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By Rickey Hampton. Editor and Founder of The African-American Athlete
Colin Kaepernick may never play another down in the National Football League, but his impact on our society will last far longer, and be far greater, than anything he ever did on the football field. After all, as important as we make the games that take place in sports in the end, they are only just that, games.
However, what is powerful is to see when someone uses his/her platform to speak out on issues larger than what takes place in the athletic arena. When Kaepernick took his stance last season he was only following a long, rich tradition of activist athletes from the black communities. And really, this is why some from white communities have a hard time understanding his motives. After all, what a millionaire quarterback would have to complain about?
Of course, those who think along those lines do not have the experiences of black people. They have the experiences of white America, which of course, is privileged. Kaepernick’s stance has brought forth a conversation on many levels of race, justice and equality. These are conversations that should have been taking place long ago, but better late than never.
What is even more profound is Kaepernick’s impact on others.
In Lansing, Mi., Friday night, four black football players at Lansing Catholic High School took a knee before the start of their game against Ionia High School. Earlier in the week Michael Lynn III, the Cougars’ star quarterback, and captain, went to the school and informed them that he planned to kneel during the national anthem. Initially, Lynn was told that if he knelt, that he would not be allowed to play.
“I get they are a private school and they can do what they want,” said Lynn III, speaking to the Lansing State Journal. “They are right, they can. But that doesn’t make it humane and that does not make it OK that they can do that because that still is my right to peaceful protest. Not only am I peaceful protesting, but I’m protesting as a primary source. I am a young black man in America. I’ve had to deal with certain things that other people will never have to deal with.
“I said this in the meeting (with the school). I said this feels like oppression. This feels like you’re trying to silence me and it feels like you’re not giving me the right to do what Americans should be able to do.”
Despite the threat of not playing, Lynn and his three teammates, Kabbash Richards, Roje Williams, and Matthew Abdullah all kneeled together with their arms interlocked. None of the four players started the game. Lansing Catholic coach Jim Ahern said the decision not to start the four were out of his hands. Richards, Williams and Abdullah entered the game in the first quarter, and Lynn entered the game midway through the second quarter.
Lynn III took control of the game when he entered, and rushing for 181-yards and scoring two touchdowns in the Cougars’ 33-18 win.
You have to applaud the courage of Lynn III, Richards, Williams and Abdullah for their actions, as well as the young athletes, black, white and brown all over the country, that have taken this issue forward. They are forcing people have to discuss the problems of America, in addition to forcing people to show where they stand on these issues as individuals.
And the nexus of all of this movement, is the courage and conviction of Colin Kaepernick.
I hope they lose all of their games. The coach should be sued and I hope he lose his Job. Crosssing the line. smdh