I find it amazing that folks in this country will accuse Colin Kaepernick and others of not being patriotic because they kneeled during the playing of the national anthem in protest of police brutality, racial and social injustice. They’ve been quick to say, “If you don’t like it here you should leave.”
Everybody and their uncle says that you’re American first regardless of what’s going on. All you ever hear is America first right? They’ll tell you to stop always making it about race. We’re all Americans, one team, one unit right?
I’m all for that and it makes sense to me if EVERYBODY’S treated with the same respect. However, why is that the marching orders until there’s a white British boxer fighting against a black American boxer from Tuscaloosa, Alabama? He’s born and raised in America’s south! There couldn’t be any more American pride than that right?
Why do the rules change when we’re separated by race? On Saturday night it was black vs white. I don’t care if you were at the fight, watching it at a sports bar or watching it at home with friends and family. Black folks were riding with Wilder and most white folks were in the ride with Fury. It was just that simple.
Now I’m not mad at all as to who you were pulling for. It’s a freakin’ fight that means absolutely nothing to me. Just stop selling to me that it’s all about America and patriotism because it’s not. It’s only about America and patriotism when you’re at an advantage.
If it were literally about being an American, everybody from America would have been cheering for Deontay Wilder from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That was clearly not the case so stop trying to sell patriotism to me. Just say I’m riding with the cat the looks like me and we’re cool. Don’t be patriotic only when it’s convenient to you.
If you’re riding with American then ride hard and be willing to admit when things aren’t right for all of us. Not just for a chosen few. Stop me when I start lyin’!
