To the Point
Colin Kaepernick and the politics of the national anthem
NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick refuses to stand for the National Anthem. Is his a legitimate protest or a lack of patriotism?
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readNFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick refuses to stand for the National Anthem. Is his a legitimate protest or a lack of patriotism?
Winning sprinters John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists on the medal stand in the 1968 Olympics. Mohammed Ali was convicted of draft evasion for refusing to serve in Vietnam. They and other athletes have been praised and reviled for protesting America’s treatment of black people. Now San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is getting mixed reactions for refusing to stand during the National Anthem. We get perspective from Peniel Joseph, Professor of History at University of Texas at Austin.
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Evan George
Director of Content, News
Sáša Woodruff
Producer, 'To the Point'
Paul von Zielbauer
Producer, 'To the Point'
Peniel Joseph
historian and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and founding director of the school’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy