Taking A Knee is a protest against racial injustice and discrimination of color. The movement began in August of 2016, when NFL star quarterback remained seated during the national anthem at a preseason game. When later questioned, he said that he would not stand for a country that allowed this horrifying discrimination against black and biracial people to continue. “I’m not going to stand under a flag or show pride in a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” (Colin Kaepernick) Eventually, he began kneeling instead of sitting, so that he could express his humble respect for the flag, but still continue his protestations. Soon after, his teammate Eric Reid joined him in …show more content…
However, a very peeved Donald Trump immediately attacked the players, calling them “Son-of-a b****es.” He made the news viral, and insisted that they should be sacked because they were deliberately disrespecting the flag and the people who died for it. (Emma Lake, “Football Protest. Take a knee—why are NFL players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem and what is the row with Donald Trump all about?”) In response to his comments and the recent news of the protest, several more NFL teams knelt during the anthem over the weekend. Well known celebrities spoke out for the movement as well, including Stevie Wonder, who during a performance at a music festival in New York Central Park told the people: “Tonight, I am taking a knee for America. But not just one knee, I’m taking both knees, both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world, and our
The issue of being unpatriotic during the National Anthem was raised by people when NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel during the national anthem before a preseason game. Later, Kaepernick addressed the media by saying this act was a stance against “police brutality on people of color”. By raising the
Media plays an essential role in shaping the opinions of society. Writers tend to be selective in the information they provide, manipulating the truth in order to support their own perspective. By placing any given topic under certain light, writers have the power to control the audience’s response and lead them to form an opinion based on their experience with the information. On the other hand, readers have a tendency to readily and automatically accept this information without much thought, despite the possibility that the information they are absorbing is false or biased. Thus, the cycle of perpetuation of misinformation continues; the media feeds the masses false information, and they eat it up.This problem is evident in the topic of affirmative
If you are a big football fan then you might have noticed at the beginning of the season,that a player for the San Francisco 49ers, did not stand for the national anthem. The player's name is Colin Kaepernick. To some it might not have been a big deal, but to others it was a major controversy. They couldn't understand why Kaepernick did not stand for the anthem. From an online article by Steve Wyche, Kaepernick explains why he didn't stand for the anthem. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." () Kaepernick is referring to all the police shooting of African Americans that have been happening. Since Kaepernick started sitting out for the anthem others in the NFL and in other sports have also started to sit out for the anthem. The issue starts with the black
In an attempt to persuade the audience to sympathize with Kaepernick or his chosen protest, the author provides information on Kaepernick’s injuries and personal struggles. Wyche explains that Kaepernick is true to his conviction by Kaepernick having taken the time to understand the situation before he acted. In an interview after one of Kaepernick’s games, Kaepernick explains that the reason he chose to sit down during the national anthem was bigger than football itself and that it would be selfish if he did not pay any attention to what is going on outside of professional football. “I have to stand up for people that are oppressed… If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right,” (Wyche 7) Kaepernick, in defense, told reporters in an interview. Wyche included this interview in his article to help persuade the audience on whether or not Kaepernick was doing this for publicity or out of true conviction for the cause. “…Using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S,” (Wyche 4) Wyche explains in his article, stating that Kaepernick’s movement is truly to raise awareness. Wyche also attempts to persuade the audience by explaining that Kaepernick is biracial and could, therefor, understand both sides if the issue of
Persuasion Throughout history there have been many struggles for freedom and equality. There was the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. There was the fight against government censorship in Argentina, spoken against by Luisa Valenzuela. And there was the struggle for women's equality in politics, aided by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Because of this whole change in how white people see the professional black athletes in comparison to the black communities, it indicates that the way race and gender are represented in sports has no connection to our society. Is not an accurate comparison at all. While some policemen are being racist to the black communities, those same policemen pay money to see their African American idol do what they love to do. This is why I believe African American professional athletes should use their platform to spread their perspective on the racial issues this country is going through. Many people do not like the way Colin Kaepernick is protesting against the racial injustice, but by just kneeling during the anthem he is bringing the racial injustice topic to be seen at a national level.
In the first amendment it states that there should be no law against the freedoms of speech. Protesting is one form of speech, also is the burning of the flag. Johnson was expressing himself as he was burning the flag. However, there is a limit though. If what you are saying, or doing, disturbs the peace, or puts harm in someone’s way, then it is not protected under your first amendment. . During court Mr. Kunstler stated, “Whether the actor knows or means that what he’s doing will seriously offend one or more persons, likely to observe or destroy or discover his particular act.” The Government, nor the person, cannot always know if the burning of an American flag would cause a riot every single time; furthermore, if someone burns an American Flag, and does not cause a riot, it would not be violating the first amendment the constitution sates “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Governme...
compassion they might need in their reason for protesting? NFL players kneeling during our National Anthem is showing how Americans have the ability to exercise their right to have a voice and that should give no reason to allow such a disrespect towards it like what has been seen throughout our country
It is disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem because it disrespects the military and veterans, and could be done in a more professional way. I feel that kneeling shows how unappreciative those NFL players are. They get to go play the most popular sport in America for millions of dollars. There should be some consequences from taking this action. This protest could be done in a more professional way.
It’s not only fans who find this protest wrong, but even some players do, including Drew Brees. Brees says he agrees with the context of the protest, but not the actions of it, stating, "[I]t's an oxymoron that you're sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out."
Henry Gass states, “The prospect of athletes speaking up has always been fraught” (2). Carl Stoffers states, “Many accused [Kaepernick] of thumbing his nose at America by not joining in a patriotic ritual that’s long been a fixture at sporting events” (8). Include the fact that the NFL which Kaepernick plays “[is] a league that promotes itself as a war game and brands itself with the flag” (Jenkins). Doubters are quick to label him unpatriotic because the place and time he protested might be wrong. The NFL show respect to military officials, Roger Goodell says, “The NFL believes very strongly in patriotism” (Jenkins). The military and American football has the same symbolic values. Carl Stoffers writes Starn says “[American is] the most sports-obsessed society in the history of the world, and we’re also a nation that’s obsessed with patriotism and pride in identity” (9). The national Anthem and the flag are symbols that American people believe make someone patriotic. Professor Blackistone writes, “[Kaepernick] dare to protest in the athletic arena, where [Americans] wrap sporting events in a prophylactic of patriotism used to demand political conformity and suppress discourse” (gtd. in
The Star Spangled Banner is a sacred song in the United States of America. It not only is a symbol of the fight that soldiers have had to go through, but also a representation of freedom. When the National Anthem plays out of respect for our country, and those who fought for it, everyone is supposed to stand and remove their hats. Currently in the National Football League (NFL) there is a handful of players, mainly African Americans, that have been taking a knee or raising a fist during the play of our National Anthem. This I believe, is a great sign of disrespect for our country and our veterans. This I believe, is very immature and unnecessary. This I believe, should be put to a stop by the NFL and the players should be ashamed of himself for doing this. I am aware that the players have the right to do this, but there are many reasons why this should not be taking place.
players around the NFL. The number of athletes that protested would increase from a couple on each team to nearly all of them. With the only exception being, the Dallas Cowboys. Who as a team took a knee prior to the anthem, but would all stand during it. This was due to the owner Jerry Jones why has said that no player will sit or take a knee on his team or he would cut them, but more on that later. Then there was one other person that would not join his team in protest. That person was Pittsburgh Steelers player Alejandro Villanueva. Who is a former United States Army Ranger.
Jonathan Rauch’s essay “In Defense of Prejudice” essay immediately stood out to me for a few reasons. As a black Muslim woman living in America, I’ve dealt with my fair share of prejudice and for that I’ve always had a negative view towards it. Also, I found the title to be striking and unconventional which automatically drew me towards it. In “In Defense of Prejudice”, Rauch makes it clear that while he is not in favor of prejudice, he is in favor of allowing people to express their prejudice as openly and freely as they choose to. He takes a somewhat controversial stance with his belief that banning hate speech actually goes against freedom of speech and that eradicating prejudice should not be the goal of Americans, but to use prejudice
Football is a game of adversity and emotion. People who have not played a sport or follow one closely don’t understand the emotion behind game. They think that football is just a game, but for those who are involved with the team don’t think so. All those horrendous hours of countless preparation are for something players and coaches love. About a few years ago, a football player at the collegiate level was told that he wouldn’t be able to play another down of football again due to his banged up h...