Colin Kaepernick and Nike are making American Great Again.

It's a busy-ass news day, but let me say this. I support Colin Kaepernick and Nike on this one, and in a big way.  I'm seeing videos of people burning their Nike products... really???  Really??? That's how racist and insensitive a society we still are in America. Nike takes a stand, works with Colin Kaepernick and launches a pro free speech, pro courage, pro fearlessness, pro sacrifice-for-the-greater-good add campaign and that upsets some Americans. We are so far behind the knowledge, compassion, and enlightenment curve, my friends. Not all of us but too many of us.  This is the very meaning of being an American, free speech, the ability to stand up against things that are immoral or unjust, to be able to speak your mind respectfully, to protest injustice peacefully and lead others by example. I'm not a big sports guy, but I'm proud of ANY BLACK MAN, especially a celebrity, with a wide reach, who recognizes that he must call out racism and injustice wherever he sees it and will not pretend that it's just going to go away because talking about it or bending the knee makes people uncomfortable. 

in case you don't know who Colin Kaepernick is and what this story is about, here are the broad strokes. From Wikipedia: "In 2016, Kaepernick became a national figure when he ignited a firestorm of controversy by choosing to kneel on one knee rather than stand while the United States national anthem was being played before the start of NFL games. He described his behavior as a protest against racial injustice in the United States.  His actions prompted negative and positive responses. The negative responses included suggestions that players who protest should be fired, other people displayed their disapproval of players' protests by leaving the stadium immediately after the protests or refusing to watch games at all. Positive responses included similar activity by additional athletes in the NFL and other American sports leagues protesting in various ways during the anthem. In November 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding to not hire him. In 2018, Amnesty International awarded Kaepernick with that year's Ambassador of Conscience award."

What the Wikipedia page does not mention specifically is that Mr. Kaepernick's  protests, kneeling during the national anthem, were not just about racial injustice in general. Mr. Kaepernick was taking a stand against the epidemic and until recently, socially expectable American practice of police shootings of unarmed black people that plagues America.  In these cases the officers  go unpunished.   Colin Kaepernick is making the case for me and so many other people who are terrified of what might happen when my son or I happen to be pulled over by a police officer in America. We don't want to be shot in the back for being black. It keeps happening and these police officers do not go to jail.  I'm not okay with it, America should not be okay with it, Black America is not okay with it and neither is Colin Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick you have steadily become one of my new heroes. The NFL corporation has conspired to "blacklist you" and make you un-hirable, despite your talent, experience, appeal and ability.  You don't back down and you don't give in.  You make me proud. I applaud Nike for recognizing the sacrifices you've made to stand on principle. Nike is essentially making a spokesman and mascot of you as an unemployed NFL free agent, blacklisted, folk hero, and social activist.  That shit is brave.  How often does a multinational corporation get behind that kind of character or resume? 

Nike's stock to a hit today, I really hope they have the courage to weather the storm, because I believe that they are on the right side of history, justice, and yes, I'm not naive...COMMERCE. I've been buying Nike products since, high school because I think they're of excellent quality, design, and innovation. I stood up and stopped buying Nike when it was exposed that some of their factories were unsafe, employing children, and placing them in sweat shop/slave-like conditions. I returned to the fold when they cleaned up there act.  Today however, I am proud to wear the Nike Swish logo. Colin Kaepernick and Nike, you are "making America great again! 
#blacklivesmatter #gonike, #colinkaepernick #resist #thestrugglecontinues #houseofreedom

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