The Sacrifices We Acknowledge and Those We Choose to Ignore

Daniel Beam
Sep 7, 2018 · 2 min read

“What sacrifice has Colin Kaepernick made?” That is the question many critics are asking after Kaepernick was introduced as the new face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign this week. As if becoming the leader of a movement, let alone the spokesperson of one of the world’s most recognizable brands, was something that was promised to him when he first took a knee two years ago. As if dissenters had never been marginalized, silenced, or brutalized for exposing the injustices that sustain white supremacy. As if those who dare to take on America’s most powerful institutions can expect to be rewarded for their defiance.

Kaepernick was not blind to the stakes when he began his protest. He understood that the career he had worked his entire life for, the endorsements, and whatever future earnings might come after his playing days were over could all be gone in an instant. He accepted that his relationships with teammates, coaches, and executives — his professional network — could be permanently fractured. And he must have known that millions of his fellow Americans, including the man who would eventually become President, would not tolerate his apostasy. He was well aware of how America had dealt with his forebears.

To say that Colin Kaepernick didn’t sacrifice anything is to suggest that, as long as a man has status and wealth, he need not expect more from his country. That someone like him could become an NFL quarterback was proof of America’s benevolence. To question its greatness when he had been given so much was unforgivable.

Despite being clear that the intent of his protest was to call attention to police brutality, kneeling during the national anthem has often been interpreted as disrespectful towards the military, especially to those who made the “ultimate sacrifice” for their country. A real sacrifice required blood.

Kaepernick was willing to give up his NFL career for the sake of a greater good. In the process, he has become something bigger than himself. He is a symbol, an avatar for those who never had a platform and can no longer speak. He is a reminder of the sacrifices the United States doesn’t valorize and would like us to forget. He embodies the ideals that his detractors claim to hold dear, but have failed to recognize in practice.