Courage and Allyship in the Face of Hate
After what felt like a decadent weekend offline in the wilderness of Montana, I returned last night to the social media flurry regarding the decision by Seattle Reign FC midfielder, Megan Rapinoe to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem at a soccer match on Sunday evening. In addition to reading the media coverage, I also read through hundreds of comments posted to Megan’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds. Although a number of fans thanked her for adding her voice in solidarity with 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, what I read largely reflected the increasingly common vitriol that social media facilitates, allowing for the anonymous expression not simply of disagreement, but of hate.
Unfortunately, we are continuously reminded that online, real-time communication has created a platform not just for dialogue that includes a diversity of opinions and perspectives, but has also facilitated a mechanism for the expression of anonymous, slur-laden spite. In the current landscape of digital communication, it takes courage for those who support combating racism, sexism, and homophobia to speak out on social media. But it shouldn’t.
Megan’s decision to kneel, as she later explained, was about continuing the conversation about racism in America. The ensuing social media firestorm has reinforced exactly why we need to engage in ongoing dialogue about the institutional and cultural discrimination that still persists throughout our country. And what allows us to effectively continue to combat discrimination in all of its forms is both leadership from within affected communities and allyship from those who recognize that we must advocate for each other in the face of persistent injustice.
Disagreement is not an excuse for hate
Strip away her talent, athletic achievements, and awards, and Megan Rapinoe is a person. She is not a bitch, nor a cunt, nor dyke as she was labeled by hundreds who took the opportunity to tell her that her decision not to stand during the playing of our national anthem means that she should die.
Our more perfect union is made possible through the contribution of all Americans
While our founders got a lot right, history has shown us time and time again, that America lives up to its promise when its citizens engage actively in safeguarding founding principles like freedom and equality. And the reality is that we have had to repeatedly reaffirm their meaning and scope both abroad and at home. We have had to work continuously to uphold our beliefs and values, confronting both foreigners who seek to harm us, and at times, our fellow citizens, who resist or otherwise hinder the social progress that has slowly unfolded over the hundreds of years since our democracy began.
Like so many Americans, I deeply appreciate the service and sacrifice of the members of the U.S. military. At the same time, I believe that those who accept the charge to defend our freedom abroad are not the only community who bear responsibility for ensuring that our principles and ideals endure. What makes America an extraordinary country is the service and contribution of all who recognize that our more perfect union remains a work in progress, and that progress requires each of us and all of us to choose love and respect and equality over and over again.
“We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.”
When asked specifically why she chose to follow Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid in taking a knee, Megan explained the rationale for her allyship, and emphasized that her action was intended to help continue to spark meaningful conversation about persistent racial injustice. Patriotism allows for both love of country and the recognition that as far as we have come, we need to go further still. Megan has expressed on numerous occasions that she is proud to be an American, and proud to represent our country in international competition. That pride does not preclude her from believing that work remains when it comes to ensuring that all American citizens are treated equally under the law.
The largely anonymous internet community’s hate-filled response to Megan has not been surprising, and serves as an important reminder of why we need to continue to work toward holding ourselves and each other to a higher standard. We ought to be able to articulate why we agree or disagree without resorting so easily to epithets and slurs, the invocation of which surely are not intended to contribute to a constructive dialogue.
Equality is a team sport
In 2014, Megan authored a Washington Blade editorial, “Equality is a team sport.” When it comes to combating homophobia and transphobia, she emphasized that, “the responsibility for creating inclusive environments does not rest solely with members of the LGBT community.” Megan has established herself as an ally and advocate for equality and inclusion — an example of authenticity and courage in a context where it would be easy to abstain from the dialogue.
When we take the time to learn about and reflect on the privilege we enjoy and the experience of those still marginalized by the stubbornly slow pace of institutional and cultural change, we position ourselves to be a part of the solution to the persistent inequality and discrimination that undermine our American ideals. It then becomes each of our responsibility to contribute constructively to the conversation that becomes action that eventually becomes the change that will ensure liberty and justice for all. At a time when so many conversations seem to devolve into a polarizing debates, allyship is the leadership we need.
