The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was a political demonstration conducted by African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City.
After having won gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200 meter running event, they turned on the podium to face their flags, and to hear the American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Each athlete raised a black-gloved fist.
FAST-FORWARD TO 2016
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,”
Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
~~GRAPHIC SOURCE~~
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States.
He has continued his refusal to stand for the anthem and has explained his reasons why.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
He said that he has discussed his feelings with his family and, after months of witnessing some of the civil unrest in the U.S., decided to be more active and involved in rights for black people.
Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents and siblings.
The matter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump‘s military service (or lack thereof) has surfaced twice so far in this election cycle, first in July 2015 when Trump maligned Sen. John McCain, a POW during the Vietnam War, for being captured, and a second time in July 2016 when he openly feuded with the family of slain U.S. soldier Humayun Khan after Khan’s father, Khizr, criticized Trump during an appearance at the Democratic National Convention.
I find it very interesting how, when any event takes place, I like to go back and look for the history behind it.
Why did the event take place?
Colin Kaepernick’s statement is such a situation for me.
I’m not a football fan. I’d never heard of Kaepernick.
I sure know about him now!
I have been following the stories about excessive force in law enforcement events since Trayvon Martin’s death. It really came to my full attention with Michael Brown’s death.
Since then, I’ve been up on follow up events, situations and details.
I followed Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile … many more in between and many after.
I consider myself to be a fair, balanced individual.
There’s no doubt in my mind that these are instances of excessive police force.
Rather than de-escalation, it’s escalation.
It’s more prevalent within the African-American population.
This is the message that Keapernick is trying to bring to the forefront.
Seems to me he’s done a good job at calling attention to this matter.
The Forgotten Verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Do you know all the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
Many people have difficulty memorizing the lyrics of the first verse of this song, which is commonly performed at sports events and other public gatherings. But did you know that there are three additional verses that we almost never hear?
In 1814, the poet and lyricist Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” originally known as “Defense of Fort M’Henry.” During the War of 1812, Key witnessed the attacks on Baltimore and wrote the words based on his experiences this night. These lyrics were printed in local newspapers and set to the tune of an existing song called “Anacreon in Heaven,” and then officially arranged by John Philip Sousa. Key’s famous lyrics entered the world as a broadside ballad, or a song written on a topical subject, and printed for wide distribution.
More than a century later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem, and in 1931, the US Congress confirmed the decision. The tune has kicked off ceremonies of national importance and athletic events ever since.
While the first verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is widely known by the American public, the last three verses are generally omitted in performances.
Colin Kaepernick has awakened some serious issues for the caucasian European humans in The United Slave States Of AmeriKKKlan. See, in AmeriKKKa, we The People Of Color, are aware of racism on a daily basis.
We The People Of Color understand there is NO such thing as a “post racial America.” We The People Of Color live racism everyday, no matter what our so called “station” in life happens to be in our minds.
~Mr. Militant Negro~
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It Is What It Is 