Last summer and fall, San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick became a lightning-rod of pop culture controversy when he decided to remain seated for the National Anthem. As with all football games, the Anthem is performed before every game, and nearly every American player stands for the Anthem. Kaepernick was widely criticized in GOP circles and Pres. Obama even had to chime in (Obama said it was Kaepernick’s right to do whatever he wanted). Kaepernick explained his civil disobedience (if you want to call it that) as a way of protesting police violence against communities of color, and general systemic disadvantages against communities of color.
Unfortunately, Kaepernick was an imperfect spokesperson for these issues, as we learned that he also refuses to participate in the very bare minimum of citizenship, which is the right to vote. Kaepernick did not vote in the presidential election. Voter rolls show that he’s probably never voted, not even for local and state elections. So if he refuses to participate, why should anyone care what he has to say? I’m really asking.
So what’s Kaepernick up to these days? Last week, we learned that he was opting out of his 49ers contract, which means that he becomes a free agent this week and he’s looking to move to another team. Which also means that he’s looking to polish up his image to look more “hireable,” I guess. Which probably explains this:
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will stand during the national anthem next season, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Kaepernick no longer wants his method of protest to detract from the positive change he believes has been created, sources told ESPN. He also said the amount of national discussion on social inequality — as well as support from other athletes nationwide, including NFL and NBA players — affirmed the message he was trying to deliver.
As a means of protest, he began sitting during the national anthem in the 2016 preseason before taking a knee for the final preseason contest and 16 regular-season games.
Kaepernick will opt out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday and become a free agent next week, sources told ESPN.
Yeah, not so much. I mean, I understand it from his perspective, maybe. His protest got a lot of attention, there was a national debate, he raised money for charity and he won an award for his courage. But I am befuddled by the idea that RIGHT NOW, in our current situation, we can all say “thank you, Colin Kaepernick, for all of the positive change you created, we’re so much better right now!” We are not better right now. Communities of color are not better off right now. While it’s been a little while since a story of police officers shooting an unarmed black man, let’s not pretend that there’s a ton of scary sh-t happening with police forces and ICE around the country. Besides that, were we really debating the issues Kaepernick wanted us to debate, or were we debating Kaepernick and the Anthem? I guess he wants us to be done with that particular debate.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
His protest has achieved all it’s going to achieve at this point, so it would be purely empty symbolism to continue.
It’s a shame that things like this are viewed as a failure when they don’t solve the massive issues in play. The idea should be that protests grow and build and evolve from small acts.
Ideally, yes, but I have a hard time seeing this is anything but opportunistic anymore, though at first I was on board. It helped him get attention when he needed it because his performance was flagging. But now that it’s making him possibly less marketable, it’s convenient for him to drop it. As Kaiser says, meh.
At the time he started this protest, he was riding the bench as a second string quarterback. This stunt earned him notoriety and press. He was totally horrible in his day job (quarterback). As a former Niner fan (you suck Dork Family), I’m glad he’s leaving. He pretty much ruined football with his bad play. Spend some time working on accurate throwing please.
He doesn’t want us to be “done” – he wants to keep playing. ESPN and multiple other sources are reporting that multiple teams stated that they would not consider him as long as he kept the protesting up. He might be “woke” but he’s not stupid – he wants to remain in the NFL and play as long as he can, and the protesting made him a liability. This is a decision made for himself, pure and simple. He can dress it however he wants, but it’s for himself.
I don’t judge him at all if that’s the reason he decided to stop protesting. This is how the guy makes a living. If he has to stop to keep playing… I get it. That doesn’t make him wrong or bad guy to me.
I wasn’t into what he was doing to begin with… Of course, it was his right. I just judged him when I found out he didn’t bother to vote. That made me think he was a little immature.
But two things:
1.) If that’s the case, I would respect him more if he was honest. If he just said “I do not want my career affected and the protests make it less likely I will remain in the NFL” then I’d respect him. Wrapping it up in some kind of higher reason is BS-ing us.
2.) There have been people willing to go to JAIL for their beliefs. Ali was willing to lose his career, go to jail. Others have followed. He has been in the NFL for some years – he is already a wealthy man. If he left today, he would not wind up flipping burgers – he’s well set up. I get that he wants to keep playing because he probably loves doing it – but he’d making pretty clear that football comes before the justice stuff. Again, he’s trying to evade that point, and I think most of us can see through it.
