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Editorials/Column
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All-In With Kaepernick
egardless of what hap-
pens next, as of right now, Colin Kaepernick is my new favorite NFL quarter- back. It isn't because he's the most talented or plays for my favorite team. No, my admi- ration for the man is rooted in the fact that he had the courage to sit down for some- thing.
All week long the San Francisco 49ers signal caller has been catching tremen- dous heat for not participat- ing in the customary ritual of standing in honor of the American Flag during the singing of the national an- them before pre-season games. His act of defiance was considered so vile in some circles that it was viewed as a treasonous of- fense worthy of death. And, of course, that's why I take my hat off to the guy.
As far as I'm concerned, what Kaepernick did took King Kong-sized, brass, balls. It's one thing to say that you're "about that life," but it's something else entirely to risk millions of dollars in po- tential earnings and any chance at a normal existence in the process of proving your case.
Men like John Carlos and Tommie Smith know this better than anyone. The U. S. never forgave them after
their Black fist salute atop of the medal podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. It got so bad for those dudes that, after their display of re- bellion, they had to be snuck back into the country.
The most interesting thing about this story, though, isn't the outrage sparked by Kaepernick's actions. That was to be expected.
What I'm having trouble understanding are the num- ber of Black people I've wit- nessed beating white people getting mad during the con- troversy? Can somebody please explain to me what made these foot-shuffling Ne- groes so upset?
Kaepernick stated that he refused to recognize the national anthem because he feels America is systemati- cally destroying Black people through mass incarceration and the unjustified shootings of unarmed Black men by po- lice officers. And, until things change, he says he'll never ac- knowledge the pre-game cer- emony. How can any person of African descent, who knows his or her history and sees what's currently taking place, not, at the very least, respect his position?
Kaepernick's protest was something he felt he needed to do in order to bring attention to an issue he feels
passionate about. To him, paying homage to something that, he believes, doesn't rec- ognize his humanity is akin to being complicit to the mis- treatment.
This doesn't even take into account the issue many Black people have a hard time ac- cepting, that neither the American flag nor the na- tional anthem were created with us in mind.
In fact, in the third verse of the original version of the Star-Spangled Banner (the national anthem) written by Francis Scott Key, there is a line that goes: "No refuge could save the hireling and the slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave." Just because we live in America are Black people suppose to blindly have an affinity for a song that speaks harmoniously of killing us? I don't think so.
Like I said before, I'm proud of Kaepernick. His demonstration, like those of others in his age group, shows me that his generation is going to be a problem for the powers-that-be for years to come. They may want us to live on our knees and con- tinue to quietly go along with the program, but if there are any more like San Fran's brave #7 waiting in the wings, I believe it's safe to say that it just ain't gonna happen.
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The Ghosts Of Primary Elections Past
e can hear the chains rattling, much like they did
in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” when Scrooge wakes up to find the Ghost of Christmas Past standing in Scrooge’s living room. But this time, it isn’t the Ghost of Christmas Past we’re talking about, but the Ghost of Primary Elections Past, dragging at least a mile behind him a trail of empty Primary Elections bal- lots uncast by an unrepentant Scrooge who as long as he’s been grown, has answered all opportunities to vote during Primary Elections with “BAAH, HUMBUG!”
He sits there now in his overstuffed living room chair, gloating about his unwillingness to play any part in the Democratic process . . . saying to anyone who will listen, “WHAT THE HEY! BLACK VOTES DON’T MAT- TER, NO WAY!”
So, “Black Sir Nose-Devoid of Votes” is visited by an unsettling spirit taking him back to his childhood where he relives a time when “White Primaries” disal- lowed Black votes, so, his parents were chased away from the polls.
Black Scrooge hears himself pledge to himself that “when I grow up, I’m going to make sure I vote.” But he hasn’t kept his promise. The Ghost of Primary Elections Past reminds him of that, as does the Ghost of the Pres- ent who takes him to a bar where Scrooge pokes fun at his buddies who are thinking about early voting, and the Ghost of the Future who shows Scrooge what he’s got to lose because he has not voted: EVERYTHING!
The ghosts leave, and Sir Nose (aka Black Scrooge) wakes up. With tears in his eyes, he knows he’s missed out once again. But somehow, something has changed him, and he promises that come November, Black Scrooge will be the first one in line to cast his ballot, WON’T YOU?
out of the wood work. They are fearlessly, ferociously, texting, tweeting, emailing, and instagraming hateful language and graphics, conducting mass shootings in our churches, as well as attacking Black people, interracial couples, Muslims, Hispanics, and LBGT cit- izens with regularity as they once did during and after historical Reconstruction.
They are also distributing hate mail, marching and protesting in Black neighborhoods (South Carolina, California, Maryland, New York, and Texas) and burning and bombing our churches AGAIN.
However, this time, third and fourth generation racists pose a threat of monumental proportion expanding their infiltrations in government to the White House.
Lest America end up in 2017 as it did in 1877, wherein the role of political parties was reversed, Black people need to vote in November.
Regardless of what the polls say, Black Americans and all sane-minded-rational and eligible Americans need to vote as if your life depends on it.
Second Reconstruction: 2008 - 2016?
There are several parallels between the atmosphere in America today and the atmosphere that existed in America between 1863 and 1877. The adage that “his- tory repeats itself” represents a hefty portion of truth.
After 14 years of freedom (1877), representation in elected government positions and government protec- tion of the newly gained civil rights of Black Americans, the South was thrown into the “blinding white” hatred days of Jim Crow and American apartheid.
Interestingly, eight years after the first Black Presi- dent of America and the election of more than 43 Con- gressional Senators and Representatives, racist behaviors and language have reared their ugly heads in America’s main-stream as they did during the first Re- construction period.
Indeed, the magnetism of Donald Trump has drawn American racists, hate groups, and closet racists from
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