Colin Kaepernick, the backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, shook up the sports world in August by kneeling during the National Anthem of a pre-season football game. He was booed by his fans and has recently been named the least popular player in the National Football League. After the game, when he was asked about his actions, he said that he refuses to stand and salute the flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color. This sparked a huge debate across the NFL and even spilled over into other sports. Racism is existent in America and people are forced to deal with it every day and though many disagree, Colin Kaepernick’s actions
…show more content…
He thought about doing something earlier but believed that he needed to be more informed on the issue so he consulted respected friends and family members before deciding to sit down and take a stand. Many people disagree with his actions and say that sitting down during the national anthem is disrespectful, especially to those who fight for our freedom on a daily basis. In reality, racism, especially police brutality, is not only a big problem, but a growing problem in America. Colin Kaepernick didn’t kneel during the National Anthem to show disrespect to anyone, he simply used his celebrity platform to get people talking about this major issue in the best way he saw fit.
In 2011, just over a quarter of people believed that racism was a big problem in America. Five years later, about forty-nine percent of people believe racism is a major concern (Terry). This shows that not only is racism a problem, but that it has been growing in recent years. Many black people in America aren’t given the same opportunities as their white counterparts. They are oppressed into the ghettos of our large cities, given less access to jobs and quality housing, while the kids are sent to under-resourced schools. This type of horrible discrimination is exactly what Colin Kaepernick has taken a stand
…show more content…
Every day there are instances of racism in this country and not nearly enough people see it as an issue, but something needs to be done. Colin Kaepernick used his platform in the National Football league to get a message across even though he knew he would receive backlash and criticism. We need more people like him fighting for our freedoms, not only across the world, but in our country as well. America has reared its ugly head and shown that we live in a country full of racism and discrimination. The National Anthem protests are simply a call to action in an attempt to turn America into the land of the free for each and every citizen, regardless of the color of their

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Across the country, Americans are in heavy debate about the idea of kneeling for the national anthem. Some feel that kneeling is a form of protest, however, others feel that kneeling is a blatant disregard for authority and an overall disrespect for their country. HEADER One of the most beautiful aspects of the United States is the fact that every citizen has undeniable freedom and rights. One of the most controversial issues that are currently taking place in the United States is the issue regarding NFL and the right to kneel during the national anthem.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Media has obsessed over his story. Kaepernick stated to NFL media, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kapernick used his first amendment right to bring light to the issue of inequality, and he used media to spread that message. Many people believe that not standing up for the playing of the National Anthem is wrong and disrespectful for a person who considers themselves a true American.…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Colin Kaepernick Argument

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Many supported his actions while other showed nothing but hate against him. Colin Kaepernick’s actions were appropriate because he refused to stand for racial injustice, embarked a peaceful protest, and had support from the others. Colin Kaepernick’s actions were appropriate because he refused to stand for racial injustice.…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Last season, Colin Kaepernick caused a lot of controversy around the world and especially in the National Football League. The controversy was not caused by his play or something off the field. It was caused by his decision to kneel during the National Anthem. Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem because he felt that African Americans were oppressed by this country, while people without color were being treated less harshly. He did not want to show pride to a country that did not treat every person equally.…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Those who think Kaepernick kneeled to disrespect the flag, genuinely don’t comprehend the purpose. Over the years, many African Americans have been murdered, and didn’t find justice. Statistics show that nationwide, police shot and killed 492 people in the first six months of this year (Jenkins, Sullivan, Tate, Thebault, “Number of Fatal Shootings”). This article also states that twenty-seven unarmed people were fatally shot. On February 12, 2012, teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Sports was not always a fair environment when it comes to race. In this era, around the 1945’s, blacks and whites were not able to play with each other in any sport or allowed to socialize since everything was segregated. Famously, Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player to play in the Major League Baseball. He played as a shortstop in his African American league and was an outstanding hitter and base stealer. Each game, he would steal many bases without getting caught.…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Quarterback Colin Kaepernick remaining seated for the National Anthem has struck the media with controversy. Many argue that Kaepernick not standing for the National Anthem was a sign of disrespect toward the country he lives in, The United States of America, but, others argue America is a free country and he has the choice of standing or not. In Kaepernick’s defense, the flag represents freedom and justice but, with the Black lives matter movement currently happening, he doesn’t feel the need to stand. By not standing for the national anthem, he was representing the many of the black lives that are being treated unfairly by the police officers. Colin Kaepernick was himself questioned and mistreated by police officers while studying at the…

