Like most of us, Colin Kaepernick watched that farce called a Presidential Debate last night, and at practice today the quarterback didn’t hold back sharing his thoughts on the candidates. In comments captured by Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, Kaepernick said:
Both are proven liars, and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who’s less racist. At this point — talking to one of my friends — you have to pick the lesser of two evils. But in the end, it’s still evil.
I don’t disagree with anything in that statement from Kaepernick. Politicians and Donald Trump (he’s not a politician) are liars. That’s part and parcel with the gig. If you listen closely to what each candidate has been saying in the wake of the tragedies befalling the black community, Kaepernick is right. Both candidates are using the racial climate to pander to black voters. Each candidate essentially telling us, vote for me because the other is a racist. Now, let me clarify I don’t know either candidate personally to deem them racists. However, to actually think either cares about the well being of poor and suffering black people, is a stretch at best.
Kaepernick has been protesting the national anthem and flag since late summer. He has received considerable backlash from many corners but also support from his peers and other citizens that want to see racial equality. He went in further on Donald Trump saying:
It’s a very ignorant statement that if you don’t agree with what’s going on here and that if you want justice and liberty and freedom for all you should leave the country. He always says, ‘Make America great again.’ Well, America has never been great for people of color. That’s something that needs to be addressed. Let’s make America great for the first time.
Colin Kaepernick is operating with a level of defiance and assertion that is all too often lacking by citizens in our country. His critique of the Trump campaign slogan is one of my favorites to use when debating politics. When has America truly ever been great for all? If we want to make it “great again” that would imply that at some point in the country’s past, it was great. When was this? The 80s, 60s, 1800s, 1600s? When?!
We have the awesome responsibility and privilege of being American citizens. Let’s follow Kaepernick’s lead and take the mantle and advance the cause of true equality and justice for all.
Check out the video below for part of Kaepernick’s comments.
#49ers Colin Kaepernick fires back at @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/yGoKaG3PTz
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 27, 2016