Blacks, you now have the resources that your slave ancestors; mothers and fathers prayed for. Rise up from your knees, lower your fists, unlink your arms, open your checkbooks and be men and women. Do something with your wealth and you will MAKE the change you seek.
The present protest spat that NFL Players are engaging in originated with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s stated purpose of drawing attention to racial inequities that continue to plague minorities in the United States of America. Kaepernick’s idea was to “take a knee” as a symbol of disapproval of lack of progress for minorities in America.
Sounds like a noble thing to do, correct? But why settle for acts of symbolism? Why not do something about the injustices you see. The NFL according to some sources is comprised of about 80% African-American players. Mr. Kaepernick is half White and half Black. Apparently he identifies with his black half, therefore he promotes the idea that black people are still overtly and continually oppressed in this country.
Whether Mr. Kaepernick’s observations are correct or not the reality is a symbolic protest does very little if nothing to correct the inequities that Mr. Kaepernick wishes to address. If Mr. Kaepernick, the Black players in the NFL and their supporters are really looking for true answers to their concerns, rather than their gratuitous swipes at the President via their “Everybody [In the NFL] vs. Trump” tees, I have a suggestion to start.
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar organization and it employs multi-million dollar employees. This stated, there are enough resources in this group to tackle any problem that the NFL and it’s employees focuses on.
For example, not last weekend but the weekend prior, at the NFL protest high point, about 200 players, coaches and owners either knelt, linked arms or stayed in the locker room during the National Anthem. All of these actions were in violation of NFL rules and procedure governing behavior during the National Anthem. This pass weekend the Black Power fist in the air was added to the lessening numbers of NFL players willing to follow along with the protests.
No matter what your feeling is about what players are doing, I think we can all agree that what they are doing has not been effective in achieving their goals. Many of us still are not sure what the player’s goals are, therefore as a PR move this protest is highly ineffective.
However if Players actually want to do something about the injustices they see may I suggest a plan of action.
First each concerned and protesting player should donate one million dollars to a foundation to address the concerns of racial injustice in America or whatever they are protesting. The NFL should match this fund since it is complicit in these protests. So at minimum if 200 players donate one million dollars that totals 200 million dollars. The NFL’s matching fund would bring the total to 400 million dollars. (NFL Sponsors should donate as well).
400 million dollars can and will fund an organization, which would focus like a laser on the problems the players are concerned with. This is twenty-four seven no distractions, no conflicts of interests, focus.
One million dollars per player will put their money where their protests are. And in addition, an organization as I described will do some things in permanent and tangible ways.
There was a time in America under the cruel whip of slavery Black’s had nothing but a hope and a prayer. In the ‘60 Black added to hope and prayer symbolism and protests. Surely in the 21st century with more Black millionaires and billionaires than ever in the history of the world someone can come up with an idea better than a Black power salute, a kneel and a prayer, or the linking of arms. Come on NAACP, come on Urban League, and come on Rainbow coalition or any of you so called rights and help groups. No ideas or progress in fifty years?
Blacks, you now have the resources that your slave ancestors; mothers and fathers prayed for. Rise up from your knees, lower your fists, unlink your arms, open your checkbooks and be men and women. Do something with your wealth and you will MAKE the change you seek.
Protesting? that’s so ‘60s!
