Perspective | Colin Kaepernick and the powerful, religious act of kneeling (2024)

FAQs

Perspective | Colin Kaepernick and the powerful, religious act of kneeling? ›

I understand that Kaepernick first chose to sit for the anthem, then changed his mind to kneel to show greater respect for the American military, after a conversation with a veteran. Kneeling is powerful. I believe this choice to kneel also represents a link to Kaepernick's Christian faith. To kneel is to show respect.

Kneeling during the national anthem shows disrespect for the flag and members of the armed forces. The national anthem pays respect to the people who have risked their lives, been injured, or died defending the United States.

The history of kneeling and prostration have always been a sign of worship in Christianity. Passages in the Bible show that kneeling is preferred over other forms of prayer. It is mentioned in the New Testament that "whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues".

Abstract: In 2016, Colin Kaepernick spearheaded an activist movement by National Football League (NFL) players by “taking a knee” during the National Anthem before the start of NFL games. His goal was to raise awareness about police brutality and other oppression experienced by the Black community.

Taking the knee (or taking a knee) is a symbolic gesture against racism whereby an individual kneels upon one knee in place of standing to attention for an anthem or other such occasion.

Among veterans, more than six in ten, 61%, say it is offensive not to stand for the anthem. Among those who are not veterans, there is a divide. 48% consider the protest disrespectful while 47% say it is an expression of the freedoms the song represents.

But the question is: Are players - or anyone else not standing for the National Anthem - breaking the law? No, at least according to the U.S. Code. (2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

Kneeling is the tra- ditional posture for requesting favours from a king or paying homage, and so it became the traditional posture for prayers of repentance or supplication. In western Christianity, kneeling came to mean simple humility and submission.

A survey of countless historical images shows that humility and supplication has always been expressed by lowering oneself to the ground. In fact, the words "humble" and "humility" stems from the Latin word for earth. Kneeling has been a gesture of humble submission to a higher authority from time immemorial.

The Bible speaks of bowing in prayer, kneeling on one's face before God, standing, sitting and walking. The most important thing isn't the position of the body but the condition of the soul. If the heart is attuned to God, one can pray in any posture imaginable.

What was Colin Kaepernick's reason for kneeling? ›

Where does taking the knee in sport come from? American footballer Colin Kaepernick took the knee during the national anthem before a match in 2016. He said he could not stand to show pride in the flag of a country that oppressed black people.

Kaepernick eventually was cut by the 49ers, and no other team would give him a tryout, while retaining quarterbacks with less skill, success and experience. What most Americans probably don't know is that Kaepernick also is a man guided by his faith and by his reverence, and that this spirituality formed the man.

Since he first took a knee for the national anthem in 2016, Colin Kaepernick has prevented America from allowing football to be the country's favorite escapism from racial injustice, even at the expense of his on-field career.

Kaepernick has said on numerous occasions that the sole purpose of kneeling during the national anthem is not to disrespect the military personnel at all, but rather that his goal is to use his social platform to bring topics regarding police brutality and oppression of people of color to light.

"Since 1787, people have taken the knee to show solidarity about racial iniquity at home and abroad. The campaign to abolish the British slave trade used an enslaved African man taking the knee as a tool to mobilise popular support for the anti-slavery campaign."

Kneel means to sit on your knees or on the sit of your knees. It means you want to reconcile with the Lord when you kneel before him, confess of your sins and pray for forgiveness. At the same time, to kneel to God means modesty and reverence.

Standing for the flag and anthem at a sports game or other public gatherings, symbolically shows that we are all Americans, no matter our race or religion, no matter our preferred sports team, and no matter our political differences. Standing is the ultimate salute to sportsmanship.

False. NFL coaches did not vote or decide in 2023 to ban players from kneeling during the pre-game national anthem.

Steve Cohen expressed outrage at the Super Bowl LVIII crowd for not standing up during the black national anthem. “Very very few stood at Super Bowl for 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'. The Negro National Anthem. Not a pretty picture of Super Bowl crowd.” Cohen groused on X.

"Over time people have normally taken the knee before 1787 as a sign of deference, they defer to a political elite, someone perceived as being more powerful - normally a political leader, a monarch, a knight, a noble. "Since 1787, people have taken the knee to show solidarity about racial iniquity at home and abroad.