You may very well be correct with what you are saying but here’s the thing with me. I am well aware that at the end of the day, my family comes before anyone else. I tend to protect my own self interest, whether that be right or not. I am just being honest. I see most people behaving the same way.
I am always blown away by someone that will give up all they have for a cause or for someone else. But I am aware that I am not that person and neither is he. I won’t criticize him for being no worse than what I know I am.
I think it may also be because of the flak he got for not voting. Still support his message though.
I don’t understand why he was vilified. He took a stand in order to try and bring attention to something he saw as an issue that needed to be addressed. And he wasn’t wrong. And there’s no need to mock him for deciding it’s time to take a new approach. At least he’s trying, which is more that can be said about most people these days.
…and people posting too.
The man has to work.
There have been a long a$$ history of black athletes who protested and their careers were over… Done… Finished… And some had to spend the rest of their lives stacking boxes in Ikea…Thank God it’s not (entirely) so today.
Call it self interest, but when it comes too your career, most would choose the self interest route after seeing the lack of effectiveness their efforts made.
So… you know. Say and write whatever.
I understand the man
And I agree with you Patty, 100%
He has played in the NFL for multiple seasons – he has already made millions and millions of dollars. I think it’s safe to say that if he walked away from the NFL today, he will be fairly well off. I don’t think we need to vex ourselves over whether Colin will be able to live.
The man has to work? Hah! Teaching specialed kids is work, he makes millions playing a game
Honestly, there are so many reasons for why people have vilified him and most of them are stupid.
He didn’t vote.
It is disrespectful to the troops.
What does he have to complain about: he is rich?
and on and on and on
It is easier for those people to complain about the things that they are comfortable talking about than the things that they don’t understand or cannot immediately form an opinion on.
You know whose job it is to end white supremacy in this country: WHITE PEOPLE. So instead of going after Colin, maybe those people who are sneering at him need to go talk to their white friends and family members about the state of what is going on and do what they can to fix this country. Take a long hard look in the mirror and reflect on everything they have done personally to help end white supremacy in their own life and others’ lives. He is not the only one who can further the conversation.
^THIS
Aiobhan Targaryen That was some 100% grade A truth!!!
“Someone’s making a statement to hide from his diminishing performance”
Is also another one that should be added too your bullet points.
Because let’s not discuss what he’s trying to say. Let’s discuss the reasons why he is not a legitimate candidate to Say It….
AMEN.
Colin’s on-field protests were only part of his work. He actually did do a lot of work related to these causes off-field too. That gets my respect. It isn’t great that he didn’t vote, but that doesn’t negate everything else. I also do not expect people to give up their livelihoods to support a cause. It doesn’t matter that he’s made good money (and it isn’t like he has Tom Brady money or anything).
Could he be honest about why he was stopping? Not if he wanted to keep playing. People who say that clearly don’t know how the NFL (or a lot of corporations) works. If they know you will very likely be “trouble” in the future (particularly when your play hasn’t been great for a couple of years), they aren’t going to sign you.
He apparently started believing in the cause because of his girlfriend. Now, hopefully his actions have caused others to believe in the cause. His work is done if he so chooses.
LOL of course.
I admired his protest. Then he DID NOT VOTE, thereby passively electing baby fists.
I am disgusted.
Why bother drawing attention if you can’t be bothered to take the smallest, most essential step in helping to fix the injustice?
Exactly.
Yeah. He lost me when he didn’t vote. Want progress? Vote for it. Mango & Sessions are going to turn back all the progress we fought hard for, and that’s on people who voted for him & those, like Kaepernick, who refused to take a stand in the voting booth.
I don’t see why it matters so much if he did or did not vote, white supremacy survived and thrived under Obama and all the presidents before him and will continue to do so, it would have continued under Hillary too. Besides, if he’s registered to vote in his team’s home state of California, his ballot wouldn’t have made a damn bit of difference.
