NFL Takes A Knee - In Depth Notes
Rewriting Activism: The NFL Takes A Knee
NFL Branding
NFL logo colors: red, white, and blue.
Features eight stars and the initials "NFL".
Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasizes need to "protect the shield" of the NFL brand.
Brand strategy involves shielding from various threats.
NFL promotes itself as part of a post-race meritocracy, but acknowledges that people of color face targeting by policing, contradicting its ideology.
MIMI-NET
Represents the intersection of technology and media, portraying American militarism positively.
Normalizes militarized violence, supporting the industry that funds it.
Displays such as jet flyovers, flag waving, and fireworks create a spectacle justifying militaristic ideals.
History of Activism in Sports
Historical figures include:
Muhammad Ali, who faced opposition for his activism.
Jackie Robinson, the first African-American MLB player, breaking racial barriers.
Recent protests highlight backlash against NFL players like those from the Rams who protested Michael Brown's death, emphasizing risks faced by players voicing dissent.
Playing National Anthems
The Star Spangled Banner is traditionally performed before major sporting events, especially the Super Bowl.
National crisis events lead to heightened displays during the anthem.
Post-9/11, the emphasis on the national anthem reinforced military connections.
Colin Kaepernick
Former backup QB for the 49ers initiated protests by sitting and kneeling during the anthem, challenging racist policing practices and social injustices.
Faced backlash, accused of being anti-military and divisive.
Players viewed as crucial to the NFL brand; their collective actions impact league reputation.
Responses from Trump and the NFL
Trump labeled kneeling players as "sons of a b****" during a rally, escalating tensions.
The NFL's attempts at compromise were perceived as suppressing Black activist expression while promoting military patriotism.
Reactions from Players and Owners
Players and NFL personnel began to link arms in solidarity against Trump's remarks.
Some teams opted to remain in locker rooms during the anthem.
Notable actions: Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys owner) knelt before the anthem, then joined players in solidarity.
NFL's Position
Instead of addressing racial discrimination, the NFL promotes an image of unity among all Americans, downplaying specific racial issues.
Initiatives and Responses in the NFL
XFL mandated players to stand during the anthem.
Papa John's attributed financial issues to NFL protests.
NFL launched "Let's Listen Together" to address social justice but faced skepticism.
League introduced policies mandating players to stand for the anthem.
Conclusion
Kaepernick's message has been neutralized in favor of the NFL's portrayal as apolitical, which perpetuates systemic racism and supports racist policing practices.
The NFL prioritizes brand protection over addressing social justice concerns.
NFL Branding
The NFL logo features red, white, and blue colors, with eight stars and the initials "NFL." Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasizes the need to "protect the shield" of the NFL brand, and the brand strategy involves shielding it from various threats. Although the NFL promotes itself as a part of a post-race meritocracy, it acknowledges that people of color face targeting by policing, which contradicts its overarching ideology.
MIMI-NET
MIMI-NET represents the intersection of technology and media, portraying American militarism in a positive light. It normalizes militarized violence and supports the industry that funds it, employing spectacles such as jet flyovers, flag waving, and fireworks to justify militaristic ideals.
History of Activism in Sports
Historically, figures such as Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson have faced opposition for their activism, with Robinson being the first African-American MLB player to break racial barriers. Recent protests emphasize the backlash against NFL players, particularly those from the Rams, who protested the death of Michael Brown, illustrating the risks players face when voicing dissent.
Playing National Anthems
The Star Spangled Banner is traditionally performed before major sporting events, especially during the Super Bowl. National crisis events have led to heightened displays during the anthem, with post-9/11 emphasis on reinforcing military connections.
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick, a former backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, initiated protests by sitting and kneeling during the anthem to challenge racist policing practices and social injustices. He faced significant backlash, being accused of being anti-military and divisive. Players are viewed as pivotal to the NFL brand, and their collective actions significantly impact the league's reputation.
Responses from Trump and the NFL
Former President Trump labeled kneeling players as "sons of a b****" during a rally, escalating tensions surrounding the protests. The NFL's attempts at compromise were perceived as suppressing Black activist expression while simultaneously promoting military patriotism.
Reactions from Players and Owners
In response to Trump's remarks, players and NFL personnel began to link arms in solidarity. Some teams chose to remain in locker rooms during the anthem, while notable actions included Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones kneeling before the anthem and then joining players in solidarity.
NFL's Position
Rather than addressing racial discrimination directly, the NFL promotes an image of unity among all Americans, downplaying specific racial issues that need to be confronted.
Initiatives and Responses in the NFL
The XFL mandated that players stand during the anthem, while Papa John's attributed its financial issues to NFL protests. The NFL launched the "Let's Listen Together" initiative to address social justice, but it faced skepticism from critics. Additionally, the league introduced policies mandating that players stand for the anthem.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Kaepernick's message has been neutralized in favor of the NFL's portrayal as apolitical, perpetuating systemic racism and supporting racist policing practices. The NFL has prioritized brand protection over addressing pressing social justice concerns.
Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback, has often been portrayed in a negative light by some segments of sports media journalists following his protests during the national anthem. Many journalists failed to contextualize his actions as a response to systemic racism and police brutality, rather than as an attack on the military or the national anthem itself.
Misrepresentation of Intent: After Kaepernick first sat and later knelt during the national anthem, a significant amount of the media coverage painted his actions as disrespectful to the flag and military. This portrayal overshadowed his actual intent, which was to highlight racial injustices and police brutality against people of color in the United States. For example, some columnists focused on criticism from audiences and NFL executives without engaging with Kaepernick's message of social justice. This led to a misrepresentation of his activism, framing him as divisive and unpatriotic.
Focus on Backlash Rather than Support: Instead of providing balanced coverage, many journalists highlighted the backlash Kaepernick received from fans, team owners, and even politicians, such as former President Trump, who called him and others kneeling "sons of b*s". This created an environment where dissent against Kaepernick's activism became a focal point in the media rather than discussing the issues he was protesting or the support from other players and community members. The media's tendency to amplify negative responses detracted from the important discourse about racial issues, effectively silencing Kaepernick's message and framing him as a controversial figure instead of a catalyst for conversation regarding social justice.