Analysis Of ' What Colin Kaepernick 's National Anthem Protest Essay

It was upon these concepts of liberty, justice for all, and equality that became the foundation of America and its government. Many citizens claim that these ideals are still believed in and upheld today, yet the black NFL football players who kneeled during the national anthem at a game believe otherwise. According to Bretherton, the black players such as Kaepernick and Reid kneeled to “raise the question of why citizens of color, despite the promise of equality, still live (and die) as lesser Americans” (Bretheron 2). The players took a knee in order to raise awareness and bring attention to the discrimination colored citizens of America are facing today, such as police brutality. Although the players kneeled to invite the people of America to enter with them in a new, deeper kind of a relationship, where all are given mutual respect, the public misunderstood this act of courage as an act of disrespect and incivility towards America. These people, including President Trump, claim that the players are “disrespecting ‘our country, our flag [and] our national anthem” (Bretherton 1). The dilemma, thus, is that our

In August of 2016, Kaepernick began his protest during a NFL preseason game where he initially sat during the singing of the national anthem. At the time, his rebellious efforts became unnoticed, but he soon enough made headlines when someone took a photo of him sitting during the anthem. Thus a social issue was born from the public’s reaction from the photo.The negativity of the public’s reaction stemmed from the norm that it is customary that people raise their right hand over their heart while facing the flag when the Star-Spangled-Banner is playing, so if one does not follow this norm it is identified showing disrespect. Inevitably, the prediction of the people’s reaction were to be expected as they were outraged when Kaepernick broke the norm. Although, it is legal for individuals not to follow these sacrosanct protocols, citizens of the United States find this norm obligatory.Would you stand by and constantly watch the same social issues to keep reoccurring in your neighborhood? Not only that but it keeps happening to different people by the same organization? When numerous acts of police brutality occurred, Colin Kaepernick decided to protest. He could no longer stand by and do nothing; he decided to take a knee. For professional National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, his response was “no”. One of the last waves that came toward the end of the summer is the kneeling while the national anthem played during sporting events. When Kaepernick decided to

Ever since September of last year, the NFL National Anthem Protest has been one of the most controversial topics across social-media, alongside with other protests against police brutality. Many have criticized for such an action for being disrespectful to the National Anthem and Flag. Those, who have supported it, claim to protest against the nationwide police brutalities against the Black people. Looking back to the history of the United States, such sports protests are not a unique incident. During 1968 Olympic game, which are hold in Mexico City, African American Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists to speak for black civil rights. Yet, back then both the U.S. government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not show support for such an action, though today the IOC claimed that the black American athletes has made names for themselves for doing such protests.

Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49er quarterback but also a daring black man that has decided to speak for the voices that can’t, has made his voice heard by kneeling during America’s beloved ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. Jaweed Kaleem writes in the article “In the ‘land of the free,’ are you free to sit out the national anthem?” about the controversial topic in which he showcases the two sides of how it deems to be disrespectful to sit out the national anthem vs how Kaepernick has the freedom of expression to sit out what he believes does not benefit him.

A present day crucible in today’s world that has been occurring more and more is kneeling to the national anthem and how people that kneel don’t like our country, are only focused on helping one group/race of people, and people are being kicked off teams because of them making protests.The Anthem protests started last year in August when Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench at an NFL game during the National Anthem. After the game reporters asked him why he sat and he said, “I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that opposes black people and people of color” (Wyche ). Since this first incident it’s spread across all of the NFL, high school sports, NHL, women's professional soccer, and even in the MLB. This protest has even been caught in the eyes of the president and there is no sign of this protest slowing down.

“Civil Disobedience,” by Henry David Thoreau is similar to the point the NFL star Colin Kaepernick is trying to get across. Henry says at the end of his writing The Civil Disobedience “Let Every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it,” he is saying if people will start speaking up they will start to take notice what people is actually saying and wanting. NFL star Colin Kaepernick doing national anthem he will take a knee and not stand because of all the Black African Americans that's getting killed. Not just Black African American, but all the innocent that's getting served no justice. Both had spoke out against the governor and that's how Thoreau and Kaepernick are

The American flag represents this so-called notion of equality and patriotism, even though it was used alongside with the pledge of allegiance to capitalize on the people’s love of the country. The current controversy is that protest at NFL games is not only disrespectful to the country, but is also a disrespect to our armed forces who fought for our constitutional rights, this paper is simply an observation piece that will discuss the various arguments surrounding the NFL protest and will explore people’s current feelings toward the silent protest.

