Rhetorical Analysis Of Colin Kaepernick's Actions

656 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Racism in sport impact

For many years, America continues to have a strong and powerful pride for law enforcement, because they protect many people. However, Colin Kaepernick represents the minorities that don’t have a chance to speak their thoughts. During the last preseason game, Kaepernick remained seated during The Star-Spangled Banner, because of racial discrimination. Although many people disagree with his protest, the author also believed his actions had a meaningful cause, which didn’t harm himself or anyone else. Many Americans were able to see his message about discrimination. The author has presented, that Donald Trump and Drew Brees oppose Kaepernick’s actions. Donald Trump stated to go to another country, if he did not like what was happening. In other words, he is saying if you don’t like it, don’t stay here. However, Kaepernick has a right to support his ideas and opinions, because of the many police shootings. In addition, Drew Brees stated that his actions were insulting the American Flag. Although Kaepernick’s actions might seem offensive, his intentions wasn’t trying to insult the flag, but it was to stand up for the how poorly the minorities were treated. For instance, Kaepernick didn’t intentionally do this to cause a commotion. Instead, he wanted to protest in a quiet way. According to …show more content…

Many people agree with Kaepernick of what he did, because they understand his actions and point of view. According to the author, Kaepernick’s protest was done during a time when race was very important. Therefore, his protest has been very controversial, and has effected the country in many ways. Some people has changed their thoughts on how police are, and has had ideas to support his goal. Kaepernick’s goal wasn’t trying to offend anyone, but it was to show, that if they want his support, then they need to fight for many people that has been oppressed due to their

Show More
Related

  • Underrated and Unwritten Black History Heroes: John Carlos and Tommie Smith

    3394 Words  | 7 Pages

    “The land of the free and home of the brave,” the infamous line from America’s national anthem, Star-Spangled Banner, but how much did this ring truth for African-Americans in the Civil Rights Era? On October 16, 1968, gold medalist Tommie Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos challenged “the false vision of what it meant to be black in America.” (Pg. 108, John Carlos story) Although John Carlos and Tommie Smith ridiculed and ostracized because of their defiant act, which respectfully recognized as an iconic, powerful image labeled as the “black power salute” in the summer Olympics of 1968 in Mexico City. Carlos and Smith used the Olympics’ medal ceremony stage to challenge and bring recognition to the racism within sports and the United States in a silent gesture. This significant moment of their act of bravery, courage and willingness to sacrifice their sport careers and life to call attention to the segregation, racism and white supremacy back home for those who did not have a platform. “Smith and Carlos opened a unique symbolic space for dialogue and debate about these issues.” (Pg. 26, Douglas Hartmann) Without saying a single word, they captured the nation’s attention.

    Read More

  • Nike Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    Advertisements are constructed to be compelling; nonetheless, not all of them reach their objective and are efficient. It is not always easy to sway your audience unless your ad has a reliable appeal. Ads often use rhetoric to form an appeal, but the appeals can be either strong or weak. When you say an ad has a strong rhetorical appeal, it consists of ethos, pathos, logos, and Kairos. Advertisers use these appeals to cohere with their audience. Nike is known to be one of the leading brands of the sports shoes and apparel. It holds a very wide sector of followers around the world. In the Nike ad, Nike uses a little boy watching other basketball players play, and as the kid keeps growing, his love for basketball keeps growing. Eventually, he

    Read More

  • Equality In Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman

    1867 Words  | 4 Pages

    African American’s still are thought to be discriminated against by law enforcement, according to recent scenarios which have occurred. For example, Eric Garner was seen to have been physically abused by police and many of the public believe this is because he was African American. Though racism is less common today, it is still relevant and apparent in society. Violence is still used by both individuals and law enforcement, as well as as a form of protest in some circumstances. Though there is still some violent-protests present today, for humanitarian reasons this form of protesting has become less common throughout all of the ethnic

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Chisholm's Speech

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Not only does repetition play a major role in Chisholm’s speech, but her dispersement of anaphoras indeed calls attention to her main point. Anaphoras allow her to emphasize her frustration and put forth the notion of the severity of discrimination and differences men and women had to endure during that time. An example of this is right in the beginning of her speech where she states: “It provides a legal basis for attack on the most subtle, most pervasive, and most institutionalized form of prejudice that exists,” where she explains how the Constitution was based on the equality of the American people, including between men and women. This quotation fulfills her point by expressing these prejudices in the superlative form. Because she placed

