Suicide By Knee
- Nov 9, 2016
- 2 min read
Colin Kaepernick killed his own cause.
Back on August 26th of this year, San Francisco 49ers Quarter back, Colin Kaepernick chose to sit out the National Anthem before a preseason game. People were outraged. Kaepernick became the most hated player in the eyes of NFL fans. The same NFL fans who still continue to cheer rapists, drug addicts, and domestic abusers.
Overnight, Kaepernick became the most polarizing player in sports. His Jersey was the hottest seller over a period of time. He became the unofficial face of Black Lives Matter.
Kaepernick started a movement.
Many athletes and entertainers around the United States would also chose to sit, kneel, or put up their fists in protest of the unfair and unjust things that is happening to minorities in this country. Kaepernick was someone we could stand by. Someone we could lock our arms together with, and attempt to fight the fight for equality. He could've been our leader.
But that all changed.
When it came to take the ultimate stand and make his voice heard by voting in this election, Kaepernick decided to sit this one out.
What?
I know Kaepernick has criticized both candidates in the past, but choosing not to make your voice heard during this election is moronic. Kaep is looked at as a leader amongst the African American youth. Many of them look up to him, and he let them down. He basically told them to not vote because it's not worth it. Your vote isn't worth it, your voice isn't worth it, your fight isn't worth it.
Choosing not to vote in this election, and announcing it to the public, killed Kaepernick's own cause. He wants people to stand up for racial injustice, but when the chance to vote for a change comes up, he ironically sits right back down.
Kaepernick should've made sure the fans that follow him went to those polls on Tuesday. He had the power to make a major impact, but he turned his back when we needed him the most. Kaepernick is not the leader we thought he was.
Jamel Lewis is the host of Under the Wire Podcast and lead sports writer for Fair One Entertainment, LLC Sports. Contact him on Twitter @JLewisUTW or lewis.jamel@yahoo.com.
Comments