Kneeling in the NFL has been a big issue until now. While many still don’t seem to understand the point these athletes are making some big execs are starting to get it.
So I’m a sports fan, not a fanatic, but I’m a fan. I watch. I like sports documentaries.
There is something exceptional about the world’s greatest athletes who devote themselves to their craft and commit themselves to excellence.
There’s a sense of determination, drive, and stick-to-it-iveness that only some athletes have.
And I do believe many black and minority athletes have suffered in silence.
They are prideful and they honor the land for which they play, but they need not honor the disrespect and the dishonor of racism.
And using their platform in silence protests is a powerful way to send a strong message to organizations and multi-million dollar franchises and to the world.
It’s like being stuck between a rock and hard place. You really can’t win. You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. So if they were out rioting and looting that would not be a good look, but their silent protest also has consequences and gives them a bad rap. So what do they do?
What is the powerful way to protest or stand up for injustice? How do we make “good trouble?”
And while John Lewis called it good trouble I really don’t think it’s making trouble at all. It’s calling it out like it is. If something is unjust then let’s say so. Let’s speak on that.
This is what I admired about Muhammad Ali. His ability to be able to speak up, unapologetically black when black men were still being lynched. This takes some real guts and grit and we must call a hero a hero.
Unless you’ve got a racist bent this is really not up for debate. I know there are some people who live in caves and say climate change is as unreal as racism. According to these naysayers neither one of these things is an issue. It’s not up for debate.
These are problems we face. Racism is a systemic problem that now whether people like it or not is very much coming to the fore.
And I love the evolution of the NFL and other franchises and organizations who are finally honoring black athletes who are standing up for injustice.
There is no question here about right or wrong. It’s about morals and no morals.
You can’t pick sides. Either you’re on the right side of history or the wrong side. What do you think?
Is taking a knee really dishonoring a flag and a constitution that has been rigged to ensure you don’t succeed or your people are kept down for more than 400 years? Is it truly criminal to take a knee to call out poor policing and bad cops who shoot to kill – and raid on black men during a traffic stop? What’s fair?
What’s really right here? Is it ok for us to continue to sit back and pretend that this is not really happening or that it’s ok.
I don’t think so. And I love that the NFL is supporting this just moving calling for equality and fairness and have the backs of the black players who hold a heavy hand in making the NFL what it is today.