    Read More

  • Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    The forceful subjugation of a people has been a common stain on history; Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail was written during the cusp of the civil rights movement in the US on finding a good life above oppressive racism. Birmingham “is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known,” and King’s overall goal is to find equality for all people under this brutality (King). King states “I cannot sit idly… and not be concerned about what happens,” when people object to his means to garner attention and focus on his cause; justifying his search for the good life with “a law is just on its face and unjust in its application,” (King). Through King’s peaceful protest, he works to find his definition of good life in equality, where p...

    Read More

  • Ethical Deviance: The LAPD and Los Angeles Riots

    2523 Words  | 6 Pages

    The beating of Rodney King from the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991 and the Los Angeles riots resulting from the verdict of the police officers on April 29 through May 5, 1992 are events that will never be forgotten. They both evolve around one incident, but there are two sides of ethical deviance: the LAPD and the citizens involved in the L.A. riots. The incident on March 3, 1991 is an event, which the public across the nation has never witnessed. If it weren’t for the random videotaping of the beating that night, society would never know what truly happened to Rodney King. What was even more disturbing is the mentality the LAPD displayed to the public and the details of how this mentality of policing led up to this particular incident. This type of ethical deviance is something the public has not seen since the civil rights era. Little did Chief Gates, the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the LAPD know what the consequences of their actions would lead to. Moving forward in time to the verdict of those police officers being acquitted of the charges, the public sentiment spiraled into an outrage. The disbelief and shock of the citizens of Los Angeles sparked a mammoth rioting that lasted for six days. The riots led to 53 deaths and the destruction of many building. This is a true but disturbing story uncovering the ethical deviance from the LAPD and the L.A. riots. The two perspectives are from the Rodney King incident are the LAPD and the L.A. riots.

    Read More

  • Colin Kaepernick's Stand Against Racial Discrimination

    1018 Words  | 3 Pages

    In an attempt to persuade the audience to sympathize with Kaepernick or his chosen protest, the author provides information on Kaepernick’s injuries and personal struggles. Wyche explains that Kaepernick is true to his conviction by Kaepernick having taken the time to understand the situation before he acted. In an interview after one of Kaepernick’s games, Kaepernick explains that the reason he chose to sit down during the national anthem was bigger than football itself and that it would be selfish if he did not pay any attention to what is going on outside of professional football. “I have to stand up for people that are oppressed… If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right,” (Wyche 7) Kaepernick, in defense, told reporters in an interview. Wyche included this interview in his article to help persuade the audience on whether or not Kaepernick was doing this for publicity or out of true conviction for the cause. “…Using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S,” (Wyche 4) Wyche explains in his article, stating that Kaepernick’s movement is truly to raise awareness. Wyche also attempts to persuade the audience by explaining that Kaepernick is biracial and could, therefor, understand both sides if the issue of

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Colin Kaernick's Freedom Of Speech

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin, in Shipp’s article, she informs the readers in the situation happening with Kaepernick and gives an emotional sense--pathos-- to persuade the readers that his action was an acceptable act of expressing his thoughts. While in Kushma’s article, his way of arguing using pathos is far less present and effective. Both authors use a sense of emotion to try and persuade the audience and only one of them precedes the use effectively. In Shipp’s article Colin Kaepernick: the ultimate patriot, she states “especially those of you who have been

    Read More

  • Black Lives Matter Case Study

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chief Magnus’ position on racial bias, which plagues many police departments, caused outrage, for Chief Magnus decided to join in on the recent movement of “Black Lives Matter”, by hold up a protestor’s sign that says, “Black Lives Matter”. Chief Magnus’ statement, by holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign during a demonstration, shocked the community and the nation, but brought the communities’ ideals of justice in line with his own ideals. Though there were some people that frowned up on the actions of Chief Magnus, there were many people that agreed with his decision to join the protest, as well as many people were promoting Chief Magnus’ courage to speak out. The communities outrage of the officer involved shooting that happened almost on the other side of the country, stems from the ideal that police officers have systemically been racially bias against the African American community; the racial bias and excessive force proponent in dealing with African Americans is a crime to the community. In an interview with Chief Magnus, by SF Gate (2014), Chief Magnus said, “It was intended to be a humane statement,” but at the same time, he’s also with the police officers by saying, “I can understand how it is hard for a lot of

