Colin Kaepernick decided to become an activist and stand up for what he believed by sitting down. Apparently upset with the brutality faced by Blacks in America, Kaepernick decided to sit and take a knee while the national anthem was sung before NFL games. It was a strong gesture and inspired athletes across the nation to follow his lead.
However, Kaepernick’s protests could be voided by the fact that he decided not to vote. During a locker room interview with reporters on Nov. 8, Kaepernick revealed that he would not vote. He often discussed his disappointment with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. But even if he believed those candidates were flawed, it should not have stopped him from voting.
Along with the presidential election, the local candidates and amendments are important as well. By not voting, presumably in California, Kaepernick missed out on a chance to help make history by electing Kamala Harris to the U.S. Senate. Harris became the first Black politician in California history to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
If Kaepernick was really concerned with change, he could have used his voice to inspire others to vote for the amendments and candidates that could help the communities that he claims to love. But his neglect was a major disappointment and counterproductive to the message he was attempting to send.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith blasted Kaepernick by saying, “Colin Kaepernick is irrelevant. I don’t want to hear from him again. I don’t want to hear a damn word about anything that he has to say about our nation, the issues that we have, racial injustices, needing change, etc. He comes across as a flaming hypocrite. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not interested in a damn word that he has to say. I hope he goes away.”
Kaepernick has done some good by recently saying that he will donate $1 million to charities that will help the community. But his decision to stay away from the voting polls will cause some to believe that his protests is only a narcisstic cry for attention.
