...In 2016, the Black Lives Matter movement continued to protest and fight for equal rights. Over time, they have become more unpopular for blocking off highways and interrupting presidential speeches. This has led to some black protests without directly mentioning the movement. This essay will examine Colin Kaepernick’s protests during the national anthem and the responses received as well as the impact his actions have had across the country. Colin Kaepernick is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He began the 2016 preseason by sitting down during the national anthem. For the first two games, he mostly went unnoticed. It was the third game that people started notice. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick explained. “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.” For the remainder of the season, Kapernick continued to protest during the national anthem. He later switched from sitting to kneeling out of respect for veterans and those serving in the military. Many of the reactions Kaepernick...
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...Last NFL season Colin Kaepernick decided to protest racial injustice in the U.S by taking a knee during the national anthem before his games. This local movement quickly sparked discussions across conservative media who “ignored Kaepernick’s stated intentions and instead accused him of being unpatriotic and disrespectful of the American flag” (Illing 2018) However, this was not what brought Kaepernick to news headlines. The controversy exploded when President Donald Trump responded to the situation by saying, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners ... say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He’s fired!’ (Graham 2017). Overall the NFL protests demonstrate how the snowballing turmoil of a country can make its way into...
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...In order to fully understand the motives behind the organization Black Lives Matter one must know the history behind the struggles of African Americans in the United States. Throughout history African Americans have been pushed down, forced to do the work of the white man, and criticized for the color of their skin. Some of the most violent and unforgettable tales of American history date back to the 17th century. During this time period the slave trade was introduced to the state of Virginia (Carson 19). Millions of innocent African Americans were targeted by colonists who bought these slaves for their own profit (Carson 19). Years of torture, malnutrition, and neglect had passed by and there wasn’t much hope for a bright future for those...
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...The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests are recurring phenomenon in the last years that have gained media coverage (Ghandnoosh, 2015). They are a response to a long-standing problems with police racism, excessive force, and abuse especially in United States as well as in other countries (Ghandnoosh, 2015).. These BLM protest continues to be a recurring topic on social media (Ghandnoosh, 2015). Thereby, they have sparked multiple discussions over the methods of mobilization. Some argues that the means the protesters uses are too aggressive. This due to the fact that people go out, stop traffic in some cases destroy property. However, these known facts are not the only way that individuals are currently participating in social issues. Some have...
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...lyrics represent the heroism of Americans to defend their country. Respect is to feel admiration for what someone has done, and to treat them in a polite and kind way. The soldiers and people who have died for the United States of America should be honored for their service. Standing for the National Anthem is one of the greatest ways to show gratification towards those who are fighting and who have died in the field of battle. Servicemen and women are the most honorable people our country can bear. All men and women should display the greatest dignity and respect for what they have done for our country; which includes standing for the National Anthem. Quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, refuses to stand for the anthem in protest for the black lives matter movement. According to the Navy Times, Retired Admiral, Bill McRaven, the man who commanded the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, told the University of Texas’ athletic managers to urge athletes to stand, hand over heart during the National Anthem. He explained that he spent 37 years defending freedom of speech and freedom of expression and the ones who choose not to stand should recognize that by sitting in protest of the flag disrespects everyone who sacrificed to make this country what it is today, as imperfect as it might be. When McRaven spoke with the athletics department at University of Texas he said that honoring the flag “is our collective commitment that we will constantly attempt to get better...
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