Athletes are entitled to use their platforms to bring awareness to social and political issues encountered on and off the field.
The discussion of politics in sports has created opportunities for action that can combat racial injustices that have been ignored.
It would be a waste to use such a visible and prominent social platform for nothing more meaningful than a game.
The book “Not for Long: The Life and Career of the NFL Athlete,” by Robert W. Turner II examines the long-term physical and mental effects of playing in the NFL as a Black athlete, a demographic that makes up 70% of the NFL.
Corporations spend millions contributing to Political Action Committees (PAC) and political campaigns, yet receive no backlash for fiscally combining sports and politics.
After Nike’s 2018 "Just Do It" anniversary ad campaign starring former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Nike reported a 10% profit jump totaling $847 million as a result of the campaign, according to a Sept. 2018 ABC News article.
Corporations shouldn’t benefit from appropriating social movements, including the Black Lives Matter movement once it becomes “trendy”, and manipulate its original message to make money.
Protests are not aimed towards gaining corporate buzz but rather igniting social movements in society for change.
While the corporate giant gave the illusion of being socially and politically conscious, Nike and its PAC contributed $424,000 to the Republican Party and its candidates in the 2018 election cycle.
This compares to Nike only contributing $122,000 to the Democrats, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research center for responsive politics.
Nike monetized the face of Kaepernick and the notion of protest and proceeded to give money directly to the GOP, a party known to denounce the Black Lives Matter movement.
If people really want to keep politics out of sports, then flags shouldn’t be permitted in stadiums and the national anthem shouldn’t be played. Furthermore, there shouldn’t be an overwhelming military presence, because I don't understand what the Air Force has to do with football.
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, announced the teams would stop playing the national anthem before home games this season, according to a Feb. 9 ESPN article.
NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass released a statement the following day in response, despite no acknowledgement until Cuban’s public confirmation on Feb. 9.
"With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy," Bass stated.
We’re a divided country that shouldn’t be broadcasted as unified and harmoniously singing the national anthem, when in reality its players are being censored.
It’s not patriotic to enforce participation of the national anthem. Instead it exemplifies the prominent and damaging nationalistic values of the U.S.
The double standards set upon white and Black athletes are uncanny.
It's somehow “OK” to separate Tom Brady's association with Donald Trump from his game, but not OK to do the same with Kaepernick.
While Kaepernick faced death threats and promptly lost his NFL career because of his symbolic protest on police brutality, Brady can choose when to enter and leave the conversation and be shielded from accountability.
Brady was seen being drunkenly dragged from a boat parade after celebrating Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl victory and immediately went viral, according to a Feb. 11 Daily Mail article.
Every time a Black athlete uses their platform to bring visibility to social issues they’re vilified by the public and at worst, even receive death threats.
Yet socially unacceptable behavior such as Brady’s is glamorized.
Sports and politics can coexist and bring long-term significance and impact to sporting events.
Turning a blind eye towards major social issues is damaging, irresponsible and is a major characteristic of a totalitarian state.
