Colin Kaepernick is an NFL quarterback that plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He is 28 years old and is going into his 7th year of professional football. Over the years Kaepernick has shown some amazing talent on the field. In the 2012 season he had a passer rating of 98.3, a very impressive number. The following season he threw for 21 touchdowns and was widely lauded as a new superstar. A big contract followed. Unfortunately, more big numbers didn’t. Kaepernick’s numbers have deteriorated annually and last year while throwing only 6 touchdowns, he was benched. He is not expected to be the starter for the 49ers on opening day this year.
That has not kept him out of the headlines however.
Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the National Anthem before his team’s preseason game this past week. It’s actually not the first time that he has deliberately sat down during the anthem, but this week he decided to speak out as to why he chose to intentionally disrespect flag and country.
During a post-game interview when asked why he sat down he stated, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
Kaepernick need look no further than the evening news to see the absurdity of his comment. On a daily basis we have quotes, comments and stories about our President, Barack Obama. Obama is a man of color. The Attorney General of the United States, widely referred to as the “top cop” in the nation, is a black female. In fact the last two Attorneys General have been black.
Depending on the source of his national news, the poor oppressed quarterback may notice that the news itself is being delivered by people of color. Lester Holt is the NBC News anchor. He is also black. Flip from news channel to news channel and you’ll find the minority communities of America are a key part of daily broadcasts.
So those that make the news on a daily basis are people of color…and those that deliver the news on a daily basis are often people of color. How then has Colin Kaepernick arrived at the determination that people of color are oppressed in America? Perhaps we should look at his own circumstance.
Kaepernick is the offspring of a black man and a white woman. His dad disappeared before he was born and his mom was unable to raise him, so he was put up for adoption. He was adopted, loved and raised by a white couple. There is no evidence he lived an oppressed childhood as a result. In fact, he was welcomed as the youngest of their three children and given every opportunity to succeed. He was given every opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
If the American Dream is signing a contract for $126 million, Kaepernick has succeeded, and then some. Let me repeat that number. $126 million. Will you earn that much in the next five years? Will you earn that in your lifetime? If not, just be thankful you’re not oppressed like Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick needs to stop disrespecting the American flag, the United States and the countless men and women who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice to assure he has the free speech he has been abusing as of late. Perhaps he could travel the world to Asia, Africa and the most troubled parts of the Middle East to learn what oppression really is.
Black America faces some unique challenges, but a look at some hard facts means Kaepernick, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the others that point to modern oppression might need to look in the mirror instead.
* 72.3% of black children in America are born out of wedlock. Statistics clearly show that kids growing up in one parent homes have a far higher risk of drug use, criminal activity and educational failure. This is not white oppression.
* African Americans account for 49% of all homicide victims in the United States. 93% of those homicides are committed by other African Americans. This is not white oppression.
Despite the alarming numbers, community leaders and black activists continue to weave the narrative that all the ills of black America are the result of ongoing systemic oppression. Where is the outrage that dad’s abandon their children? Where is the outrage that violent crime in the black community is exploding? Such outrage doesn’t exist. Instead groups live Black Lives Matter are calling for the deaths of police. And getting them.
Where was Colin Kaepernick when five law enforcement were shot and killed in Dallas at the end of a Black Lives Matter demonstration? Crickets. Not a word.
One little aside, Kaepernick drew a yellow penalty flag and was slapped with a large monetary fine for using the “n” word toward another player during the 2014 NFL season. He denied any wrong doing of course. Apparently it’s not oppression if he’s the offender.
When Colin Kaepernick sits again next week during the National Anthem, remember that it’s because he lives in a society that oppresses him. Also remember he’ll be collecting a pay check each and every week of this calendar year for about $280,000.00. PER WEEK. Oh to be so oppressed.
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