The kneeling for the national anthem is a widely controversial topic. It has been widely talked about in sports and politics. The protests sparked up when a former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, sat down during the national anthem and then began to take a kneel. The meaning of taking a kneel is to protest against racial discrimination, especially with recent events in the hands of law enforcement. It is also known to go against racial and social injustice. However, not being educated on the meaning behind the protest brings up the controversy among the kneeling of the national anthem. Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American in baseball, wrote in his autobiography (I Never Had It Made) explained he simply could not stand and sing the anthem. He also stated he could not salute the flag because he recognizes himself as a black man in a white world. Although it has been around for years, it is becoming a more talked about protest, because of how many people are doing it on live television. It is also being done by credible people who many fans look up to. In my rhetorical analysis I want to evaluate three different bias examples of the national anthem protest. I decided to take a look into the controversy among news articles like CNN, Dailymail, and ProCon.

What do you think about professional athletes protesting? It shouldn’t matter there people too, just like you and me. Although did you ever think that once their professionals things are different? Take in consideration how coaches or their team looks after a player protest. It looks horrific but as a free country the people are titled to their own opinion. Overall, professional athletes should be able to protest against current events in the world even with their athletic status.

Being an American citizen today in the United States of America, one has rights. The constitution, was established to give every state the equal opportunity and the equal chance. No one person, will have more power than the other. In the Constitution, there are twenty-seven Amendments. Freedom is what has built up the nation for many years. The First Amendment states: “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 Government for a redress of grievances. (Baltzell, n.d.).” The most important thing taken out of the First Amendment, is the freedom. The freedom to choose, speak, worship or do anything else, one feels is necessary, as long as no law is broken. Colin Kaepernick, a football player, first took a knee, in 2016 during the National Anthem, in his own personal beliefs, and he was not wrong, because he practiced his God given rights.

Our national anthem is a symbol of unity and liberty within our country. However, would a person who does not stand for the anthem be considered a person whom does not respect America? Recently in the preseason of the commonly viewed game of football, the quarterback from the 49ers- Colin Kaepernick- sat down during the national anthem. According to Sandriter, Kaepernick’s protest represents “support for people of color who are being oppressed in the United States, and to take a stand against police brutality” (Sandriter 1). When Kaepernick first started protesting, not many viewers noticed until more NFL players begun to join the bandwagon of protest. As interviews of Kaepernick begin to take place, Sandriter mentions how this quarterback

After watching day after day of the many police shootings killing innocent Blacks on the news it was only a matter of time before someone rose to the action. That person was Colin Kaepernick and his way of showing a difference was to kneel instead of stand during the National Anthem before their game against the Los Angeles Rams in week one.

Someone may be refusing to say the pledge for other reasons than obvious (Byrnes). Someone may not believe in God, or be very anti-religious. Since the pledge does have “Under God” in it, someone may be fully against supporting it. Someone could also be refusing to recite the pledge just to exercise their rights as an American. There are many cases currently happening that show examples of this. Colin Kaepernick, an NFL player, refuses to stand and recite the pledge. Many people are following him, while many are also opposing him. (Freedom from Religion).

According to Colin Kaepernick, "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder” (qtd. in Florio). In other words, police are not being held accountable for the many killings of innocent people. The police are being cruel; police are malicious people. Therefore, Kaepernick is going to protest until change come. This situation is vested to Kaepernick’s belief and values. People should be able to protest the pledge to show respect, to allow the freedom of religion and speech, and to not impose American ideals on others.

Many believe that Kaepernick sat during the National Anthem because he was standing up for all of the african americans who have been injured, killed, or disrespected my the police in any way. “ The racial profiling has to stop,” says Wade, a Chicago native whose cousin Nykea Aldridge was killed by a stray bullet there in August (41). As a result of this incident and many others Kaepernick felt like he had to sit and protest for all of the fallen and sorrows. It is understandable why Kaepernick is sitting for these people, he’s tired of the violence and profiling. Though it is a valid point of Kaepernick to sit and protest, to me it is still disrespectful towards the flag and national anthem. He can protest in many ways not just by sitting,