STILL DANCING

Recently San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem and it stirred up a lot of noise over the last week.  People having been very vocal about how they feel about Kaepernick not standing for the national anthem. Some have even gone so far as to burn Kaepernick’s jersey and make hateful videos about Kaepernick. Although I find that disgusting and I can understand that because after all, he is in America where a black man doesn’t have to do much to receive harsh criticism from a country that never had much love for black men.  You can imagine the names Kaepernick has been called and the attacks made on his character because he took a stand and chose to speak on some of the horrifying things that have been happening in America.

As I said I am disgusted with how some Americans are treating Mr. Kaepernick for simply using his voice for those who have no voice. This is what America has done whenever someone stands up and goes against the grain.  A lot of this was to be expected from some parts of white America and the mainstream media. Which by the way seem to be the PC police when the issue is something silly as how people stand or don’t stand for the playing of the national anthem. These issues took center stage meanwhile not a peep about the reason Mr. Kaepernick sat down in the first place. With all that said nothing has been as troubling for me as my fellow Americans of African descent coming out again Colin Kaepernick.

I wonder in my mind how anyone could find fault in what Kaepernick spoke on. He talks about justice not only for his people but justice for all peoples. Like I said it’s understandable given the history of this country that Americans of European descent would not agree with Kaepernick but how could any person of color disagree with what he said? Persons of color who choose not to side with Kaepernick I find this more deplorable than anything said by those outside our groups. Men I once had a great deal of respect for because of their work ethic and dedication to their craft are now speaking out against Kaepernick a man who has risked everything for people who look just like them. Men like Jerry Rice Victor Cruz and James Harrison making the statements you would expect  to hear from some part of white America but never from your own people.

These men have been on the front line of the racist culture in the NFL and they more than any fan or spectator should know about racism in America because they have faced it at the highest levels. These men are household names but their posters may hang on the walls of people who still refer to them as niggers. Of all the people you could think of that would not side with a black man taking a stand for justice freedom and equality you wouldn’t think these men would be the ones attacking Colin for his stance.  This is simply unthinkable and shameful in my opinion. Some of these men have even questioned Colin’s blackness. I mean really we should be questioning the minds of men that would stand against their own best interest.

The question I pose to these men in 2016 is: Why are you still dancing? The music has long since stopped yet some of my people can’t stop dancing. In all these years your dancing has gotten you nowhere so why keep doing it? To those men and women who don’t know what to do when a man or woman of African descent takes a stand for the people, let me give you some tips on what to do.

Step 1 when the media comes to you and you disagree with your brother or sister just simply say "No comment". Step 2 If you find yourself unable to escape the questions just say “I don’t have all the facts”. Step 3 If you must say something then say this “My brother / Sister has made a personal choice and it is not my place to question that so at this time I must continue to look into the issue and support my brother/ sister until I have a reason not too.

I forgive Jerry and those other guys because America has screwed us up and many of us are suffering from the effects of racism whether we know it or not. The pic for this story is a little over the top but I only poke fun at my brothers and sisters because no matter what I love them but I just wish they wouldn't dance unless some music is being played. To close we will listen to Colin in his own words.