Student Athletes Kneel To Level The Playing Field, Jesse Hagopian
This article from the "Rethinking Schools" magazine told a story of how our nation's youth responded to the "Black Lives Matter" movement in response to Colin Kaepernick's knee taking during the National Anthem prior to a NFL San Francisco 49ers game. Kaaepernick's kneeling was a protest of the ongoing crisis of violence against black people. It was uncertain how the nation would react to a black professional athlete who was paid millions of dollars taking a knee in what I thought prior to this class was a blatant disrespect of our country and the men and women who fight for our freedoms and the ability of this man to play a professional sport, but was truly a protest to social injustice and oppression.
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| https://www.rethinkingschools.org/articles/student-athletes-kneel-to-level-the-playing-field |
In a form of solidarity, both professional and student athletes across the country joined the movement for black lives. Members of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx team wore shirts with the slogans: "Black Lives Matter", "Change Starts with Us" and "Justice and Accountability" to pre- game warm ups. Many players in the WNBA refused to answer reporter's questions unless they related to social issues or the Black Lives Matter movement. Professional football players either took a knee, locked arms, stayed in the locker room or put a hand on the shoulder of kneeling players during the playing of the national anthem. Megan Rapinoe, an openly gay member of the U.S. women's soccer team, kneeled for the anthem as well stating: "I know what it's like to look at the flag and not have all your rights." Student athletes, teachers, administrators, band members, club members and cheerleaders all joined the movement Kaepernick set in motion by taking a knee during the national anthem.
This protest created quite a stir for team owners, school officials and politicians, those with privilege and power according to Johnson, Armstrong and Widlman, who worried that the protest would cut into the bottom line. Delpit would argue that the rules (standing for the national anthem) of the culture would come from those with the power. As one can imagine, the reaction against the movement by those in power was forceful. The U.S. Soccer Federation mandated all players to stand for the national anthem. Youth have been kicked off their teams and coaches replaced for protesting. According to the article, Kaepernick lost his job and was shut out of the league as an act of intimidation, but according to some sports enthusiasts he did not have the continued ability and stats to be a professional quarterback. President Trump expressed the need to "fire" those players who did not stand for the national anthem.
Kaepernick's stance of taking a knee during the national anthem is a picture engraved in my mind and those of many others that made the "Black Lives Matter" movement come to life. It was an act of moral courage that launched a national protest against social injustice, oppression and inequality across every level of sports. His bold action set off a domino affect for justice.
When Kaepernick first took a knee during the National Anthem, many saw this as a blatant act of disrespect towards the United States. Rather than see it as a starting point for open, honest, and hard discussions about the injustices endured by people of color.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about the connection to Delpit here and the ability to take a stand against a culture of power. In something like a sports game, the players do hold a certain power. I wonder what Delpit would express as the best ways to stand up against a culture of power. By taking a knee, these players are rejecting participating in a culture of power that oppresses and alienates them. I wonder if its possible to say that sense these players have used their skill and celebrity to be powerful enough to make a stand (this is either a pun or a badly used expression here). The players are rejecting this ritual of power because they are not truly accepted within the larger culture of power due to their racial identities.
ReplyDeleteI too have had a change of heart with regard to the act of "taking a knee" as it aligns with the "Black Lives Matter" movement. As a result of this course, I have a better understanding of the statement Kaepernick and others are attempting to convey, but unfortunately the general public, does not understand the reason for kneeling during the National Anthem. Even when explained, the American public does not look kindly upon any action that seems disrepectful to the flag. Perhaps Kaepernick could have had a Johnson moment, and used his voice to name the problem, which would may have led to a dialogue about the important issues of inequality, racism and police brutality. Instead, there is misinterpretation of his intent and the message is hopelessly lost. I hope that Kaepernick and other professional athletes can find their voice and be a part of the change that is desperately needed. Clearly, the act of "taking a knee" was not effective.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that this class has offered you opportunities to engage real issues in a real way. This was a great choice of article to help you reframe the take a knee debate. Great discussion.
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