Michael Paniagua

Professor DelNero

Media Criticism

9 May 2021

Colin Kaepernick and His Influence on the BLM Movement

    Whether you agree with the Black Lives Matter movement or not, it is undeniable that it’s one of the most influential campaigns in the nation, as it continues to gain momentum with every instance of racial inequality and discrimination that takes place. The growth of this movement can be partly attributed to being endorsed by people or organizations that have immense social platforms to help spread its message. One of these people is former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. During the National Anthem in an NFL preseason game in August of 2016, the former 49ers quarterback took a knee rather than standing, carrying out this action in order to combat police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. This move, while being a major catapult for awareness towards BLM, would also jeopardize Kaepernick’s career as he knew it, eventually even leading to no team wanting to sign him after his release from San Francisco. Nevertheless, Kaepernick has truly proved himself to be the new face of the civil rights movement, and more specifically the Black Lives Matter movement, within the United States. From putting his career on the line and practically being shut out by the entirety of NFL front offices to receiving harsh backlash from ignorant critics who refuse to hear out his message, Kaepernick has proved his diligence and dedication to achieving racial equality in the nation. Through going to great lengths such as jeopardizing his own career, putting signs of immense bravery on display, and refusing to show loyalty to an organization and a country that doesn’t properly condemn systematic racism, Colin Kaepernick has established himself as a historical figure for civil rights and use his platform to help the Black Lives Matter movement have the influence and impact it has today. 

    One way that Colin Kaepernick has helped to combat police brutality and racial inequality is by in a sense becoming the new face of the Black Lives Matter movement. By doing this, Kaepernick has effectively reached his audience and got them to adhere to his message. Kaepernick has put himself out there to speak out for an ethical cause, that being to help end racism in America. This is an ethically and morally right goal, as it would promote equality and justice for all people regardless of their race or ethnic background. He has also showed the values he represents by choosing not to stand for the anthem of a country who turns a blind eye to racially influenced police brutality, doing so with such a vivid example of body language. Stephen A. Green, one of the organizers for the United We Stand Rally for Colin Kaepernick, a 2017 event in support of Kaepernick, talked about just how influential he has been for the movement. “He’s a modern-day Rosa Parks and Muhammad Ali all in one. When you think about what he has put on the line for himself personally, with what he could lose and what he has already gone through, that’s not [hyperbole]. He has risked a lot to elevate the issues that affect black and brown bodies in America. For our community, we can’t afford to let him be silenced” (Reid 2017). Notice not just how Green talks about how Kaepernick has established himself as one of the leading spokespeople for the movement, but that he did so with full knowledge of just how much it could jeopardize his career. The fact that Kaepernick took such a risk shows just how dedicated he is to this campaign. Kaepernick exercised this belief of standing up for what you believe in even in the face of the repercussions that one could see for it, in a 2018 Nike ad produced to combat discrimination in all forms. “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything” (Nike 2018). It is also worth noting the context in which this ad was released. This ad came out after Kaepernick ad been involved in a lawsuit with the league, so it’s very easy to understand the immense sacrifice that Kaepernick talks about. This ad truly depicts Kaepernick as a man who is not afraid to give up everything he worked so hard to achieve, just so he can see justice in the nation he so loves. Such a risk deserves the greatest admiration and respect.

    Another way that Kaepernick has helped to push the Black Lives Matter movement is by not backing down of those who try to silence him, many of whom are ignorant critics afraid that Kaepernick’s words may help such a progressive message advance to new heights. In doing this, Kaepernick has shown that he cares so much about his message that he will not cease his influence merely because of those that do not agree with him. One example of these critics is Ben Shapiro, a right wing political commentator and media host, when he talked about how ridiculous and false he thought Kaepernick’s message to the country was on an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. “Colin Kaepernick taking the knee to symbolize that America’s police are systemically brutal and racist is just factually untrue, and to attribute that to the American flag is really kind of nasty” (JRE #1512). Shapiro’s ignorance here can most likely be attributed to the fact that he is too blinded by the radical side of his political party to acknowledge that the topic in discussion is indeed a problem. Kaepernick also shows that he cares too much about his values and the importance of his message to shy away from projecting it when met with such criticism. Since Shapiro’s bashing of him, he has yet to stand down, and doesn’t plan to any time soon. 

    Another example of Colin Kaepernick helping to be an advocate for racial equality, and more specifically the Black Lives Matter movement, and also an example of standing up further against critics, is how he responds to the NFL trying to blackball him and other players that stand with his message. In doing this Kaepernick can be seen helping the world become aware of just how scared the NFL has been in the past to back him on such a movement. In November of 2019, Kaepernick hosted a workout which seven NFL teams attended, in hopes of making a return to the league. “While Kaepernick looked good in a November 2019 workout he staged that was attended by seven NFL teams, he is 32 years old, having been out of the game for four years now, and success is not guaranteed” (Muller 2020). Despite these NFL teams not wanting to sign Kaepernick, most likely because of the controversy that could come with such a move, he continued to use vivid imagery and speaking out to the public for the Black Lives Matter movement, knowing that it could further damage his reputation with the organization he used to hold so dear. Kaepernick also used league statistics to show how unfairly his fellow teammates who sided with him were being treated by the league as well. Former Pro Bowler safety Eric Reid, who knelt right alongside Kaepernick during the anthem and has also been blackballed by the NFL, currently remains unsigned to a team since 2018, despite setting league records and showing how capable of a player he is. “Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league” (Kaepernick’s Twitter 2020). The rhetoric that Kaepernick uses here is very substantial, due to the fact that he backs it up with legitimate statistics and facts that are almost impossible to argue against. Despite this logic that Kaepernick uses, the NFL still showed how opposed they were to endorsing the Black Lives Matter movement at the time, and that they would try to block out anyone that stands up to their decision.

    Not only did Colin Kaepernick begin his push for racial equality while his career was in a good position, but after facing backlash from ignorant critics and repeated attempts from the NFL to censor him, he has still remained diligent in making sure that systemic racism is brought to an end. After seeing his peers face the same reactions that he faced and standing up against ignorant opposers, Kaepernick has managed to become the face of a movement that makes pushes to see to it that no one is excluded in any way because of their race, not just in the NFL, but across the world as well. 

“KAEPERNICK NIKE AD: New ad featuring former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.” Youtube, uploaded by KPIX CBS SF Bay Area, 5 September 2018, www.youtube.com 

“Ben Shapiro Questions Colin Kaepernick’s Motives.” Youtube, uploaded by JRE Clips, 22 July 2020, www.youtube.com 

Reid, Jason. How Colin Kaepernick became a cause for activists, civil rights groups and others. 22 August 2017. https://theundefeated.com/features/how-colin-kaepernick-became-a-cause-for-activists-civil-rights-groups/

Muller, Rick. BLACK LIVES MATTER AND COLIN KAEPERNICK: PROTESTS IN COURAGE. 4 August 2020. https://dolcemag.com/issues/summer-2020/black-lives-matter-and-colin-kaepernick-protests-in-courage/35245

Bieler, Des. Colin Kaepernick calls out the NFL’s social justice gestures as ‘propaganda’ 

13 September 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/13/colin-kaepernick-eric-reid/