    • 226 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The playing of the National Anthem is over a century long tradition, that takes place prior to sporting events. In the United States, it is commonly expected of members in the audience to stand and remove their hats. Colin Kaepernick, second string quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, decided to break the tradition of standing during the singing of the national anthem during their first three preseason games, going unnoticed by media until the third. I will begin by explaining how Kaepernick is going against a national tradition that intends to support the United States. Then, I will show how Kaepernick’s protest is not changing the Black Lives Matter movement, and how it is causing more conflicts than it is resolving.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In a year filled with one shocking and dominating media story after the other; from Donald Trump's’ election and the Russia Scandal to #MeToo, one narrative has become a surprising fixture in American popular culture and media: Colin Kaepernick's protest of police brutality during the National Anthem. Although it has been almost 18 months since the former college standout quarterback and GQ magazines 2017 Citizen of the Year, took his last snap in the National Football League, his iconic protest has taken on a life of its own. The kneeling has evolved from symbolic action to a prominent aspect of African Americans’ modern struggle for equality by starting a national dialogue that is still ongoing. This prominence has also made Kaepernick a…

    • 1087 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kaernick Case Study

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Questions for Round Table 1. I want to begin by getting the temperature or temperance of the panel. How would you decide the current racial and economic climate in the United States? 2. How do you feel about Kaepernick’s protest?…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    On September 1st, 2016, Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel as the National Anthem was being played during the 49’ers regular season game. In that moment, he forgot what that very song stood for. He decided to ignore the thousands of men that have died in honor of that song. Every vote that has been cast in order to keep our freedom alive was dwindled into nothingness when this man refused to stand. Each man or woman that has furthered our freedom in a courageous fight for their rights had suddenly become nothing but a piece of America’s past.…

    • 1594 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Article #1, it stated that Colin Kaepernick has protested by refusing to stand for the national anthem. In the same article, it stated that month’s later, star basketball players Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade took the stage together to express their protesting at the sports award show in July. In Article #2, it mentioned that Tommie Smith and John Carlos conveyed their protest by holding black-gloved fists throughout the national anthem. These actions by multiple professional athletes proves that they believe they must stand against race, class, and violence no matter the consequence. In addition, numerous amount of professional athletes have protested to keep the conversation alive so we can stop the race, class, and violence in our country.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the past couple of months we have seen several protest happening all across the United States. One of the major protest that has occurred was Colin Kaepernick’s choice to take a knee during the National Anthem. Kaepernick is a football player for the San Francisco 49ers and first took a knee during “The Star Spangled Banner” on August 26, 2016. His initial reasoning behind his actions was intended to be a form of protest against the recent outbreak of police brutality and racial injustices in the United States. However, as time has come and gone his initial intention has been changed and modified to fit certain individuals and group views.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In August 2016 Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player for the San Francisco 49’ers, was on the receiving end of verbal attacks when he refused to stand during the playing of the National Anthem at the beginning of a professional football game. Mr. Kaepernick attempted to use his public persona to call attention to a personal issue he had with a policy of the U.S.A. Although he did draw national attention, the spotlight on his grievance was weakened when the main story became public outcry against his perceived disrespect for the U.S.A. and its customs. The reasons for his protest were lost in the melee that followed when other citizens of the U.S.A. saw his actions as irreverent and disrespectful and responded with great outrage. While displays of patriotism can invoke a sense of pride in a citizen, displays of perceived disrespect, especially when done by a citizen of the U.S.A., can create an intense desire to reject the…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the past couple years, America has been going through the motions. Multiple controversial racial altercations have been occurring time after time. Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, and Philando Castile. Each one of these individuals were murdered by police officers. Whether it was an accident or not, these actions deserved consequences and most of the officers who were responsible for these deaths were not met with any serious consequences.…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays