Colin Kaepernick thrust himself into the national spotlight when he decided to kneel during the singing of the National Anthem that preceded a San Francisco 49ers preseason game. Kaepernick explained during an interview that he was kneeling to “stand with the people that are being oppressed.” I was confused an even angered by the fact that man who was admired by so many people, including myself, refused to take part in a tradition that has been upheld by the citizens of our country for hundreds of years. Although I admired that he took a stance against social injustice, I did not believe that we should fight injustice with disrespect for our nation. The truth is that my outside-in perspective did not allow me to have a complete understanding of what Colin was trying to achieve. My life was changed when my close friends flipped my view on this cause and gave me a broadened frame of reference towards protest and social activism. After a grinding football practice on a warm fall day on J.B. Murphy Field my coach announced that we were having a team meeting in his classroom. Once the entire team was seated, three of our teammates, Joe, Mark, and Jaedon came up to the front of the classroom. They announced that they wanted to take a knee during the National Anthem of our first league game, but they could not do so without the …show more content…
Our team received a lot of boos and heckling preceding our games, but this did not stop our teammates from spreading their message. About halfway through our season we had optional “Town Hall” formatted discussion during lunchtime at our school. Usually it is difficult to convince 17 year olds to give up their precious lunch break, but Joe, Mark, and Jaedon’s actions definitely struck a cord with our peers. Weigan Theatre was packed with students who wanted to learn more about the cause our teammates were
Students should read this book in a high school English classroom because it demonstrates how relationships can be difficult, but teamwork can help to solve many issues. Hutch realized that it would not help his team to continue fighting with Darryl and by being mad at his father. He was able to take those difficult relationships and form them into positive outcomes and achieve his goal. After winning the championship game, “Hutch made his way through his teammates, and up through the stands and did something he had not done in a very long time: Hutch hugged his father. And his father hugged him back” (Lupica 243). This proves to students that if they continue to work hard and focus on a goal, they can achieve it by being a team player on and off the field.
As Tim Wise mentioned, our media outlets have had a record of ignoring anti-white racism, such as with the example of William Campbell supporting the students of Little Rock. To label Kaepernick’s actions as unpatriotic or disrespectful is to ignore the message behind his actions, which is to stand against police brutality and social injustice. I don’t think his goal was to gain mass media attention, but in doing do, Kaepernick has created a discussion about racial inequality. I think the only problem we have with the discussion now as Tim Wise mentions is, “How do we confront the truth, without being overwhelmed about
On August 27, 2016, Steven Wyche, a media reporter for the National Football League, wrote a story about San Francisco Forty-Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Kaepernick’s choice in acting on a movement to oppose racial discrimination of minorities. Wyche’s story was published through the NFL for the public eye to view. Kaepernick has been refusing stand for the national anthem. Not only does Wyche cover Kaepernick’s controversial actions, but Wyche takes a stand for Kaepernick himself.
Wesley Morris feels that Colin Kaepernick is protesting a different type of patriotism. Wesley Morris states " When a black American protests the demoalizing practices of American government, there is always a white person eager to unfurl the welcome mat to Africa. This is where racism and patriotism tend to point: toward the exits. For some, we learn, being American is conditional oh behaving like a grateful guest: You belong here because we tolerate your presence. We don't yet appear to have settled the matter of citizenship - not even for our president, another black man backhandedly accused of harboring terrorist sympathies." In paragraph 5 this quote demonstrates that Wesley Morris is irritated because African Americans tend to cause a
In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the speech “I have a Dream,” in attempt to end all racism throughout the United States. Baptist minister and Civil Rights Activist, Martin played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African American Citizens throughout the south and other areas of the nation. Not only was he a part of that, but he also was a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and he fought for African Americans voting rights in 1965. King craved for a nation that accepted each other for their personality, rather than their skin color. He wanted all men to be equal, as the Bible says to do. He took the first step in achieving his goals and voiced his opinion to everyone who had the ears to listen.
Issues of racial injustices have been a problem in the United States throughout generations. Athletes have always had their opinions on racial issues and have never seemed to hesitate to speak their mind. Recently Colin Kaepernick has been sitting out of the National Anthem to protest for “black lives matter.” The representation of race in the Article, Tommie Smith, iconic 1968 Olympics activist, defends Colin Kaepernick’s protest, by Nancy Armour, is a modern way to protest the racial injustices our country has been facing. Colin Kaepernick is simply standing up for what he believes in. It’s easy to say that he’s even following in the shoes of Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Smith, and Carlos in their stances on racial issues. Critics of Colin
I have been a part of multiple pep rallies and am a role model to younger students. One moment, in particular, stands out to me on how much difference I can make in younger children. My new cheer coach had asked if anyone would be interested in volunteering their time to help the middle school squad learning the cheers. Being Varsity Cheer Co-Captain, I was more than happy to oblige. It was a no-brainer to help out because cheer is one of my favorite things. As I laced up my cheer shoes, I glanced up, I noticed the fresh-faced cheerleaders who timidly walked into the gym. They reminded me of me at that age, afraid that they didn't have what it took to be a cheerleader. However, as practices went on, they became more confident in their abilities. Volunteering my time was well worth it, I got to see the cheerleaders grow into more confident cheerleaders and people.
