Issues Under Fire: #BoycottNFL, #BoycottDallasCowboys, #BoycottESPN, #FirstAmendment
For those who may not be connecting the dots, you'll be surprised to know, America is in the middle of a race war. So far, it's been a war of words, but make no mistake about it, it is a war and the battle lines have been drawn. At the heart of the conflict is the U.S. Constitution and whether or not it protects Blacks and Whites equally. When Colin Kaepernick took a knee last year during the playing of the national anthem to protest racial inequality and routine police brutality against Black males, little did he know that he'd fired the first salvo in this fight.
Born out of the Black Lives Matter movement, Kaepernick's non-violent protest challenged America's well rehearsed pretense that U.S. law enforcement serves and protects communities of color as it does White communities. This challenged America in a way it's never been challenged before, because it doesn't take a constitutional scholar to recognize, Colin Kaepernick is standing on the very foundation of U.S. constitutional principles. And no amount of flag waving patriotism can change that.
When "45" called for that "Son of a Bitch" (Kaepernick) to be fired for exercising his constitutional right to protest, it was clear to this observer, the person masquerading as president of the United States has no idea what protections the U.S. Constitution guarantees American citizens. When the White House called for the firing of ESPN anchor Jemele Hill for calling "45" a white supremacist, it was clear to this observer, "45" didn't give a damn about protected speech. If anyone dares to say anything critical of him, there will be a price to pay. However, because "45" is playing such a prominent role in this race war of words (and tweets), a lot of people and organizations are going to pay a price.
ESPN will pay a price for trying to place a muzzle on their talented anchor for tweeting her private opinions (something "45" does day and night). Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, will pay a price for giving his players an ultimatum "stand for the anthem or sit out the game." The Dallas Cowboy franchise will pay a price for creating a plantation-like workplace for their Black players. Unfortunately, the Black players will pay the highest price of all. The Black players will have to look their sons and daughters in the eye one day and explain why they stood for a flag that didn't stand for them.
Still, it won't stop there, because all of professional and college sports will pay a price since this fight for free speech will spread to the NBA, the NCAA, MLB and beyond. Even high school players are challenging their coaches, H.S. principals and school districts. Also, being told to stand for the national anthem or risk not being allowed to play, Black parents are supporting their kids taking a stand by taking a knee. Black kids learn at a very early age, that America leans White when it comes to human, civil and constitutional rights. From the moment they get "The Talk", they know what it means to be Black in America.
Bottom line: American novelist, short-story writer and playwright Sinclair Lewis wrote, "when fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross". Reportedly, when Lewis wrote it, fascism was sweeping Europe and he felt it might become a threat here. He was right. No matter how long, hard or angry this battle gets, America's race war of words must only have one outcome. The right to free speech must prevail over patriotic sentiments. If Black America loses its fight for freedom of speech, all of America loses. Podcast below.
Comments
Post a Comment