@Gretchen it’s an issue that he didn’t vote, because there were social issues he could have voted for/against in his district that could’ve had a direct impact to the very people he said he was protesting for. If you listened to him speak at games when questioned it always felt (to me at least) that he Had a script on what to say. If they asked something off his script he didn’t know how to answer. A lot of speculation was that it was his girlfriend’s idea to protest. I respected his right to protest, I respected his use of celebrity to bring attention to social issues we should all be talking about, but when he didn’t even bother to vote I think his protest lost impact. He said he didn’t want to vote for either presidential candidate, but he at least could’ve voted for things happening in his area. You can’t protest to bring a call for change but then not even try to help bring about changes by utilizing our most basic right in this country. I live in Texas, generally my vote is a throwaway but I still do it. It took me 10min standing in line to vote early, with my 3month old daughter in tow. I had tears of pride on my walk back to the car to have voted for a woman while my daughter was next to me. Unfortunately shit hit the fan, but at least I tried to impact change in a traditionally republican state.
I hear where you’re coming from @KC77 but the fact remains that his protest was on-point. I really don’t see why people are trying to delegitimize the bravery of a man of colour who took a stand on such a contentious issue, and faced so much abuse as a result, because of his decision to abstain from voting (which is also a basic right). Silencing him or depreciating his message is doing a much bigger service for white supremacy than for social justice. People shouldn’t have to vote for candidates they don’t want to see elected just to try and mitigate the stupid; he didn’t elect Trump, MILLIONS of other Americans did, and that’s where the ire and disappointment should be directed.
I also don’t understand this idea that people have to be politically perfect to make powerful and legitimate points. Calling him out and devaluing his protest rather than focusing wholly on the various systems of racism and bigotry in the country seems so misplaced.
Thank you.
I don’t know the facts behind his decision, but I will say this – I have made a conscious decision to no longer discuss politics at work – for many months, first pre-Brexit, then after Brexit and then pre-and post Trump, I thought with facts and compassion I could change peoples minds. I couldn’t. All it led to was a lot of anxiety and frustration for me. It did not endanger my job, but frankly, it stopped being worth the ongoing aggravation and back and forth. I have reached the stage of ‘whats the point in repeating myself every damn day’ when the people who are listening are already converted, and the ones who disagree just.dont.listen. – maybe he has too?
I also have pretty much given up on trying to change peoples minds. They refuse to listen to obvious facts. It really makes me mad to hear friends and family block out what they don’t want to believe. When it comes to Kap though, he didn’t vote after all his protesting, he’s not a good qb,and no team will want a player who will offend fans
I think it’s one thing to complain to your friends and family about something when you don’t vote… But it’s a different situation when you are out in front of so many people protesting etc and then people find out you don’t vote.
I can’t help but to think it’s really childish when you cannot bother to do the bare minimum and take the time to vote. Why are you expecting everyone else to do the job for you?
It’s not that I think we should have to vote in order to protect ourselves… Every politician should be looking out for the citizens of our country… It’s just that it looks like you have an agenda that isn’t real… Like maybe he was just trying to get attention.
I don’t know the guy and maybe he has the best of intentions… But with the limited info I have… It doesn’t look good.
Not voting showed his true colors and lack of commitment to vulnerable people.
Yeah no. At this point I’m not even worried about people who didn’t vote, they all have their reasons. Do I agree? No, but it is what it is. My concern is the people who do vote and end up voting for people like Trump, McConnell, Ryan, Issa, Cotton, etc.
We really need to stop with the narrative that non-voters somehow get horrible people elected, they don’t. Because they don’t vote for anyone. It’s the people who do vote who get people elected. Chances are if CK had voted he wouldn’t have voted for any establishment candidate anyway.
If CK doesn’t want to vote that’s on him. But it doesn’t impact me and it doesn’t mean he doesn’t support vulnerable people. Honestly, he probably does more to help vulnerable people with his charitable endeavors than most people who do vote.
I think this narrative that civic duty starts and ends with voting is dangerous. A lot of people want to shrug their shoulders because they voted and not do anything else. In my experience, some people who do not vote (for whatever reasons) or more hands on and passionate about all kinds of issues than people who go check a ballot every two years.
Very good points ! Made me re-think my stance. Thanks !
I partially agree with you, but doubt that most Trump voters will change. Hopefully more people who didn’t vote but aren’t happy about this administration will be more motivated to vote against the Republican for the next two elections.
Meh and you can add blah. “At least he’s trying”? He couldn’t even bother to vote!!! Protest all you want but if you do not show up to the ballot to VOICE your choice then sit down and STFU! People are desperately wanting the opportunity to be a part of this country so that they can one day be able to vote and have a decision in the way they want their country to run. But nahhh ill just get media attention until it serves my purpose…everything has ALWAYS been about him and how he could benefit/profit. To think otherwise is naive and giving him more credit then he deserves.
