To Take a Knee or Not to Take a Knee

    In 2016, former NFL quarterback for the 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, made headlines. This might not be surprising for many as he has made a name for himself and his athletic career over time, but the reason he made headlines was not due to scoring the winning touchdown or bringing his team to the Superbowl, but by, ironically, doing the complete opposite.

    Kaepernick first started his movement with his infamous sitting during the national anthem. In the beginning of one game, Kaepernick caught the attention of everyone else in the room by sitting during the national anthem. To show respect and support for people of color who are being oppressed, Kaepernick silently protested. At this time, there had been many cases of police brutality and he wanted to show his opposition to the matters at hand as well as exercise his right to do so. His silent protest gained attention after the third preseason game - to which he said, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Many athletes have followed in his footsteps and many celebrities have done what they can to show their support. Though he has support, he does have his critics and unfollowers. It all comes down to the question: Is sitting down during the national anthem the right thing to do?

    The answer to question varies, depending on the person’s point of view. There are two sides - yes, it is right or no, it is wrong. While one can respect the reasons for why people believe it is wrong, I believe it is the right thing to do.

    Colin Kaepernick is practicing his right to speak his mind, to practice what he wants to preach, to get his point across. Yes, on some level it is wrong to disrespect the families of those who have died for the freedom of this country by sitting down. Yes, he should take pride in American roots - take pride in this country. Colin Kaepernick started the movement alone. He did not yell for others to join. He did not shove it down the throats of the people in the stands, his team, his coaches, etc. He protested in silence. He is protesting the destruction of the lives of colored people in America - a country that claims it free. Though it is “un-American” to sit during the national anthem, it is also “un-American” to harm the lives of citizens of this country. If he cannot exercise his rights in his workplace, where can he? He said, "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." Is a touchdown more important than representing the victims? There are many that say football is a form of entertainment and should stay that way, but should the lives of the victim really be put on a scale as to whether they are more or less important than football? If one keeps making excuses as to why it should not be brought up, the oppression continues. This is a serious issue that has been pushed under the rug one too many times. Colin Kaepernick has the fame and guts to make this viewpoint known.

    Colin Kaepernick is doing the right thing. He is fighting for what he believes in and exercising his right to do so. He has done so peacefully and gathered the support to continue. Colin Kaepernick should take a knee. 

                           

 

Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing: An Example of Maritn Luther King Jr.

Spike Lee sets the scene of his movie, Do the Right Thing, on the hottest day of the summer, specifically March 1, 1988. The community he follows in the movie is comprised of several characters that vary in age, ethnicity, social class, and beliefs. The central problem these characters face throughout the film is racial tension. As the temperature continues to rise, the racial tension in the atmosphere intensifies with it. The tension is sustained by a “turn the right cheek” method, but the sustainers reach their boiling point and chaos flows into the minds and actions of the people.

        Spike Lee ends the movie with two quotes, one being from Martin Luther King Jr., famously known civil rights activist. He preached, “Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys a community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” In the movie, hate and love is discussed in a pivotal scene in which Radio Raheem explains to Mookie the meaning of his brass knuckle rings - one saying “hate” and the other “love”. This is the only time in the movie in which these words are said. Not one character has ever said “I love/hate you.” to another character. They show their hatred through racial slurs and prejudice encounters. In this community, Martin Luther King Jr. is right. The violence thrives on the hatred which stems from non-acceptance, fear, and prejudices.  The physical act of violence happens later in the movie when two characters, Buggin’ Out and Radio Raheem, personally feel they need to rise to the occasion and go against their enemy, Sal. They want to fight for representation only to be shut down by Sal through words and the presence of his bat. A fight commences and the police are soon involved. The situation worsens as the community witnesses police brutality first hand, killing Radio Raheem. This only adds fuel to the fire and both literally and figuratively sets the scene aflame.This movie is a perfect example for the quote because the community looked to violence for answers.        
      The death of their own member will always be a reminder as to why they these separate groups will never get along, or will never become a brotherhood. Instead of moving on together, they will stay in the past and do what they can to find justice for what has been done. Violence can end only when it defeats itself because violence is never the answer.