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Writer: Christina Presmy
According to USA Today, this year on Sunday, February 3rd, over 100 million people tuned in to watch the biggest well-known football game of the year: The Super Bowl. While many fans excitingly watched as the New England Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, others around the country could not help but wonder why the NFL was still getting this much attention after all of the events that took place throughout 2018.
In August 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, sat on a bench to protest the racial violence and inequalities that were surfacing around the country. Several days after, he began kneeling after speaking with a United States Army veteran as a sign of respect for military personnel. In no time, NFL players from other teams joined Kaepernick in taking a stance on the issue at hand. President Trump chimed in on the matter stating that the NFL should “fire players who won’t stand during the national anthem.” and even referred to a player as “a son of a bitch.” The NFL responded by issuing fines to players who chose not to stand, or suggesting that they just stay in the locker room altogether during the anthem. Actions that clearly show where they chose to stand on the issue.
In 2017, when Kaepernick became a free agent, no NFL team offered him a contract, although statistics show that is wasn’t lack of talent that kept him from signing. This enraged many country-wide, and protests spread. Teams from all over began to take a knee as well. There was one form of protest that stuck with people a little harder---boycotting watching the NFL events and games as a whole. Many had decided that they were no longer going to support the NFL in any way, shape, or form as a result of the controversy involving Kaepernick.
The problem is that is was clearly not done. Hence, the 100 million people who tuned in that Sunday. It seemed that going into a new year, people forgot all about the NFL issue and the importance and strength of not supporting the brand. Some just did not care as they just wanted to have a good time watching the game.
The NFL is a $14 billion dollar industry, so why not hit them where is would hurt the most--their pockets. No viewers would mean that there is no one watching the sponsored advertisements that greatly fund the industry. This chain reaction might be the very thing that is needed to show the power of the consequences of brands choosing to not support important global issues such as racial inequality.
Protestors in support of Colin Kaepernick. Picture by Jose Juarex/Associated Press
The ancestors of African Americans walked miles and miles to their destinations back in 1955 as part of the Montgomery bus boycott. Individuals back then had little to none resources, yet still chose to sacrifice and fight for justice, so what exactly is it that makes it so difficult for most people to just take a stand?
Today, we as people seem to have a lack of discipline when it comes to standing for what we believe in.
The clothing brand H&M featured a young black boy wearing a sweatshirt that had the words “coolest monkey in the jungle” across it. It went viral all over social media for a few days, people threatened to boycott the brand, yet when they had a sale following the incident, many jumped at the opportunity to purchase clothing instead of staying true to their stance.
H&M was recently under fire for modeling its ‘coolest monkey’ hoodie on a black child. Picture by www.cnbc.com
Just a couple of weeks ago, Gucci launched a black turtleneck and balaclava that strongly imitated blackface. Per usual, many were outraged. Yet today, Gucci and its disgraceful sweater is no longer the conversation.
Noticing a trend here?
A screenshot from an online fashion outlet showing a Gucci turtleneck black wool balaclava sweater for sale, that they recently pulled from its online and physical stores. Picture by www.nbcnewyork.com
If you turned your TV on and watched the Super Bowl despite all the NFL has been affiliated with this past year, are you really “Standing with Kaepernick” and the fight for racial equality and police brutality?
We need to learn how to cancel brands that are constantly disrespecting African Americans and finally take a stand.
There will come a day where we as people, choose to take a stand instead of dropping angry tweets on twitter about the issue for a day then supporting the brand later.
If we want to see change, we must first unite and be the flame that sparks the change.
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