I’ve never really related to the anger spewed towards NFL players after the protest movement started two years ago in the league led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, where athletes would kneel during the Star Spangled Banner in defiance of police brutality. It all sounded a little bit too much like resentful, racist hate speech. So I disregarded it.
Then the president started commenting on Twitter without seemingly a wisp of education on the subject (as he has regarding many subjects), or nary a grasp whatsoever on first amendment rights to protest. First off, in most cases, the national anthem wasn’t even seen on broadcasts unless it was a playoff game or the Super Bowl. Second, players weren’t protesting the flag or the soldiers who’ve fought under it, as the hate narrative went, but in protest of police brutality. And most of the NFL protesters were overwhelmingly African American, which studies have clearly shown experience police brutality at a much higher rate than most any group of people in our country.
That deplorable narrative spread by mostly–surprise, surprise–angry white people fogged the real message: that the beauty of America is that any citizen, from any background, can freely demonstrate or protest if they feel their rights are being trodden upon. And that’s all thanks to not only the valiant people that have fought to protect our rights but the way the system was set up so brilliantly in the first place.
So I guess I was proud, in a way, to see skateboarders Nyjah Huston and Lacey Baker and waterman Kai Lenny featured in Nike’s new ad as Kaepernick narrates in explanatory prose, why you shouldn’t just settle for being good. Because airs like Lenny’s at Jaws are an example of greatness, things we’ve never seen, things we dream of in our wildest. “Super stoked to be part of the ad,” Kai told me in a text message. “I think it carries a great message: to follow your passion first and no matter how crazy it seems if you believe in it, go for it. That’s the ‘American Dream.'”
Kai has certainly lived out his. And he had absolutely no qualms about being featured next to the polarizing Kaepernick. “I respect his and everyone else’s right to freedom of speech, that’s what makes this country the land of the free–thanks to the brave.”
Exactly. It’s a right Americans have fought and died for for more than two centuries. As it is Kaepernick is embroiled in a collusion lawsuit against the NFL as he hasn’t been able to find a job in the league since. But his peaceful protest definitely didn’t hurt you or me or anyone, really. So all one has to do is respect his and other’s right to do so. And simply ignore the hate speech. Because if you’re a real American, it shouldn’t relate to you.
