I really wish more white players had knelt today

[EffieBlack]

I appreciate their solidarity and standing next to and behind the kneeling players. But those players are shouldering a very heavy burden by kneeling and shouldn't have to do it alone and, unfortunately, in this America, people don't really take things seriously if they think it's a "black thing." If more white players took it to the ground with their black brothers, it would be a powerful statement.

[JenniferJuniper]

1. Did any white players kneel?

I only saw the early games and didn't see any.

[EffieBlack]

8. I didn't see any

And Trump claimed the ones who stood in solidarity were actually counter protesting$ another reason they need to kneel - so their action can't be mischaracterized.

[Ms. Toad]

26. They are not responsible for the idiot's mischaracterization of their act.

Although I have not seen anything that suggests he claimed they were counter protesting. (What he said was that standing with locked arms was good - without any explanation of what he thought they were doing.)

[A Giant Slor]

24. Travis Kelce

Sadly, seems he's the only prominent white player to take a knee. Hopefully his example will lead others to follow.

https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/9/24/16358482/travis-kelce-kneel-national-anthem-nfl

[lunamagica]

27. I saw a picture of female voleyball players. The whole tream was kneeling

there were two or three white girls there

[Not Ruth]

2. A baseball player

[EffieBlack]

5. I think he's actually black

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. I didn't see any white players kneel.

Very disappointing! Hope I just missed it.

[HipChick]

4. I saw white players kneel...

the ones that did were in committed relationships with black women...and have already been very public about kneeling

[sharedvalues]

6. James Cowser from the Raiders sat

[cwydro]

7. Tom Brady even linked arms with his teammates.

I was surprised.

[EffieBlack]

9. But Trump claimed that was a protest against the kneeling...

[sheshe2]

12. Someone posted this tonight...linking arms has meaning.

I finally realized where locking arms came from




https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029630990

Boom!

[cwydro]

19. But we know that's nonsense.

Surely you do too.

[EffieBlack]

22. We know. But I'm already woke and I assume you are, too

They don't need to do it for us.

[Ms. Toad]

28. Please link to the source for this claim.

I have seen nothing that indicates he made any claims that they were protesting the kneeling. (Only that he believed standing with locked arms was good - that is not necessarily the same thing as believing it was a counterprotest, or attributing motives to those standing with locked arms.)

Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!

[cwydro]

32. Yes, that's what I saw too.

[burnbaby]

34. he had one arm locked

and the other over his heart

[SMC22307]

10. Not all black players took a knee.

I'm going to respect an individual's choice -- regardless of color -- as to how they choose to protest.

It was refreshing to see so many NFL owners slam Trump over his comments.

[EffieBlack]

16. I didn't say ALL black players took a knee. But virtually all of the players who kneeled are black

It reminds me of the old "why do all of the black students sit together in the cafeteria?" question we used to get in college.

We'd point out that all of the black students WEREN'T sitting together - some of us were sitting together while many of us were spread out at other tables among the white students. On the other hand, NONE of the white students were sitting at tables with mostly black students - they only sat at tables with only white students or where they overwhelmingly outnumbered the black students who had joined them, but no one thought that was odd. It was assumed that it was on US to spread ourselves out among the white students while the white students had no obligation to try to integrate with US. And if we didn't, it was OUR fault that the cafeteria was divided along racial lines.

In this instance, some of the black players are kneeling. Some aren't. ALL of the white players are standing, none are kneeling. It would be nice if the white players mixed it up a little, just like the black players do. If even a few white players joined the black players in kneeling, it would make a huge difference.

[SMC22307]

21. Again, I'm not criticizing a person's form of peaceful protest.

Some knelt; some stood with arms locked, shoulder to shoulder. Some held hands over heart, other's didn't. I viewed those standing arm in arm as sort of a protective ring around those who would most experience racism and police brutality. It felt like unity and strength, like in the MLK pic posted elsewhere this thread. Owners joining in made it all the better.

[GaryCnf]

11. It's nice

to see DU wake to Kaepernick.

There are white players who have stood but I would still be tempted to share your opinion if it were not for a story I heard from a friend first hand twenty years ago and which he started sharing a few years back. Google Peter Norman.

Solidarity is a wonderful thing but on some things I think we need to speak for ourselves. Just one guy's opinion.

[EffieBlack]

23. I'm very familiar with Peter Norman and his sacrifice. He was a great man

But what you're noting is the very essence of white privilege. The white players have a choice to stand or kneel and most have chosen not to kneel because the consequences may be to great. The black players who are kneeling don't feel they have a choice. They are doing what they're doing at great risk because they feel a commitment. I wish more of the white players were willing to do the same. It shouldn't all be on the black players.

