In recent weeks there have been various stories surrounding the actions of various athletes (particular black athletes in the NFL) taking a knee during the National Anthem. This form of protest against the mistreatment of black by various government bodies has been garnering numerous amount of press and media coverage throughout America. These athletes kneel in solidarity with the Black families that have been plagues by actions such as police brutality, racial-stereotyping, etc. However, standing up to racial oppression and bringing to light the unfair treatment minority groups face in America is not new to the political realm. In fact, these events date back as WWI show that Black athletes have been necessary for advancing the agenda of the nations in which they resided at the time.
Boxers such as Jack Johnson during World War I would go over to France to participate in higher paying matches. During this time, Germany was demonstrating its strength as a nation, where as France was depicted as effeminate (1). Thus, to show its strength, the French continued to recruit and promote boxing, utilizing African-Americans as the image for their strength and prows in the ring. However, even though some boxers did rise to fame and fortune during their tours in France, they still faced the racial oppression that they experienced in America (1). Many of times, blacks were painted as savage beasts in the ring in order to draw a crowd. Despite these perceptions, black athletes continued to utilized their new platform to bring light to racial oppression that occurred in the United States.
During the Cold War era, black athletes were being tapped as a resource to demonstrate America’s strength as the nation attempted to prove that it was better than the Soviet Union. Thus, athletes like track star Wilma Rudolph were recruited to compete in the track races at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic games. Despite winning in many of her events, she was continuously ignored when she attempted to explain the plight that African-Americans faced during the time that America was trying to expand capitalism over communism during the Cold-War Era. However, because of the sexism that many women faced during those times, her cries were often fell upon deft ears. Thus, black female athletes continued to be utilized by the nation to demonstrate America’s strength without worrying whether or not if their voices would be heard.
As time continues, we see that Black athletes continue to bring their political views onto the field with them. This is demonstrated with San Francisco 49er Collin Kappernick, who is credited with starting the actions of NFL players to take a knee during the National Anthem. There are debates on whether or not this is an effective form of demonstration. To me, it is. Not only do these NFL players not have to worry about being tasered or peppers sprayed when making taking a knee on the field, they also are able to show those less privileged than them that they too feel the effects of racial oppression, thus contributing their ideologies to the realm of politics and helping to instigate change within the society the reside.