When thinking of Colin Kaepernick, most think of an NFL player who kneels during the national anthem. For me, I think of a great quarterback who was drafted by the San Francisco 49’ers. Then in 2011 when the starting quarterback, Alex Smith, had a concussion, Colin Kaepernick replaced him. And lead them to their first championship since 1994. Then in 2016, Colin decided to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice. Colin Kaepernick is now a free agent, getting endorsed by Nike, facing backlash by millions of Americans, and suing the NFL and its owners for colluding to keep him out of the NFL.

Just recently, Colin Kaepernick tweeted a teaser for the 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign. The ad says, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Many ordinary Americans like you have protested the advertisement by burning their Nike gear or cutting the swooshes out of it. Nike is again showing its dignity, values, and determination to fight against inequality by making a stand against racial injustice.

However, most people don’t realize what Colin Kaepernick means when he kneels. He isn’t showing disrespect to veterans, Americans, or our founding fathers; he just doesn’t want to stand for a country which puts its problems with racial inequality aside. The people who have fought for this country are the people who made it possible for Kaepernick and others like him to protest freely.

In my opinion, humans react in two different ways. We either react out of love or out of fear. When it comes to anyone kneeling during the anthem, you can choose to react out of love or fear; it’s your choice. For me, I choose to react out of love. Colin Kaepernick is a talented athlete and a symbol. He is a symbol for what you can stand for. You don’t have to be an NFL quarterback to make a stand or be heard. If you disagree with racial inequality then you can protest like Colin.

So, people who disagree are acting out of fear. The NFL is acting out of fear, the fear that they’ll lose business. That’s why they’re colluding to keep Colin out of the NFL. Donald Trump is acting out of fear, the fear that someone may be better than him, and that he’ll lose supporters.  People like them are acting out of fear that the country they hold so dearly is being belittled, but what some fail to realize is that even though he may have never faced racial inequality; he has a voice. He’s speaking for those who don’t have a voice. And this voice is one of resistance, not disrespect. 

In conclusion, I think we all can agree that if you believe in something and think it is true, then you will sacrifice everything. Colin Kaepernick is a free agent and is not playing the sport he loves. After the Colin Kaepernick advertisement came out, Nike’s stock took a significant drop. I know that Nike and Colin Kaepernick are doing the right thing. And I urge you to reconsider how you feel about this subject.

Photo by Nike.