Take A Knee

I want to talk about something that is often perceived as a somewhat divisive and controversial topic. So, here we go, I want to talk about race. I don’t believe that race is a real thing. Okay, okay, just hear me out. Blood types are real, they are scientific tangible things. Climate change is real— I’m sorry to those who disagree, but it is a scientific fact—it is something that can be easily measured and is agreed upon across borders within the scientific community; race, however, is not real. How race is perceived in one country does not necessarily translate over to another, there are countries that include many race types and there are countries that have only a few and in some countries, groups that have historically been perceived to be of one race can change if it benefits the group in power. Race is not a biological reality, it is rather a culturally constructed form of categorization. Unfortunately, that is not where it ends, one would think that a made-up construct wouldn’t have so much power, but in our society it does. A rather well-known sociologist W.I. Thomas wrote: “if a person perceives a situation as real, it is real in its consequences.” This strange statement explains race and its effect on the United State perfectly, people have long perceived race to be true and as such it is a very real thing in our society. Furthermore, people have bought into and accepted certain stereotypes as truth as well and the reality of these beliefs rests in the consequences they render.

I am talking about this now because there is a great deal of controversy revolving around the NFL, kneeling during the national anthem, and Black Lives Matter. We have a president who claims that some people who are marching with Nazi flags and spouting racist sentiments are “good people” and calling others who kneel in protest to racial injustice “Sons of B****es.” The difference between these two groups and their goals is obvious that one would have to be blind or willfully ignorant not to see it. I don’t what it says about us that we have allowed something that doesn’t actually exist in physical reality to divide us. In our society is only all too common to make decisions about a person based on the color of their skin rather than who they are as a person. There are some who claim that kneeling during the national anthem is disrespectful; however, I must disagree. Peaceful protest is a fundamental American right, it is not disrespectful to peacefully disagree and peacefully make steps to show that one believes there needs to be a change. These individuals are not protesting the flag, rather they are protesting the injustice that exists in our country. They are making a stand and demanding progress instead of stagnation and ultimate regression. Finally, they are demanding that the government keep the promises that the flag represents; the promise of equal justice under law, that all people will be recognized as equal, and the promise to protect each American’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

 I could sit back and be silent and ignore the whole situation, but as Elie Wiesel stated, “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” So, I will kneel in respect for my injured country and I will hold firm to my belief that something needs to change in order to make America the land it promised to be, but has never been. 

OAKLAND RAIDERS‏ @RAIDERS

 United

Source: Oakland Raiders Twitter Account.

 As a side note, if you are interested in learning more about racial inequality and injustice in the United States I would suggest taking a look at:

·       13^th (this is a documentary on Netflix addressing the overrepresentation of African Americans in jails and prisons.)

·       The New Jim Crow (this also addresses mass incarceration and racism)

·       Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America (this book discusses the stagnation in racial progress and color-blind racism.)

If you have any thoughts on the subject matter or have any sources to add, please feel free to share.