Twenty-eight-year-old San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a stand on the side of Africans and other oppressed people around the world on Friday, August 26th by refusing to stand for the national anthem at Friday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
Colin, the biological child of a white woman and an African man, was adopted at five weeks old and raised by a white couple. Despite this, he has firmly stated that he is “a representative of the African community.”
This is the third time that Colin has refused to stand for the national anthem before a pre-season game.
With this third act of resistance Colin has put his football career and endorsements on the line, and has upset the general white population––some of which have burned their Kaepernick jersey in protest. Colonial media is also in a frenzy.
Colin has since come out to say that they can take football and his endorsements away, but he has to stand for what he believes in. He is also reported as saying that he has been thinking for a while of what he could do to speak out.
“I have to stand up for people that are oppressed”
Colin sat during the U.S. anthem while the rest of his football team stood in allegiance to the imperialist U.S.
A reporter warned him that he was going to report the story of him not standing for the flag, but Colin responded that he is all in and that he has the spine and the backbone to deal with any backlash coming his way.
He explained his decision with conviction and passion to an nfl.com reporter with his statement, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
The Quarterback also stated, “I am not looking for approval, I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.”
The 49ers issued a statement in response to Colin’s stance of resistance:
“The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”
Colin’s act of resistance has sparked a rift amongst his teammates as some members are offended and disunited with his actions.
This, coupled with the upset of much of their sports fans, puts the team managers into a difficult spot.
If they fire Colin Kaepernick, people will think it’s because of the political statement he made. And if they don’t fire him, fans may threaten to not come to the games or watch the team play, costing the team money.
Colin stated firmly in an interview on Sunday, “Yes, I’ll continue to sit. I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed.”
The act of resistance to show solidarity for Africans and other colonized people
Colin did what many Africans and other colonized people have done or wanted to do in their classrooms, at their team’s sports games, and wherever else they were presented with the time to align with the imperialist U.S.––he sat in strength, dis-unity and resistance.
The times where Africans and other colonized people in this country have been threatened or ostracized for what is perceived as not showing respect to imperialist U.S. is still present.
During the recent Summer Olympic Games, 20-year-old athlete Gabrielle Douglas received a storm or backlash and harsh bullying from various arms of white power for not putting her hand across her chest during the national anthem.
Even though she did not break any rules or laws, Gabrielle quickly apologized in order to protect her endorsements.
She went to Twitter, using the aid of a cartoon version of herself wrapped snuggly in the U.S. flag. She expressed that she didn’t intent to disrespect anybody and apologized for offending anyone.
Gabrielle made it clear to the entire world that she was on the side of imperialist U.S. with her apology.
Colin, on the other hand, firmly showed where his allegiance rests by speaking out against police and white vigilante murder of Africans and colonized peoples.
All colonized people must take a stand against colonialism
We must demand that Gabrielle and other African athletes stand in unity with Colin and show solidarity to colonized people.
We must also take a stand in supporting Colin. Taking a stand with our brothers and sisters who unite with our fight––even if they receive backlash from colonial media or the general white population––is important for our liberation.
The time is now to take a stand for the rights of all oppressed people around the world. The time is now to take a stand against the system that oppresses us in this country. Now is the time to walk out of our jobs, out of the schools and into the streets to demand independence.
Now is the time, because we colonized people have been under the oppressive boot of parasitic capitalism and colonialism were brought here against our will, or invaded upon in this country and beyond.
We Africans must come into organization. The African People’s Socialist Party has been organizing the African working class for over 40 years. We have many organizations, each with a special strategy to work to overturn different areas in which Africans are oppressed.
One such organization, the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM), is tasked with defending the international democratic rights of all colonized African communities, with the understanding that the highest expression of democracy is self-determination.
The APSP and InPDUM unite with Colin wholeheartedly. We unite with Colin’s use of his platform to spread the message that the rewards of parasitic capitalism is nothing compared to the lives and freedom of oppressed people around the world.
We salute Colin for using his stage to show the world that we have to stand up against colonialism, especially when the watching.
Uhuru!
Uhuru means freedom!
Freedom in our lifetime!
We salute Colin Kaepernnick!
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