 |
| Colin Kaepernick, first NFL player to take a knee, is supported by fellow NFL player |
What would you do if you had status as an athlete, artist, or performer and you were upset about the ongoing racial inequality in your country?
Watch this video of athletes Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles) & Anquan Bolden (former NFL player) explain their reasons for kneeling during the National Anthem.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/15/nfl-national-anthem-protests-week-6-players-teams-list
The issue of racial inequality and anti-black racism has exploded in the United States since the election of President Trump in January 2017. Some say it has to do with the continued police brutality against the African-American community. Others say it has everything to do with Donald Trump siding with white supremacists. What is definite is that racial injustices and anti-black racism continue to plague our neighbours in the south, and NFL players are taking the matter into their own hands....or knees.
As many of you know, Colin Kaepernick (former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers) was the first NFL player to take a knee during the National Anthem as a way of protesting the continued police brutality of African American people. (Currently, he's a free agent who has yet to be signed by any NFL team). Since then, dozens of players have joined him in his cause, and there have been a variety of reactions from fans, not to mention President Donald Trump.
Just recently, the issue has exploded, dividing fans and the NFL. Kaepernick hasn't been signed this season and is now suing the NFL for collusion. The NFL is talking with its players trying to figure out a way to appease them and their fans. The "taking a knee" protest has caused quite the stir.
Read through some of the articles posted below and comment on what these NFL players are doing and why. Do you agree with what they have been doing? Why or why not? Would you risk ridicule to stand (or kneel) for what you believed in? What would you do?
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/colin-kaepernick-nfl-grievance-1.4355950
https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/09/24/donald-trump-nfl-national-anthem-protests-rich-eisen
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/nfl-protests-poll_us_59e11ff6e4b03a7be580adc6
1 comment:
Athletes taking a knee is just another way to get a message across. I don't think players need to get kicked off their teams for expressing how they feel. I also believe that the only reason the players that got kicked off their team is because they weren't big enough players in the league without enough recognition. If a highly respected player like Tom Brady took a knee, I highly doubt that he would get kicked off the patriots. This is not fair to most players because they can't express how they feel in fear that they might get booted off their team and lose their career. The players in the NFL should be comfortable in their work space, and should not be in fear of expressing themselves. Coaches and managers should also understand the reasons for why they did what they did and should try to find a compromise for the players before ruining their image. All that the players were trying to do is try to help efforts in their county in whatever way they could, but got punished for it instead. The players that did this should be highly respected for doing what they did, even though they knew that the outcome of it might try out bad for themselves, that is what a unselfish person does with a good heart. I'm sure that if the players had the opportunity to relive the past, they would choose to do the same thing, as it raised a bunch of awarness towards the moment they were fighting for. People all around the world heard of what the players did, which inspired many others to come out of their box, and do something for the greater good. a
Post a Comment