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In early September, Nike unveiled their brand new “Just Do It” ad campaign, helping commemorate the 30th anniversary of the behemoth’s iconic catchphrase. The campaign featured famous athletes such as LeBron James, Serena Williams and Odell Beckham, Jr. on black and white posters with inspirational messages accompanying them. The controversial face of the campaign was former NFL QB Colin Kaepernick.
As is the case every time Kaepernick’s name is mentioned, harsh debate ensues with no one willing to cede their position. It’s been over two years now since the former 49ers QB first took a knee during the National Anthem, and we still haven’t quit discussing it.
Initially, the outrage over the protest focused in on the methods of doing so. Many claiming that kneeling during the anthem disregarded and disrespected the flag and the troops.
That aspect of the controversy never faded, but people also began criticizing what he was protesting: police brutality. It’s easy to find statistics that disprove the idea that officers at large are specifically targeting black civilians, and none of those people knew any cops who were racist.
According to a study covered by the New York Times:
“[Black men and women] are more likely to be touched, handcuffed, pushed to the ground or pepper-sprayed by a police officer, even after accounting for how, where and when they encounter the police.
But when it comes to the most lethal form of force — police shootings — the study finds no racial bias.”
While these things may be true, that doesn’t mean this protest was in vain.
It can be hard for many to sympathize with Kaepernick, especially in Sanpete county. He was a famous, relatively wealthy, black athlete, protesting an issue many hadn’t even considered to exist, in a way that appeared disrespectful to something many held dear to their hearts.
In a county that tends to be overwhelmingly white, republican and impoverished, the battle to relate to the situation at hand is immediately an uphill one.
Upon first hearing the news of Kaepernick’s protest back in September of 2016, my initial reaction was that of outrage. I accused him of disrespecting the troops and police, I doubted his cause, and I just couldn’t comprehend why he would be doing something like this. He was making millions to play a sport, so how could he possibly feel oppressed in any way?
I found my answer to that question as well as several others in the following years. Is Kaepernick an unpatriotic spoiled brat? Is most every cop a terrible racist who is trained to target black people? The real answers lie somewhere in the middle of these extremes
As many can attest to, the police officers in Sanpete County—and throughout the nation—are amazing people, who sacrifice time, money and sometimes their lives, to try and benefit society. These men and women deserve our praise and recognition in the highest regard.
That being said, too many racist cops still go free with relative ease, largely due to our society and criminal justice system’s often unconscious pro-police bias.
That being said, too many racist cops still go free with relative ease, largely due to our society and criminal justice system’s often unconscious pro-police bias. For example, we have the case of Philando Castille.
In July of 2016, Castille was shot in his car after being pulled over by a white officer. The video footage revealed that Castille was following the officer’s orders, but was shot and killed anyway.
In the trials that followed, the officer was acquitted despite the strikingly clear evidence against him. There’s an unwritten law that says if a cop shows genuine fear for his life, the shooting is justified.
Unjustifiable shootings, harassment, and arrests such as these are exactly the thing Kaepernick has been protesting this whole time.
Despite what the media at large would like you to believe, both of these things can be true. We can celebrate the brave officers and condemn the hateful. Our tribalistic tendencies have lead many of us, myself included, to believe that this is a partisan issue. It doesn’t have to be.
It’s the harder road to take, certainly, but I believe in an America that can do hard things.
America is not perfect. It never has been and certainly won’t be for a long time. However, what makes America so awesome isn’t necessarily baseball, bald eagles and fireworks (though those things are definitely awesome). To me, America is awesome because of those who have fought to help mend these sometimes glaring imperfections.
Rosa Parks kick-started one of the most important movements in the history of the world by refusing to give up a seat in the front of the bus. She stood up—or sat down, rather—for a cause she knew to be right. I wouldn’t call it farfetched to compare this situation to our modern Kaepernick story.
Many still attack Kaepernick’s kneeling, claiming he has been disrespectful towards the flag. I’d argue that more important than the flag is what it stands for: Liberty, equality and the idea that our nation should be a place for everyone to feel safe.
If the action of one football player who chose to do what he felt was right, despite the onslaught of criticism he knew he’d proceedingly receive, can help save the life of just one unarmed and innocent black civilian, I’d call that incredibly patriotic.
Billings Learned Hand once said, “The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.”
You don’t have to agree with everything Kaepernick says, or his methods of protest. I simply ask you to step back and look at the situation through another set of eyes.
If you’ve been on Kaepernick’s side since day one, then I ask you to look and understand why some may be upset with his methods of protest and look at it from their perspective.
Regardless of where you fall on the matter, we all have something to learn. The best way to break down this wall that we often put up against those whom we disagree with is to reach out to them. Find people who have been racially targeted by police officers; see where they’re coming from.
It’s easy to get caught up in this world of rage-inducing social media headlines and nasty Facebook comments. If we can step back and try and see the other side, America can grow and change into an even better country. It’s all about perspective.
“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” white text reads over a close up of Kaepernick’s face on the aforementioned Nike ad. This quote is attributed to Kaepernick’s immediate cause, but this can also apply to our society at large as we strive towards a goal of understanding, empathy, and love. We can do whatever it takes.
