The Kaepernick Effect
Originally published 3/6/19 + Shayna Hodge | Culture
Within the league, 70% of its players are black. Let that sink in. When Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49er quarterback, first sat, then kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 to protest the injustice of minorities in America, his action, without fail, would rock the nation. He would go on to state in the simplest of terms, that he could not “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Reasonable; Yet the effect of his actions (which would again spark the dialogue around the U.S’ torrid love affair with systemic oppression) would showcase the power of the black athlete (albeit, their entanglements with the economic and social foundations of this country) in the 21st century - forcing the Community of the oppressed to figure out how, when and why it should move forward .
While he isn’t the first athlete to make a stand, Kaepernick is the first to elevate the national consciousness of systemic oppression towards ‘Melanated American folk of predominately African descent’, after a lull in activism that once characterized sports in the 60’s and 70’s. As the kneeling protest spread throughout the NFL and other sports, Kaepernick’s contract with the San Francisco 49ers ended and as of right now, he is unable to secure a contract with any of the NFL’s 32 teams. Yet there is something to be said about Kaepernick’s effect as we enter into a new era of ‘unification’ in the 21st century relative to Community (even humanity) that our predecessors (in the field of sports) did so brilliantly.
Despite Kaepernick’s misfortune with obtaining work, he has succeeded in creating solidarity amongst athletes, fans, and supporters that desire to address and mitigate the racial inequities that dominate American culture. And like those that came before him, rather it be unconscious or conscious, Kaepernick is simultaneously spotlighting the cultural capital (albeit, economic prowess) of black athletes; while setting aflame the resilience ingrained within Community by taking on a powerful institution (NFL) - steeped in the institutionalized racial structures of this country.
But while many black American athletes have protested America’s romance with systemic oppression - Kaepernick puts many within Community, in what could be described as a precarious situation, given that taking a knee to the flag is indicative of crossing the rubicon relative to questioning a revered artifact of America’s civic religion. Some would ask (long over due) - are we truly ready to cross it, albeit in a unified stance and all that it signifies? It is our humanity at stake and we are rightfully entitled to the benefits of this country, our home, given we built the thing. Yet are we ready to claim ownership and take the next leap? - a question reignited again by now taking a knee - its predecessor being the black salute.
Nationwide and on social media, fans have pledged to no longer watch NFL games, and have even gone to the extent of no longer wearing team jerseys. Recently, hashtags like #ImWithKAP, #boycottnfl, and #nflblackout flooded social media streams as Kaepernick supporters opted to not watch the 2019 Super Bowl - the lowest ratings in 10 years. During the NFL’s 2018 regular season, despite a decline in protest compared to the 2017 regular season, players like Kenny Stills, Duane Brown, and Marshawn Lynch (some of the more prominent names in NFL) continued to protest the anthem. So while the protests have not lost their weight, we have to consider: Are they truly effective amongst the black Community in today’s climate?
While the protests have not resulted in any change of policies with the NFL or elsewhere, the most positive effect of the protests is that it has incited the reemergence of prowess of black athletic voices and the power of the first amendment. Sport arenas that exemplify and to some extent, exploit, the physical prowess of a group of ‘folk’ now, thanks to Kaepernick (in the 21st century) see that same group taking advantage of a stage that has always been given to them for them to entertain people.
As one of the most prolific public figures in American culture, black athletes have long been subjected to an ‘entertain only’ rule. With justifiable fear as to how involving themselves in politics could affect their career, black American athletes have usually stayed mum on many issues, but today, it is clear that some are willing to sacrifice fame and fortune for the common good - and to adhere to the notion of being the favorite buzz-word of 21st century for Community, unapologetic. History may have taught them, that they may have nothing to lose at all if they continue to help perpetuate a problem that affects those who look like them in America by not being unapologetic.
Nevertheless, we must remember that the purpose of every protest is to get people to listen and act; and it seems that our country’s true problem is that those who aren’t affected by it’s injustices do not listen to those who are. Stills told ESPN last year: “I’m prepared if I end up on the street and nobody signs me. I’m fine with it.” Speaking on the debate of why black American athletes don’t protest in another way so as not to cause turmoil within the league, one athlete said: “It’s their right to protest wherever they want. No one likes it because no one cares about our problems. If a white man started this, changes would have already been made.”
I’ll reference the tried and true “racial-power” narratives of this country from author and journalist Howard Bryant’s The Heritage to expound on this, “...the predominantly white media does not want to relinquish control of this narrative. If they actually listened - if it actually listened to the player, we'd be having a very different conversation about these protests.” Yet how much do we as a Community actually care to go all in?
But something is happening again. Recently, a 10-year-old boy unapologetically took a knee during the pledge of allegiance. Just last month a tearful teacher in Florida was even forced to remove a Kaepernick poster for Black History Month. Jabari Talbot’s arrest for refusing to stand for the pledge of allegiance in his 6th grade class was dismissed thanks to Roc Legal Nation. The effect of the power of the black American athlete, in this case, Kaepernick’s actions are indeed palpable and indeed trickle down.
The ability for the black American athlete to activate our voice, which inextricably calls into questions the norms and frameworks of this country (capitalism, race, class, etc.), also has the ability to create confusion in how we as a Community choose to move forward. These protests are undoubtedly influential and shift the consciousness of the nation, albeit world, yet what will be the outcome of it all? And in today’s fragmented society, with so many voices seeking entertainment, via the rapid advancement of technology and social media, is unification around our injustices from within possible? Does Kaepernick see it that way? Did he always see it that way? He did at least get a settlement.
Kaepernick’s knee-bending gesture in a country that prizes entertainment from its athletes - has awoken a sleeping Community into momentous activism. This does has the ability to activate a unifying consciousness amongst black Americans on multiple levels that (as a group) are inextricably tied to the economic and social foundations of this country, but can it succeed? And how will we as a Community make sure that it does? Are we even ready to go there? Regardless, Kaepernick’s action undoubtedly serves as a reminder that conversations about political and social inequities must continue in all shapes, sizes and professions; because our narrative in this country is far from heard. For if that were the case, he could take a knee; would still be playing; Jay Z most likely wouldn’t be debuting a #7 jersey on SNL; and you wouldn’t even be reading this.
