On Lynching Colin Kaepernick

I’m having the hardest time fully understanding why our nation is so incredibly outraged over Colin Kaepernick’s decision to not stand during the national anthem. Empty, yet so incredibly fueled, accusations of unpatriotic treason are being hurled at Kaepernick with the intensity of which I feel would be better suited if geared towards our enemies as opposed to each other… ya know?

Either way, in attempt to make sense of it, three quick things: 1) I don’t think it’s really as big of a deal as the media is making it out to be; 2) the media is making it a big deal because whatever sells… ya know? 3) Colin’s decision in doing this was, to a large extent, to use his position and platform to garner as much attention towards his stance and agenda as possible.

Needless to say, it worked.

The continuous argument in which I’ve heard projected by the media (making it seem like it’s the majority opinion; although, I’m not so sure about that…) is that they agree with his message while disagreeing with his method. The most frustrating aspect of all of this is that it’s not just white players, but fellow POC athletes as well trying to swiftly become the next “Ben Carson.”

For instance Jerry Rice:

All lives matter. So much going on in this world today.Can we all just get along! Colin,I respect your stance but don’t disrespect the Flag.

— Jerry Rice (@JerryRice) August 30, 2016

THE DELETED STANZA OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Immediately, my first thought (as a Person of Color [POC]) was how sick I am of people [white or not] dictating how the oppressed person should act or respond to bigotry, hate, and/or centuries of oppression.

After taking a step back, I have to remember that the injustice of our system is set up to rob people of a proper education; because knowledge is power. My point being in that, it’s not that we forgot our national anthem has a deleted stanza in which praises the slaughter of runaway slaves; it’s that we were never taught our national anthem has a deleted stanza, again, praising the slaughter of runaway slaves.

This anthem was never meant to be the rock in which the foundation of our nation stood upon; all the while…