I also suspect that if this protest has an effect and begins to finally away at Trump's teflon, white folk will not only be happy to enjoy the benefits of such a development but many will be very quick to take credit for it and very slow to give these courageous young black men any of the credit.

[bluepen]

33. Can you elaborate on this idea of who has a choice

and who doesn’t? Any examples of players saying they do or don’t have a choice to stand or kneel? And what does it say about any individual who stands or kneels because they don’t think they have a choice to do either of those?

[GaryCnf]

35. I do not disagree

What I add, not just as a black man, but as a person with personal knowledge, is that Peter was held in higher respect for not taking part by the people involved.

While I understand the power structure, racism is to me something that white folks cannot understand and I would just as soon not have my experiences explained by white voices.

[tblue37]

13. +1. nt

[samir.g]

14. That would require them to first examine their own culpability and privilege.

Good luck with that.

[B2G]

15. Maybe be the NFL and players will come out against

Domestic violence next. I can dream...

[George II]

17. I agree, but I was surprised that more knelt than I expected.

[EffieBlack]

18. How many white players did you see kneel? I didn't see any.

[scheming daemons]

40. I saw some.

[BadgerMom]

20. I agree.

I had the same thought as I looked at photos on CNN.com that were featured in an OP here. I was struck that I didn't see a single white player. I was disappointed.

[Nevernose]

25. Let's give some benefit of the doubt

Or at least withhold judgment and sentence for people we haven't actually heard from.

A lot of these white players are essentially just good ol' boys playing ball. "Redneck" has been part of the identity assigned to most white NFL players since birth, accurate or not. It's a joke. It's punching up and even the rednecks know it -- and if any of them ever give you any heartfelt stories about the racial persecution they've faced over the years, even they most likely know that for the similar while, the ratio is larger for people of color.

[True Dough]

29. So tired of reading

posters on other discussion forums spouting that it's completely disrespectful to the American flag for these players to take a knee.

Of course those same detractors discourage violent protests. The overarching message, obviously, is that for those on the right, there is no acceptable form of protest when it comes to issues pertaining to black lives. They just don't give a damn.

[Warpy]

30. Maybe they don't want to horn in

but linked arms with the guys when they stand up might be nice. That also sends a clear message to the Bigot in Thief.

[gratuitous]

44. That would be my guess

If I were a white football player (stop laughing), I'd probably consult with my black teammates: I'm in solidarity with you, but I don't want to be perceived as horning in on your demonstration. What would you suggest? Then, I'd do something totally against white culture: I'd listen to my teammates' advice.

[mfcorey1]

31. What is more important is that the NFL sent a message to to the

deranged pResident of the United States. Whether they locked arms, knelt or stayed in the locker room is word to him that you do not control what the owners should or should not do. And if never before, America and the world DID take the response to a mentally ill leader, seriously. To begin to take that day and string it out in a black and white did or did not day minimizes the impact of the "kiss off" to Cheeto. I am so hungry for stuff that backfires on him that I will take the day and move on to what needs to be done.

[raven mad]

36. I knelt.

So did my spouse.

We're white. It's NOT a "black thing", it's an everything, and I've knelt, marched, yelled and will keep it up until they plant my white ass in the ground.

It's a HUMAN thing.

[Madam45for2923]

37. Last night I kept thinking that a lot of these sport teams owners voted for Donald

Am glad they are defending their players, but still, they did not care that much last year when it was decision time.

[EffieBlack]

38. I saw a white sportscaster yesterday very passionately and eloquently

lament that he had supported Trump but was outraged and horrified that he referred to these players as “sons of bitches.” I’m glad that he finally caught up, but am pissed at how many people ignored his racist nasty behavior in the past and only get upset when it hits close to home.

How can anyone have been ok with him up until now? “Grab ‘em by the pussy” was ok? Calling Mexicans rapists and murderers was ok? Attacking McCain and John Lewis was ok? Demonizing Muslims was ok? Nazis and KKK being “fine people” was ok? Lying and cheating and colluding with the Russians and obstructing Justice was ok? Why did he only become objectionable when he went after football players?

[Madam45for2923]

41. Yep, when they themselves are on the line, it is not OK.

Am still glad they are finally reacting, but yeah it bothers me their care-LESS-ness till now.

[scheming daemons]

39. Every week going forward, more and more will get the courage to join their teammates

Trump is unifying even the NFL personalities that *LIKED* him against him. Guys like Patriots owner Robert Kraft and QB Tom Brady.... and ex-coach Rex Ryan, who was a HUGE Trump supporter.

[Nay]

42. I saw a pic of a white cheerleader kneeling on the field. Don't know which game. nt

[RandomAccess]

43. Me too