It was Thurgood Marshall who helped end legal segregation in the United States. He won Supreme Court victories creating transportation for children, which proved that separate but equal, is not equal. Marshall was able to prove to the Supreme Court that separate but equal was not equal by using his legal expertise. Marshall was able to have a more direct influence on society and the way the government was treating blacks at the time.
...niversity men’s basketball team, says it best: “Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication. Communication must be taught and practiced to bring everyone together as one (Krzyzewski, 2007, pg. 1).”
Society does not want to be bored, we need change in sports entertainment to cater to all. Not all parents and teachers are available to educate our children about the concepts of sharing and teamwork, our children are growing up learning key concepts through media. I will discuss these concepts and how they intertwine. Discrepancy in Media Coverage The article How Campus Media Cover Sports: The Gender-Equity Issue.
The first group will be divided into two subgroups: the general student body and student athletes. Student athletes that are out of season generally play indoors to stay competitive and active during their off seasons. We would like to target them, because they are naturally drawn to competition and may provide a fan base due to the player’s standing with the fans. We would like to aim at the general student body as providing opportunities to relax, de-stress, and enjoy entertainment on campus. 2.
Civil disobedience, to me, is any action that civilly disobeys or refuses to conform to government or societal rules/laws. In America, the national anthem is very traditional where people almost always stand, take off their hats, and place their hands on their heart. It’s an unwritten rule in our society that one conforms to this tradition. Colin Kaepernick disobeyed this rule. He kneeled, bringing attention to him for not following suit. Kaepernick’s actions reminded me directly of a quote from Henry David Thoreau’s civil disobedience. “Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters”. (Thoreau, 54) This quote illustrates Kaepernick’s protest as an act of civil disobedience. Despite opinions surrounding his actions and what they meant, people must concede that his actions were indeed civil. He kneeled peacefully and quietly. After researching more into that question and exploring Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau more elaborately, I now conclude that I do believe that Kaepernick’s actions can be classified as civil
People often fail to see the life-changing role sports can play for at-risk youth in low-income urban neighborhoods and the need for more sports-based youth programs to reduce crime and increase high school graduation rates in our cities. An article written about a year ago about “Royals, local government team up to open a youth urban baseball academy at 18th and vine,” The Kansas City Mayor calls it a dream and others called it a fairytale. Projects like this don’t come very often, or at least not nearly as often as we’d all like. They are calling it the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy. The possibilities are incredible. On the surface, they will be teaching baseball to kids from 6 to 18 years old, but really, they want to be doing much more than that. The only way communities can progress and build infrastructures like this one in areas that are termed as gang infested areas like this one is by spreading the message of love in community related events such as
Participation in sports has proven to increase self-discipline and self-esteem, and can teach athletes to learn from their mistakes and move on (Issitt). Athletes playing team sports also develop the ability to work well with others and use teamwork in their everyday lives. Teammates form relationships that are strengthened over a common passion and goal. These relationships can last long after high school is over (Chen). These social skills translate into better communication used with an athlete’s family, peers, and in the community. Likewise, “A 2006 study in Maryland found that student athletes are 15 percent more likely than non athletes to be involved in their communities and to take the time for civic engagements, including participating in voting and volunteer activities” (Issitt). The same study also concluded that athletes are far more likely to be comfortable with public speaking than non-athletes. This study provides concrete evidence that high school sports can help to gain mental and social skills that will be used later in life
...nd hazing practices, be crushed and done away with. These rituals have adverse effects on the beautiful game and the moral standing of the players. The age-old American football “traditions” that involve hazing have escalated to new heights and serve no purpose in team building. As Cohen hypothesizes in his seven theses, the act of bullying and hazing develops a monster character. This character acts as the individual that destabilizes the whole equilibrium by asserting elitist views like those alluded to by Price (391). The bully and hazer are not trying to perpetuate teamwork, or a sense of belonging, but are instead, reaping a sense of emotional egotism. Ultimately, without proactive leadership procedures, bullying and hazing can spiral out of control unchecked and there are likely no mitigation procedures that can be used to limit the effects of such activities.