Let Us All Take a Knee

 
          Let us all take a knee…… or better yet let’s stand? Who in the hell knows what to do and why we are doing it? The point in Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem, was to protest police brutality and murders against Black Americans. It started against police brutality and murders, and then people made it about the flag, then the soldiers, then the NFL, and now it’s about Donald Trump. What in the hell is going on? The point of a protest is to start dialogue that will lead to change around the subject of the protest. There has been dialogue started about the injustice but there are layers of bullshit dialogue that are piled on top of what matters. The point of the protests has been buried so deep that it isn’t even part of the conversations being had amongst individuals. The focus is now political and racial.

          I first want to say that Colin Kaepernick is brave for taking a knee during the national anthem, knowing the criticism and backlash that would accompany his actions. Regardless of what anyone thinks and that is including myself, it’s a brave act. The part that some black Americans just don’t understand is that, regardless of how it’s done the point is to speak up and take action against the murder of Black Americans by the police. You and I may think Colin had other motives for his actions, but at least he took ACTION. You must look at the bigger picture. Police brutality and the murdering of minorities by law enforcement has been happening since America was “discovered” (there is a reason for the quotes). I don’t think that will ever change as long as I shall live. The law was not meant for minorities to have fair treatment and it never will be that way. Black Americans being killed in cold blood while being recorded on camera, still isn’t enough for a conviction in the American judicial system. This is unfair and there shouldn’t be anyone that see’s it any other way.

          Murder is only just in a case of self-defense and there shouldn’t be any exceptions outside of that. The issue is that there has been footage of police shooting black men in the back while running or walking away. Black men have been killed many ways but all weren’t due to the police defending their lives or having their lives threatened. Police commit murder, go to trial, and then get to go home free and live in their misery. This fucking sucks, and needs to change from this day and going forward, but the only way this changes is if there is UNITY and ACTION. We all must sacrifice time, money and comfort. We must create discomfort for things to change and the way to create discomfort is to stand and be consistent in our stance. This stance must come from all races that are opposed to police murdering black men and not being convicted for a crime. I don’t care what you think about the protest, if it’s non-violent and peaceful it should be accepted.

          We must all work together and always keep the bigger picture in perspective. Disregard Donald Trump’s ignorance, and all other distractions and make this movement loud and uncomfortable for the government of the United States until change happens. The “uncle toms” will eventually fall in line and we all know who they are, but let them not be a distraction. Let all races and cultures assist and help in the movement of protest. United Americans will create change today, one race just isn’t enough. Black Americans are a damaged race of people and help is needed to overcome any injustice in America. This is unfortunate but it’s the truth. Life isn’t fair for anyone but it’s especially unfair for the non-white American. This means that minorities must work harder and longer for what they want. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others sacrificed their lives for EQUALITY, now are you willing to do the same? 

​Written By: Ronald Anthony Wilson.