Kaepernick Gets the Last Laugh, White Discomfort Intensifies

Credit: The Undefeated

Please allow me to step outside of my usual focus of NBA transactions, story lines and rumors to focus on what seems to not matter as much as it should-the livelihood of people that belong to the African Diaspora. 

By now everyone should be well aware of Colin Kaepernick's activism but for the ones who do not know or need a refresher we can briefly take some time to catch you up. 

Colin Kaepernick, a former Nevada University quarterback who won the Western Conference Player of the Year twice during his collegiate career, was a NFL quarterback that played for the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted in the year of 2011. Kaepernick would soon take over the starting job in his second year over Alex Smith and would become a key factor in deep playoff runs in 2012 and 2013, one of which included a Super Bowl appearance. 

He caused a ripple-effect in the NFL with his use of the read-option and dual threat capabilities that kept every NFL defense on its toes. If you take a look at those highlights, you can tell he was a solid player right? Yes, of course. Remember that answer, we'll refer to it later.

Kaepernick had early success in his career but things shifted in the beginning of the 2016 NFL season, which also happened to be his contract year. 

Before the 49ers third preseason game, there was something different about the status quo progression of a standard NFL game and it was Kaepernick. Kaepernick sat on the bench for the playing of the National Anthem. This gained some attention but was not mainstream news at the time. 

Colin Kaepernick Sits (#7 pictured) - Credit: SBNation

However, Kaepernick continued his protest and in the opening week of the NFL regular season he elected to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem prior to their game. Every media outlet was in a frenzy, fans were outraged and reporters bombarded Kaepernick after the game to ask the question that everyone was wondering: Why?

Here is what he said immediately after the game in that moment

Furthermore, in an exclusive NFL Media interview, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color...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."

“Stand for something or fall for anything.”-Malcolm X

Kaepernick taking a kneel was a silent protest against racial justice and systematic oppression in America. There was an enormous amount of backlash and controversy-as does anything that combats White Supremacy, racial disenfranchisement of people of color or the political status quo-but the impact of it reverberated across the Nation and left a lasting impression in every household. 

Colin Kaepernick sparked a National conversation that ultimately led to a conversation that was had among everyone. Kap taking a kneel pushed for acknowledgment and accountability for White America which caused discomfort in the homes of many. 

Even Donald Trump took to Twitter to chime in.

"The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!"— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2017

It shed light on a struggle that many were unaware of and took a stand on an issue that impacts the livelihood on millions on a national stage. That is what makes what he did so vital. 

It caused discomfort in white spaces. People of European decent had to have the conversation about race, acknowledge the issue and unpack their privilege. Some took this task head on while others pushed it away and scoffed at the protest. 

"It's something that can unify this team. It's something that can unify this country. If we have these real conversations that are uncomfortable for a lot of people. If we have these conversations, there's a better understanding of where both sides are coming from."-Colin Kaepernick

When Kaepernick's contract expired at the end of the 2016 season, the San Francisco 49ers elected to not bring him back on which allowed him to be a free agent for another team to sign him. 

With him being a solid and productive quarterback, you would think a team would love to bring him in to their franchise to be their starter or a good option backup right? Well that was not the case, Kaepernick did not get any bites and many referred to this as a "blackballing" effort. 

Kaepernick, along with former teammate Eric Reid, decided to take legal action and did so by filing a collusion case against the NFL administration, NFL franchise owners and general managers in 2017. 

The case lasted over two years and it ended with a unofficially reported near $10 million dollar settlement for both players, however, official details and specifics have not been disclosed. 

This comes as a surprise for the people that closely follow the NFL. The NFL fights to resist change and to not accept fault or guilt at all costs has been on full display year in and year out. We even saw a case that went to Supreme Court over ball inflation for Tom Brady's "Deflategate."

But this case ending this way is different. Though the case did not necessarily get ruled in Kap or Reid's favor, the fact that the NFL's request to get the case thrown out was dismissed is certainly noteworthy. 

In other words Kaepernick and Reid's legal team made a strong case to support their claim. They had receipts. 

The NFL got exposed. Owners were called to the witness stand, emails and conversations were brought to the courtroom and the NFL had to take this seriously. The NFL had to look itself in the mirror and decide which side of history they were on. 

"I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed...If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right." - Colin Kaepernick

With that being said, Kaepernick came out a winner. He wins not only in his pocketbook but he wins in the eyes of the people like you and me on the sideline. The NFL has dominated anyone who has opposed them in the past but Kaepernick and Reid's collusion case exposed that. 

It also exposed how much they value Donald Trump's opinions. Executives from teams had to make a decision to allow their players to kneel or to do what Trump tweeted and essentially "fire" anyone who took this stand. 

As someone who identifies as an African-American man, I fully support Kaepernick and everything he has done for his cause. What many need to understand is that this is a matter of life and death, but the fact there was controversy on if blacks are oppressed in virtually every sector of our world is an issue in itself. 

White discomfort has intensified because they are having to reflect and think about their part in these issues. Everyone that has turned a blind eye to these issues or dismissed the stances in the past have to acknowledge their privilege and the reality of many. 

As a person who identifies as a black man and also a man that has grown to become a student of history to my heritage, I see trends and I know that history repeats itself. When you look at the works of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Huey P. Newton, Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, Ida B. Wells, etc., there is a common trend with their respective forms of resistance, backlash from their efforts. 

"This stand wasn’t for me. This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t."-Colin Kaepernick

Civil disobedience has been a component of virtually every social movement since the beggining of time and has been vital in obtaining justice for the African diaspora in American history. 

The art of protesting is beautiful in its entirety. With protesting there is always people who rip, ignore and disrespect the issue at hand. There are always people that have an issue with the way in which the protest is carried out. 

It can be silent or loud, it can be on sidewalks or highways, or even with policy, however, there is always backlash. So as a black man, Kap's efforts mean everything to me and to anyone reading this that wants to see change I push you to submerge yourself in the stories of your predecessors. Learn how they dealt with the noise and embody it in your movement. 

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the unsung heroes in this moment in history. I want to first point out that this was not the first time in history an act of this nature has been done. The NBA suspended Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, born Chris Wayne Jackson, in 1996 for his refusal to stand for the pregame singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." 

Rauf, a converted Muslim, did not comply because he felt the flag symbolized an extensive history of oppression. After controversy, the NBA allowed him to close his eyes, look down and recite Islamic prayers. Rauf was eventually nudged out of the NBA and after a brief stint overseas, he decided to retire after loosing interest. 

Additionally, another unsung hero is one of Colin Kaepernick's teammates who immediately jumped on board and participated with Kaepernick. His name is Eric Reid. Eric Reid also received a settlement in his own collusion case with the NFL.  

Multiple other players decided to stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Some of these players included: Jeremy Lane (Seattle Seahawks), Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos) and Kenny Stills (Miami Dolphins.)  

"I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand." - Colin Kaepernick