I have been following the career woes of Colin Kaepernick quite closely these past few months. I have been incensed (and actually outraged) at the number of prominent Black American sports figures and celebrities who continue to blame Kaepernick for taking a stand against the systemic racist practices, policies and incidents that continue to plague Black communities throughout the country and abroad. I am particularly disgusted at the recent comments made by Michael Vick, a man who was actually guilty of a crime, chastising Kaepernick for fighting for racial equity. To me, Vick has no moral standing in this matter and his eagerness to publically speak out against Kaepernick reads as a cheap attempt to situate himself into the good graces of the NFL (and larger oppressive institutions), which refuses to recognize the reasoning behind Kaepernick’s principled stand.
For Vick and people like him, I wish they would realize that respectability politics will not protect them, save them or advance them or their families in the long run. Vick’s willingness to publically decry Kaepernick and advocate that he “cut his hair” to appear more “respectable” is just further proof that Vick does not yet understand how white supremacy works. Instead, he is willing to be a mouthpiece for an organization that lets accused rapists, wife beaters, murderers and even dog fighters back into their ranks, but refuses to employ a man who sheds light on the realities of police brutality, racial inequities and systemic oppression. Kaepernick didn’t lead protestors into NFL stadiums (although he definitely has the support to do so); he merely quietly took a knee on the sidelines in hopes of bringing awareness to the realities faced by all too many Black communities.
The NFL is currently roughly 80 percent African-American and currently has zero Black owners of its 32 teams. After a long road of redemption, Vick served his time for the brutal dog drowning and fighting ring and is now all too happy to ingratiate himself with the NFL enterprise of sportscasters who further drive revenue for an organization that has struggled with a public relations problem for quite a few years (and I haven’t even touched on the known accounts of concussions and brain injuries plaguing former and current players).
Each time I hear a Black person on television saying that things would be different if the victim in question just (a) pulled up his pants, (b) didn’t make a furtive movement, (c) didn’t talk back or question authority, or any other nonsensical justification for a life or livelihood being taken away, I wonder if they knowingly refuse to see that in this country, even in the 21st century, being “respectable” is not enough, and neither will it ever be. For real advancement to occur, Black people cannot live lives to make white people feel more comfortable. That is not equity, it is not equality and it is definitely not being respected.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream” and the host of The Aftermath on Ozy.com. You can find her on Twitter @Dr_CMGreer.