    Read More

  • Black Lives Matter And The All Lives Matter (ALM Movement

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Tim Wise mentioned, our media outlets have had a record of ignoring anti-white racism, such as with the example of William Campbell supporting the students of Little Rock. To label Kaepernick’s actions as unpatriotic or disrespectful is to ignore the message behind his actions, which is to stand against police brutality and social injustice. I don’t think his goal was to gain mass media attention, but in doing do, Kaepernick has created a discussion about racial inequality. I think the only problem we have with the discussion now as Tim Wise mentions is, “How do we confront the truth, without being overwhelmed about

    Read More

  • Kaepernick's Kneel: Patriotism and Social Equality

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lately, everyone has seen or commented on Kaepernick kneeling the National Anthem. There are non-supporters like Stephen Duncombe defines Kaepernick protest as “Ethical Spectacle, [a] strategic use of a symbol, sign or gesture to seek a cultural shift” (Jenkins). Supporters like Mat Bonesteel of The Washington Post states “[Kaepernick] protest could have sparked needed conversations on … subjects: [such as] on the treatment of black Americans… on patriotism’s place in society; on the importance of symbols” (Gass). Colin Kaepernick should continue kneeling because he shows patriotism, awareness on subjects like freedom of speech. Also, the difficult African Americans has protesting for equalities.

    Read More

  • Unveiling Assumptions: Diversity, Trust, and Immigration

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of speech is a right that is granted to every individual, otherwise, it will be illegal. Vinson faults people of different ethnicity for taking the freedom of speech away. It is fine for anyone to express their opinion in an appropriate manner. A protest called “Black Lives Matter” grabs the attention of the public. The goal of the protest is to raise awareness that racism is hurting many people based on the incidents that happened. “Black Lives Matter” gathered many participants in an effort to fight for justice. Even “leaders from the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Indigenous African and Unitarian Universalist faiths gathered to give witness to our unwavering support for the Black Lives Matter Movement” (Kolodny). The movement gathered a diverse group of people that portrays the spirit of unity in

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience In Sports

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    Civil disobedience, to me, is any action that civilly disobeys or refuses to conform to government or societal rules/laws. In America, the national anthem is very traditional where people almost always stand, take off their hats, and place their hands on their heart. It’s an unwritten rule in our society that one conforms to this tradition. Colin Kaepernick disobeyed this rule. He kneeled, bringing attention to him for not following suit. Kaepernick’s actions reminded me directly of a quote from Henry David Thoreau’s civil disobedience. “Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters”. (Thoreau, 54) This quote illustrates Kaepernick’s protest as an act of civil disobedience. Despite opinions surrounding his actions and what they meant, people must concede that his actions were indeed civil. He kneeled peacefully and quietly. After researching more into that question and exploring Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau more elaborately, I now conclude that I do believe that Kaepernick’s actions can be classified as civil

    Read More

  • The Star-Spangled Banner Summary

    163 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kaepernick is protesting because he feels like the American flag does not represent what it is supposed to represent. One way he is protesting is he wears socks that say police are pigs. He wears them because he says there are rouge cops that do not treat black people the same way they treat white people and they are also putting the community

    Read More

  • Black Lives Matter Argumentative

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the African American community. It campaigns against violence toward black people and has become a uniting call for an innovative chapter in the black freedom fight. The clearance of Trayvon Martin’s killer in 2013 and the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 stimulated this movement. Black Lives Matter isn’t just about the loss of Black lives; but mainly about the lack of consequences when African American lives are taken by Caucasian officers. The question is; do black lives truly matter to those that claim to protect it? The answer is no they do not because the movement’s alleged “peaceful” protests continuously

    Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Colin Kaepernick's Actions

Open Document