Recently I had this clip from The View pop up in my Facebook timeline discussing opinions on the decision Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Fransisco 49ers, made to sit (and now kneel) during the singing of the United States national anthem. The more I write, the more I realize just how powerful the words we use are. But even more so are the words we don’t. Now while I know absolutely nothing about Paula (race, ethnicity, beliefs, morals, intentions, etc.), what I do know is that this stance and perspective echoed by so many people on the opposite side of the color line, screams of the institutionalized, structural and programmed aspects of racism that are buried so deep within us, that most of the time we don’t even realize when we are actively participating in or perpetuating it.
As Paula spoke, I initially thought it was me – that maybe I was being sensitive, but there was just something unnerving about how she kept putting American in front of everything.
American anthem.
American sport.
American money.
American fans.
I couldn’t figure out why it made me so uncomfortable until Whoopi Goldberg interrupted.
“He is an American.”
At that moment, it hit me. Without saying it and probably not even meaning to, Paula’s words showed just how problematic this perspective is. It has to do with the unspoken classification of what “American” is and how one who is American but is not really considered to be, is supposed to behave when doing all things American.
“He is an American.”
If Colin Kaepernick is truly an American, then these things: anthem, sport, money and fans, are his. With accepting that Colin is an American we can simply remove the word American and replace it with Colin. It’s just like we do in math:
x + 5 = 7
x = 2
2 + 5 = 7.
See? It’s that simple. He is an American so, it’s:
His anthem.
His sport.
His money.
His fans.
“… whites in America don’t have such a distinction attached to their Americanness.”
The distinction can be found even in the label African-American. It’s like you are American but not quite. Heaven forbid you’re labeled as just black. You’re barely considered an American at all. However, whites in America don’t have such a labeling or distinction attached to their Americanness. Is that just a coincidence? Or is there no need to because in America, white = American.
Interestingly enough, if Colin were white and sat during the anthem in protest to countless slain white people who receive no justice for their murders, whites would more than likely rally around him. I’m sure of it. Even if some criticized his lack of patriotism, it would be overshadowed by the overwhelming amount of support from whites who shared his thoughts and frustration. It would be a no-brainer because they too would not like their people being treated in such an unfair and cruel manner. The last thing anyone would bring up is America and, if they did, it would be to say that America has failed him and every other white person who hasn’t received the justice they deserve. And how would they be wrong? I mean, it is their America right? It’s just not ours.
“Who exactly is “our” and what is “American?”
“Our American anthem”
The problem is it’s not Colin’s anthem. It’s “ours” and it’s “American” and those ever so cunning, deceptive words do not include Colin. Instead they are a reminder of just how excluded he is and maybe always will be. “Ours” & “American” don’t translate into blacks and people of color in this country, they translate into white, and that’s what validates the feeling of disrespect. It’s a:
White anthem.
White sport.
White money.
White fans.
How dare he disrespect it?
“The anthem is just as much his as it is the person who feels disrespected…”
“He is an American.”
Colin is an American and as an American the American anthem belongs to him. The anthem is just as much his as it is the person who feels disrespected by how he refuses to honor it. He is free to do with his anthem as you, I or anyone else chooses to, especially if it does not prevent, limit or encroach upon what another does with theirs. There is nothing un-American about Colin making the choice not to stand during the anthem. The only thing un-American is not allowing him the freedom to do so.
