Year after year, the NFL seeped into my DNA, a fixture of my existence. I recorded preseason games and scoured box scores for the latest stats. I made no commitments on Sundays, rooted on the sofa for every game. I rushed home from work to catch Monday Night Football. I scheduled around fantasy football drafts, even drafting on my phone while attending a friend’s wedding. I consumed NFL content without pause: podcasts, highlights, mock drafts.
But now, my conscious and heart grapple with that DNA as Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned. As hard as it is and will be, I boycott the NFL in solidarity with him.
Colin exemplifies courage and sacrifice. With his livelihood in the crosshairs, he spoke out against police brutality and mass incarceration and on behalf of the oppressed and forgotten. A more cautious, less courageous man under similar circumstances would have figuratively and literally stood in line. Instead, Colin put his career and endorsements at risk to give a voice to the voiceless and attempt, in his own way, to effectuate change.
Here’s some of what 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…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.” He further noted, “This is not something that I am going to run by anybody… 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.”
“I’ll continue to sit. 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 like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”
Colin didn’t just sit. He didn’t just talk. He donated money to causes, including my beloved Silicon Valley De-Bug, to combat police violence, curtail mass incarceration and promote justice. He hosts free “Know Your Rights Camps” for youth to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement. He shines as a modern day hero deserving of mention in the same breath as Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown.
And now, just as he anticipated, the NFL has turned its collective back on Colin. In turn, they’ve disregarded, ignored and demonized his message, his cause and the oppressed and downtrodden he speaks for, including the people I represent who suffer within our pervasive culture of mass incarceration.
If Colin exhibits that resolve, strength and courage for the betterment of my and our people, shouldn’t I muster the courage to turn off my TV?
If hiring Colin is somehow bad for NFL business, then we must prove that not hiring him would be worse.
Related Media:
- WHY ARE WE HATED SO MUCH?
A Mother’s Reflection on the Personal Impacts of Racism After Watching the Film 13th - VIDEO RECAP: Healing Retreat for Families Who Lost Loved One's to Police Violence (a project supported by Colin Kaepernick)