On a superficial note… Looking past how immature I think he is… He is really good looking. I don’t hate seeing pictures of him here.
Shaun King wrote a very good article sticking up for CK. I agreed with it. The man put himself out there far and beyond the level most of us ever will so he’s getting no criticism from me, whether I agree with every single thing he’s done or said or decision he’s made or not.
Now he will kneel for the almighty dollar. How quickly this multi-millionaire abandoned his cause when the potential to earn more millions was in jeopardy.
That’s exactly the truth. He’s now facing the possibility of not getting another team and how quickly he’s willing to drop it. He talked so much about Ali – but Ali will willing to got to jail for what he believed. Colin isn’t willing to not make millions of dollars next year. And everybody talking about “earning a living” – he is already a multi-millionaire. He does not need to “earn a living.” He could retire tomorrow and live well. He’s not even close to Ali, that’s for sure.
I am curious to see if those that followed his lead will still kneel next season. I bet they won’t. The whole thing is so foolish and stupid, and only the fools took part in it.
I don’t think he was ever that passionate about the cause. He never voted for God’s sake…not even wen Obama was running. That says A LOT.
Meh indeed. This is what I disliked about his protest was the same thing I disliked about Occupy: with no defined end point, it looks like a fizzle, which to opponents looks like a win for them.
I’m not going to hate on him for going back to standing, hopefully he will continue to speak out and donate in some meaningful ways. I was really impressed by his starting the conversation, but when I found out he didn’t vote, I was kind of done with him after that. So … he can stand, sit, do cartwheels during the anthem for all I care.
I have a different take on why Colin is giving up his protest. While I do not doubt that his free agency played a part in his decision, I wonder if maybe, just maybe, he would rather have a lower profile in the Cheeto Mussolini era. As Kaiser correctly points out, “We are not better right now. Communities of color are not better off right now.” Indeed, I would argue that the rise in hate crimes, white nationalism, and overt racism likely contributed to CK’s electing to end his extremely visible protest. Sure, many people are willing to go to jail, lose their careers, and even risk their lives for their beliefs, but in this climate I am not sure I can judge him for perhaps wanting to protect himself, his family, his team, his friends, etc. from unhinged extremist types who seem to feel they have carte blanche to commit violent acts against anyone with whom they disagree.
I should also point out that there might be a more sinister reason for CK’s not voting over the past several years. Since the passage of REAL ID in 2005, it has been extremely difficult for some people to get state IDs, driver licenses, and even passports. Depending on when and where one is born and the kind of vital statistic records maintained by the state of birth at the time – not to mention much stricter laws on voting – it can be an uphill battle to even register to vote. Casting a ballot is not always as simple as one might believe. For example, even though I was born in Texas and have been registered to vote here almost my entire adult life, when I voted in the last two presidential elections I was required to show both my voter registration card and my valid Texas driver license in order to cast a ballot at my polling place. My valid U.S. passport – which I had with me and attempted to show as proof of identity – was NOT accepted because it does not have my Texas address printed on it. I also had a friend who was born in Michigan and moved to Austin for a job. Despite living and working full-time in Texas for several years and having a valid U.S. passport, he was never able to get an unrestricted, full-term Texas driver license allegedly because of the way Michigan issued birth certificates at the time he was born. He finally moved out of Texas rather than keep arguing with TXDPS about his identity and U.S. citizenship.
I don’t think hiding is a solution to anything. I also highly doubt that he has the same obstacles as Joe Smith. If he wants to vote, he and his people will make it happen, figure out where to go, etc.
To everyone who voted, I HOPE you’ve done as much to further any cause as Colin Kaepernick has done. I voted and do a decent amount of stuff to support various causes, but I’m not fooling myself into thinking that my vote matters more than the attention he brought these issues on and off the field.
As someone who is a niners fan and have interacted with this guy in the past, I have a totally different view than most posters here. First and foremost, Colin is not a smart guy. Holding a semi-intelligent conversation with him was painful. He’s also something of a dick. It’s very telling that he didn’t start this protest until he was no longer starting for the niners.
Long story short, he got exactly what he wanted out of this. He was let go of the niners.