At the beginning of the 2016 National Football League season, Colin Kaepernick caught the attention of the nation when he chose to sit during the national anthem in protest against police brutality and racism in America. Because of his decision to take a stand for his rights—and for the mistreatment of African Americans—he is no longer employed and has yet to be picked up by another team. His unemployment is not related to his statistics or performance with the San Francisco 49ers. I will be discussing how the impact of racism, a social issue still prevalent today, has contributed to the Colin Kaepernick controversy and how the current issues of police brutality are reoccurring without solution.  

Many believe that we live in a “post racial society,” that America has overcome and moved passed racial discrimination. However, that is not the case. Racism is still alive and race plays a significant role in sports which serves as one of the indicators of racial climate. While segregation is a well-known topic, segregation in sports isn’t as familiar. Some of the most important events of integration in American history happened on the playing field. From Jackie Robinson becoming the first African American Major League baseball player to Charles Follis bringing an end to segregation in professional football. The association of certain sports, such as football, with white people arose because of the exclusion of black people. This led to the former and current underrepresentation of African Americans in the world of sports, particularly in authoritative positions. “Through agents of racial socialization such as sports, the media, peer groups, and the family, blacks and whites gain an understanding of what constitutes blackness and whiteness…the mere existence of racial norms and racial etiquette that govern expectations about behavior in itself is evidence of racism…” (Martin 1) By choosing to protest before his games, Kaepernick promotes awareness of racial conflict in America through the sports world.

In an essay written by Linda Holtzman and Leon Sharpe, racism is described as: 

“A system of institutionalized power that operates through overt or covert policies that favor white people and are biased against people of color. Racism continues to exist today in the hiring practices of some private businesses, government agencies, hospitals, universities, and so on, even where there are policies that clearly state they will not discriminate.” (Holtzman and Leon 430) Racism plays a huge role in the controversy of Kaepernick’s unemployment. Kaepernick was once a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and them to Super Bowl XLVII. Unfortunately, he has been jobless since the end of the 2016 National Football League season despite his career statistics. Since NFL coaches have concerns regarding the backlash and negative publicity they could possibly receive from the fan base, as well as the general public, Kaepernick has yet to be picked up by another team. NFL team owners don’t want to take the risk of having their organization involved in the discussion of social justice issues. Kaepernick, who is an African American, chose to stand up for police brutality, and the killing of unarmed African Americans. Rather than being an advocate for social justice, he is seen as a liability to the San Francisco 49ers organization, which has led to his unemployment.

Many consider the silent protest of taking a knee or sitting during the National Anthem, initiated by Colin Kaepernick last year, to be offensive; perceived as a form of disrespect towards the flag, military, and the National Anthem itself. The message that is being communicated through this protest is not understood by many Americans due to their misconceptions of athletes disrespecting the military, rather than addressing the current social injustice issues within the United States. In this article by AJ Willingham, CNN trend and franchise editor, she addresses the fact that, “…kneeling during the National Anthem was never about the anthem itself. It wasn’t about the flag, or the military. It was about race, and all of the struggles that come with being a minority in America.” Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland. These are all names of African American victims—that were unarmed—of police brutality cases that have occurred in the past five years, where the officer wasn’t convicted. The mistreatment of African Americans, especially in regards to police brutality, is omnipresent in America and those, who have decided to take a stand, like Kaepernick, are attempting to make a difference in the ongoing cycle.