Black Lives Matter: Racism In The United States

Athletes all over the U.S have made their decision and have taken a stance on what they believe is right. Colin Kaepernick, a football player who used to play for the San Francisco Forty-Niners back in 2016, has made headlines for kneeling during the national anthem. For him, kneeling during the anthem was a gesture of protesting police brutality and social injustice. Although many people claimed that Kaepernick was being anti-american, he was just practicing his first amendment rights. The New York Times has quoted Kaepernick during a post-game conference where he said,- “Once again, I’m not

A big controversial topic going around in the news over the past few weeks has been Colin Kaepernick and his stand to end the hardship for people of color and police brutality in the United States. This silent stand started early this preseason when a number of different events involving people of color and police officers around the United States not getting along. However, this has started to become more publicized as more and more people in the National Football League have been joining in with Colin Kaepernick and taking a knee or sitting during the national anthem. This stand has become way more than a simple silent stand as many people around the nation are starting to voice their opinions on this subject. Even though everyone argues their thoughts on this subject.

The freedom of speech states “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." (Freedom of Speech, (n.d.). Kaepernick was not interfering with anyone’s life, inflicting pain or committing a crime towards someone else, this is important to keep in mind since he faces large consequences such as being kicked off the San Francisco 49ers. For the football player being hated amongst and suffering consequences, it means that his freedom of speech is being restricted. But the citizens of the U.S are also using their freedom of speech to showcase their opinions on the issue even though others may not agree. Which is very

On August 14 and 20 of 2016 Colin Kaepernick made headlines by sitting on the bench during the 49ers first two regular season games. He wasn`t in uniform so he wasn`t expected to play in those games anyways. There was no grand unveiling of Kaepernick’s sitting protest. Instead, on August 26 of 2016 Jennifer Lee

Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has created much controversy in the nation over his latest protest. During a preseason football game Kaepernick was photographed sitting during the national anthem (McKirdy). When asked about the action later, Kaepernick explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” (Wyche). The nation exploded. Many showed their support for the quarterback, expressing pride in him for “standing up” for the things he believes in. Others displayed their anger with him for disrespecting the flag and all the things the flag represents. After seeing what a backlash his action received, Kaepernick decided to kneel instead of sitting, claiming that his new way of protesting would show more respect for those in the line of duty (Anthem uproar). Although he has the right to protest, sitting during the national anthem is the wrong way to draw attention to a specific cause.

As many can tell, this subject has aggravated and divided the country. In the article about Kaepernicks’ protests, in the heading it states that because of his protests, the 49ers fans are burning their jerseys. On Facebook, a person videoed themselves burning a Kaepernick jersey captioned it states "He says he's oppressed making $126 million. Well, Colin, here's my salute to you.” [3]. This debate has brought up the subject of racism that many protest for, the country has been divided into people who agree with Kaepernick, people who disagree with him and people that don't care. Protesting is okay, but protesting isn't always peaceful and could

In the sports article, “49ers fans burn jerseys over player’s refusal to stand during anthem”, Washington Post states that a gesture from the 49ers quarterback prompted protests by San Francisco 49ers fans. Colin Kaepernick does not want to stand up for the flag ever again because of a country that subdues black people and people of color. People are supporting the refusal to stand during the anthem and others are disowning this cause. Secondly, the sports article states that his protests with America is making people think twice for what they truly believe in. Moreover, the article claims how a former teammate of Kaepernick is being supportive of his choices and the right to press his statement to the country. The author concludes by us people

NFL teams will overlook or justify just about anything for a player with good tape. If Kaepernick were a solid, reliable quarterback, there’d be multiple NFL teams looking to sign him and spin his protests as part of his track record of positive activism.It’d be an easy sell. Kaepernick has done nothing but good since he started his protests. The fact that people are offended by him is their problem — he’s broken no law in his efforts to bring awareness to serious issues. Since the protests started, Kaepernick might have said

One day in a NFL preseason game Colin Kaepernick decided to take a kneel during the National Anthem and it created a national controversy. Many respected people agree with what he did and I agree too he made a statement for what he believed in. Many athletes before him made these kinds of statements for a cause that they believed in.

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,” according to NFL.com. Many people have stated their opinions toward the protest and NFL ratings actually started to decline when this protest took off. I believe that what Kaepernick did was very petty and quite childish. Coming from a military family and growing up as a military child I take great pride in removing all headgear and standing for the flag whenever and wherever I hear the national anthem playing. It is a great privilege for someone to be an american and not standing for the national anthem is quite offensive towards all americans. There should be no reason to sit during the playing of the national anthem and being that Kaepernick is a big star in the NFL he could have handled the situation much differently. Kaepernick and many athletes do not seem to realize that they have many children looking up to them, wanting to be like them, which in turn makes these kids think that it is okay to sit

While discussing the success of the demonstrations in the Speak for Yourself radio show, Fox Sports sports commentator, Colin Cowherd explained “I believe this entire thing, has been successful. He protests, there is pushback. He is booed, he is cheered. Some players followed, lost their endorsements… people are discussing it. This embodies what we are about.” In the United States we are entitled to our own beliefs and our ability to have a voice. Through the actions of the players voicing their beliefs, the entire scenario has gained national attention. Colin Kaepernick’s among other athletes concern over this situation demonstrates their affection for this country in the hopes for improvement of this country. Through his protests the entire country has engaged in debate his actions and the topic he stands for.

Colin Kaepernick exercised his first amendment rights by peacefully kneeling in protest for the mistreatment of colored people in this country. His main goal was to make people realize what is happening in this country. With the recent innocent killings of unarmed black men such as, Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and many others. The American flag is supposed to represent liberty, freedom, and justice for all but, these things are not happening for all right now in this country. The selfless act that Kaep is taking is way bigger then him, he is speaking for people who don’t have a voice or the platform to start a conversation.

Colin Kaepernick has been in the headlines for the past few weeks due to his protests in response to conflict between the African American community and the police force. Many disagree and prosecute Colin for his actions while others encourage and stand behind him and I’m happy to say I’m in the latter.

It has led to division in our nation and has not helped improve the situation of those individuals whom they are protesting for. Clearly, there are more effective things these athletes could have done to make a difference. In order to understand why and how Kaepernick's actions have been very counterproductive we must consider what he stated and what was the response to it. “"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 stated this in response to the controversial shootings of African American individuals by police men. There has been an extraordinary debate about the social and racial issues in America but Colin Kaepernick-NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers-started a very controversial debate with a simple act sitting or kneeling during the National

The Black Lives Matter movement has swept across America. It 's branched out with chapters in over 31 cities and held rallies and boycotts across the United States(Sidner). The Black Lives Matter movement started with the outrage of the death of a young man. It continues to take over headlines and raise awareness on police brutality and inequality. However, the movement has met resistance from the All Lives Matter group. This group thinks that Black Lives Matter is a movement to express hatred towards other races. However, statistics, the views of fellow citizens, and the overall purpose of the Black Lives Matter movement, can prove that the movement wasn 't meant to express hate on other races and that we need to support the movement instead of going against it.