Students have the right to demand receipts for pledging allegiance
Don’t blame high school football players for desecrating our secular religion
Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the national anthem prior to playing the Los Angeles Rams in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.
It’s not too much to sit out a national anthem when members your ethnic group can be shot dead in the street.
Many who have been critical of high school football players representing NFL quarterback Colin Kaeperneck’s protest would rather have blacks and other marginalized groups observe the United States flag as second-class citizens than for us to demand the unalienable rights we’re allegedly afforded.
Famous football players, writers and armchair critics argue that Kaeperneck-style protests to state sanctioned murder at the expense of our national rituals are counterproductive. To be “patriotic” by way of observance of national rituals is the most principled and effective way to bring attention to police brutality and build community. The flag and its associated rituals of observance allow everyone to protest, and that allowance is the community glue that binds us all. Herein lies the belief in the mother country – patriotism – that keeps us together.
Those who criticize high school players’ modest gestures of protest fail to recognize that second-class citizenry degrades real patriotism. When life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness can be taken away because you’re not considered an authentic member of America, the ritual of pledges are purely symbolic. A reasonable amount of justice is required for authentic patriotism. Protesters are simply demanding America to do its part.
Most often, detractors wield patriotism to delay or deny the just allocation of unalienable rights and other political goods that black people are owed.
Now, flag waving decriers are facing their worst nightmare: Disaffected young people are demanding receipts for revering the flag.
Join the conversation later on Andre Perry’s radio show, “Free College,” hosted Tuesdays on WBOK1230 in New Orleans at 3pm Central/4pm Eastern 504.260.9265.
Black people can’t eat, learn from, be housed by or be protected by American symbolism. Just economic, educational and housing Students have the right to demand receipts for pledging allegiance - The Hechinger Report: