Two prominent black men weighed in on Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the National Anthem, both calling it “unjustified” and “misguided.”
Kevin Jackson of The Black Sphere and Christopher Harris from Unhyphenated America spoke to The Daily Caller News Foundation about Kaepernick’s protest and the message behind it.
Colin Kaepernick first protested the National Anthem during a pre-season game in August. He refused to stand for the anthem because America “oppresses black people.”
“There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” Kaepernick told NFL Media. (RELATED: Vets Defend Kaepernick With #VeteransForKaepernick)
Kaepernick’s and the other NFL players’ protests are not justified, Jackson said.
“Most of these players have experienced no racism, and in fact have been coddled most of their lives,” Jackson told The DCNF. “Kaepernick knows how the false claims of racial oppression can prolong a career, or at the very least make him a media darling for a few minutes.”
Harris pointed out that the protests were “misguided,” as kneeling for the flag does not have anything to do with police brutality.
“It’s a misguided protest. If his protest is against police brutality, taking a knee to the flag doesn’t protest the police. Standing for the National Anthem and taking the pledge of allegiance have nothing to do with the police,” Harris told the DCNF.
Kaepernick, Jackson said, does not understand the problems facing the black community because he did not grow up in those areas.
“As for Kaepernick, he grew up nowhere near ‘the hood.’ At best racism for him is anecdotal,” Jackson said.
Other NFL players quickly joined in on the protests; four Miami Dolphins players kneeled while the anthem played Sept. 11. (RELATED: Police Union Calls For Miami Dolphins Boycott)
The other NFL players who have joined him have forgotten the troubles that they once faced, Jackson said.
“These players are practically immune to the plight of their former selves. They want to get their moms out to something ‘better.’ Their athleticism got them out of black communities and into even better,” Jackson explained.
Harris points out that these protests aren’t helpful for race relations in America. Focusing on someone’s skin color is emphasizing the most trivial part of a person.
The protests are counter-productive, Jackson said, since America is not racist.
“White people attend a game overwhelmingly, paying to see a disproportionate number of black players. Whites buy the jerseys and other paraphernalia, and support the charities of these players. Every one of these players are one degree of separation from somebody invested in protecting this country, be it a military person or police,” Jackson said.
Send tips to amber@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.