NFL Season Recap

As we begin the end, the end of the NFL season that is. We must not forget that on the night of the biggest game of the year, the most important game wasn’t even played on the field. The “game” I’m referencing, the game that had the most impact on the season, was a game between two guys that don’t even play football. The game between President Trump and his favorite target, Colin Kaepernick.

Colin Kaepernick started this season as the NFL’s greatest talking point, without even being on a roster. Kaepernick was not on a roster, simply, because he questioned if America had stood by its values, something that bothered some Americans after he knelt for oppressed black and brown folk. Kneeling for people’s rights during a song, especially if it’s a song that represents the country, should never be a hot take, but here we are.

But why was he threat? Wouldn’t the greatest threat to America’s values be allowing them to be ignored to benefit the majority race, instead of upholding them for the benefit of all. If all men are created equal, shouldn’t we do all we can to treat them as such? In fact, what Kaepernick did by kneeling brought more attention to another fact that proves America doesn’t truly support their supposed beliefs.

The third verse of the national anthem, is a verse that speaks of the institution of slavery. So, the next time you want black people to feel connected to a song, maybe pick one that doesn’t speak on their least favorite moment in their long history of oppression. Kaepernick made Americans think, the greatest success and the main goal of every protest.

President Trump, in response to Kaepernick’s protest, referred to NFL players who protested as “sons of bitches,” a statement that could only be said by that man. No one, not a coach, not a player, not an owner, not one other person could have said that and been cheered for as Trump was.

Trump would continue spewing hateful comments towards those who protested while disrespecting the same ones he claimed to stand for, veterans. The issue for Trump was never about the troops and their brave service, but that he saw black men telling America to uphold the promises that had been outlined for it. Trump does the same, but in a different way, by challenging America’s beliefs everyday as he continues to push policies and rhetoric that go against them.

The two players in the NFL’s most important game didn’t play a snap this season, one because he had to be punished for kneeling for black and brown folk. The game between the two still goes on. The winner may be the guy you’re cheering for, that does not mean America wins with that result.