Housekeeping: I'll be rolling out new, regular content on here soon called B Squared. This will feature me sitting down with people--hopefully folks I know and maybe getting to meet people through referrals and the like--for you, the viewer, to hear their stories. I am excited to get started as it's a project I've had in mind for quite some time now. Of course, I'll need to dot the I's and cross the T's and so that's what's standing in the way at the moment but I'm truly pushing to get started before the new year comes. Stay tuned! I would imagine most of America has now heard the name Colin Kaepernick.
Sports has the ability to bring together people from walks of life that may not otherwise have an opportunity or a vehicle to ever cross paths. This narrative is typically present in any heartwarming tale we may come across related to athletics. Sometimes though, sports shows us exactly how far we have to go. How different our worlds and realities are. Those events offer us a chance to try to bridge those gaps but often time fail due to a lack of listening and the penchant to run away from conflict instead of staying put and reaching a breakthrough. Part of this is rooted in communication which I'm going to simply label as a common human flaw. Colin Kaepernick made waves as the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, made infamous by his decision to protest during the playing of the national anthem before a pre-season exhibition match. When asked about it afterwards, Colin would go on to express a desire to bring attention to what had become rampant acts of police brutality in America. In fact, he would later go on to reveal the exact incident that led to his awakening. Personally, I don't think Colin knew the ramifications of his actions fully. I don't believe he knelt with the idea in mind it would lead to everything that has since transpired. I'm also willing to bet he doesn't regret a thing either. Fast forward three years later, the greater San Francisco native has gathered his bearings. He operates Know Your Rights Camp, a multi-faceted initiative aimed at education and increasing awareness and knowledge in interactions with law enforcement. He has also been an avid supporter of other causes, donating $1 million to various organizations dedicated to fighting oppression. In between these acts, Kaepernick finds time to stay in shape and continue to work at the craft that introduced him to this newfound lane. Still technically a free agent, Kaepernick has remained ready--awaiting an opportunity to resume what was a promising career for the former Nevada Wolf Pack signal caller. It can be assumed that the time for said opportunity was presented to Kaepernick this past Saturday as the NFL offered to conduct a workout for the embattled QB. Why? What suddenly changed on a random Saturday before Week 11 action? I would imagine the man that kept a ticker since he was denied employment also had the same line of questioning. Despite doubts, Colin showed up to town. What happened next has created the recent back and forth between those following this weekend's adventure closely. Kaepernick's crew alleges the NFL's workout featured multiple stipulations: the signing of a waiver--typically not utilized--which would have forced the QB to forfeit the ability to sue the league, no control of the private footage from the workout that would be available to all 32 teams, as well as no knowledge of the receivers whom would be linked to his one, true shot at getting back in the league. Kaepernick's response--which we now know had to be in action well beforehand--was to move the location and time of the workout to a different venue roughly an hour away from the original site. The change of plans, complete with the QB's own production team, would be live streamed allowing the public the transparency Kaepernick desired. The conversation that would follow ranged from questions of Kaepernick's desire to play to applause at the quarterback executing a crafty Machiavellian maneuver. It is said the average NFL career lasts roughly three seasons. At 32 years old, Kaepernick's tenure spanned double, logging six seasons since his debut in 2011. For a man doing quite well equipped with a new path and purpose, exactly what is the reason to prostrate oneself in what one could easily deem to be a farce of a workout put on by the NFL? While people are excusably led astray in Kaepernick's insistence that he is awaiting a job, no one also could have seen his venue switch happen either. What does he stand to gain in feigning interest in a NFL gig? It plays further into the idea of the NFL actively playing a role in keeping the former Super Bowl participant out of the league; adding credibility to the backstory of a football player so moved by an epidemic that he put his career on the line in his attempt to draw attention to the matter. And arguably, the NFL--and the parties acting on its behalf--really haven't done much to disprove his narrative; in part, because this entire situation has been handled expertly by Kaepernick. While many were annoyed at Kaepernick's silence, the quiet enabled the quarterback to make the most of the undivided attention he had during his workout. Quiet has also allowed the NFL and their missteps to speak loudly. This out the blue workout attracted representatives from 25 teams, despite no updates or reports from Kaepernick of any teams having been interested after Kaepernick's first offseason as a free agent. And yet, the public is set up to believe that if Colin Kaepernick complied, the smoke would be cleared and all would be forgiven? Colin Kaepernick has his detractors: Stephen A. Smith of ESPN being a prominent one and one would imagine after allegations that Jay-Z played a role in the workout taking place, he would be a new foe as well. Yet there seems to be this loud cry for Kaepernick to tuck his tail and beg for mercy. Instead of being angry at Kaepernick for wearing a Kunta Kinte shirt to his workout, maybe inquire why. Maybe try to piece together the puzzle of what statement he may be leaving for people that share his sensibilities. It seems a bit sad to me to see people simply fold at the notion of "oh well, politics as usual" or "this is America". Yet when someone dares to take on 'the machine', he's left out to dry. Am I advocating for boycotting the NFL? No, I have not stopped watching the NFL and don't plan on doing so anytime soon myself. More so, I'd like to know where the 'community' goes from here? The same community that has no problem extolling the virtues of the late Nipsey Hussle and his calls for Black empowerment have been gifted a player that's willing to put comfort aside in the name of standing up for what's right. And what does he get in return? Ridicule. He is told to shut up and throw a football. Not by Laura Ingraham or anyone else from the side of the aisle those remarks are usually expected. Often the Black community questions why it cannot create a luxury brand the likes of Gucci or Louis Vuitton. Maybe it is because when we have a Phat Farm or FUBU, we underappreciate its value and importance. At the same time, Black people are not monoliths. This is part of the difficulty in a call for a united stand. We have grown to occupy various upbringings and points of view. But my call isn't for everyone to outright agree with Kaepernick but simply to appreciate his act. He is not the perfect messenger. But who was? King was not. Malcolm X was not. Yet we have the ability to understand the bigger picture with those leaders. And seem to fight the ability to do the same here. So much of the micro, and its influence, dictate our views today. We have social media. We are in an age where we want our news in 140-280 characters. We want instant gratification. We don't want to look at the long term play. We don't want to speculate as to how Kaepernick may be viewed down the line. All we know is he said he wanted to play and he didn't follow instructions. He deserves to be punished. He's a clown. Pathetic. How would the generations of yesteryear take to us simply laying down and accepting the status quo? What points does Kaepernick receive in an age where athletes left and right can't stay out of the courtroom? For someone that signed himself up for all of this, he's answered the call. The impact of what Colin Kaepernick's name is today, what it will be 20 years from now has reached a level the NFL would not have been able to manufacture for him. But sure Stephen A, tell us how he's such a bad example for the kids. Kaepernick may not be successful in getting employment in the NFL. If I am a betting man, I'd say he's probably come to terms with that a while ago. But you appreciate a small step in understanding how the path forged allows the next person to walk that much further. Many lauded Jay-Z's signing with the NFL as an ability to change the organization from the inside. Yet there was one man trying to do that and getting slandered by the people clamoring for the change the most. Say less. |
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Ty FosterQuestion everything. WQHC Archives
June 2020
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