Page 18 - ATD1September2016

SPORTS A19
AP Explains:
National anthem is icon of patriotism, protestÂ
ERRIN HAINES WHACK
Associated Press
San Francisco 49ers quar-
terback Colin Kaeper-
nick’s recent decision to
not stand during the na-
tional anthem as a way of
protesting police killings of
unarmed black men has
drawn support and scorn
far beyond sports. The As-
sociated Press explains
how “The Star-Spangled
Banner” became a ritual
of American public life,
its complicated racial ori-
gins and how the song has
been used as a form of po-
litical resistance.
___
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
AS A RITUAL OF AMERI-
CANÂ SPORT
The national anthem
and sports first merged
in the early 20th century,
when “The Star-Spangled
Banner” became part of
baseball games. The an-
them is played before the
start of every U.S. majors-
porting event, where fans
and players are expected
to salute the flag by plac-
ing a hand over the heart
while singing along. Not
doing so is considered un-
patriotic by some.
“It’s important to remem-
ber that a lot of these tradi-
tions that we take as time-
less or dating back to the
founders are pretty recent
innovations,” said Kevin
Kruse, a historian at Princ-
eton University.
___
BLACK ATHLETES AND PO-
LITICAL PROTEST
Kaepernick’s protest was
the latest in a history of
actions by black athletes
meant to call out the dis-
crepancies between the
experiences of people of
color and America’s pro-
fessed ideals, said Penn
State historian Crystal Sand-
ers.
In 1968, Olympians Tommie
Smith and John Carlos lifted
their black-gloved fists as
the national anthem was
played after they won the
gold and bronze medals in
the men’s 200-meter sprint
— a gesture seen as radi-
 In this Nov. 8, 2015, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands on the
field during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif.
cal and an endorsement
of black power. Boxer Mu-
hammad Ali, celebrated as
an American hero after his
death in June, was arrest-
ed in 1967 after his refusal
to be drafted into the U.S.
Army during the Vietnam
War was seen as an act of
civil disobedience. Jack-
ie Robinson, who broke
the color barrier in Major
League Baseball, wrote in
his autobiography that he
was unable to sing the na-
tional anthem or salute the
flag.
Former Denver Nuggets
point guard Mahmoud
Abdul-Rauf was suspended
by the NBA after refusing to
participate in the national
anthem pre-game cere-
mony in 1996. More recent-
ly, NBA players including
Derrick Rose and LeBron
James have worn T-shirts
reading “I Can’t Breathe”
in reference to Eric Garner,
who was killed by New York
City police officers in 2014.
Last month, Carmelo An-
thony, Chris Paul, Dwyane
Wade and James opened
the ESPY Awards with a
message about gun vio-
lence against minorities.
“The outrage we’re seeing
Thursday 1 September 2016
is allowed under the First
Amendment.
___
HOW “THE STAR-SPANGLED
BANNER” WAS BORN
Watching the bombing
of Fort McHenry while de-
tained on a British ship dur-
ing the War of 1812, attor-
ney Francis Scott Key was
inspired to write “The Star-
Spangled Banner” as he
saw the American flag fly-
ing overhead in the early
morning hours of Sept. 14,
1814. The flag’s presence
signaled the retreat of Brit-
ish ships from Baltimore’s
harbor and the U.S. survival
of a battle that lasted 25
hours. The showdown gal-
vanized the young coun-
try and the flag became
a symbol of determination
and victory.
“The Star-Spangled Ban-
ner” was popular among
Associated Press
the branches of the armed
in light of the Kaepernick outraged some who see forces throughout the 19th
decision ... is just another his protest as offensive and
example of our country’s un-American. It is also an century, but more than a
lack of a real understand- unwelcome distraction for
ing of what it means to be those who view sports as a century would pass before
a person of color in the Unit- way to transcend conflicts
ed States,” Sanders said. around race, gender, poli- the song would become
“Wealth, education, attire tics and other uncomfort-
the national anthem. Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson
signed an executive order
declaring it so in 1916, and
Congress passed an act
confirming the order in 1931
that was signed into law by
President Herbert Hoover
the same year.
___
CONTROVERSIAL THIRD
VERSE
Key supported slavery and
came from a powerful
plantation family in Mary-
land. His background may
have influenced the song’s
third verse, which includes
the lyrics, “No refuge could
save the hireling and slave/
From the terror of flight or
In this March 15, 1996 file photo, Denver Nuggets guard Mah- the gloom of the grave.”
moud Abdul-Rauf stands with his teammates and prays during
the national anthem before an NBA basketball game against These words have been in-
the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. This was Abdul-Rauf’s first game
back since he was suspended by the NBA on March 12, 1996, terpreted as a reference to
for refusing to participate in the national anthem pre-game cer-
emony. the Colonial Marines, black
Associated Press recruits to the British forces
who fought in exchange
for their freedom.
... none of that prevents us able subjects in American Kaepernick’s objection to
from being victims of racial life.
discrimination.” Others have come to his saluting the flag was not
___ defense, saying his deci-
WHY THE CONTROVERSY? sion to sit out the national related to the third verse
Kaepernick’s decision has anthem and flag salute
of the national anthem,
but his protest has brought
fresh attention to this for-
gotten stanza.q