sociology

Kaepernick Takes a Knee - Media Takes Notice

Today’s media landscape is overwhelming to say the least. Whether people are watching television or browsing social media, they are inundated with links to news articles, opinion pieces, blogs and advertisements about every subject one could imagine. It is no wonder that a 2016 Stanford study found that a large percentage of K-12 students are unable to distinguish between fake and real news stories[footnoteRef:0]. For these reasons, it is important for any person navigating through a virtual universe of information to develop a strong sense of media literacy in order to determine for themselves what is and is not trustworthy information about any particular news story. Media Literacy refers to the ability to critically analyze any and all content consumed by a reader in order to detect bias, framing, or credibility. It is the difference between accepting what you read without question or double, even triple, checking articles’ sources. Since the 2016 NFL pre-season, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been participating in a protest of the National Anthem by sitting or kneeling during its’ performance preceding a game in order to draw attention to systemic oppression of black people and people of color in the US[footnoteRef:1]. While initially unnoticed, his protest has since drawn overwhelming attention from sports and culture writers alike. In this paper, I will look at four articles in hopes of drawing a better understanding of this media story. [0: Domonoske, Camila. "Students Have 'Dismaying' Inability To Tell Fake News From Real, Study Finds." NPR. NPR, 23 Nov. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. ] [1: Alec Nathan , Featured Columnist Nov 30, 2016. "Colin Kaepernick Comments on National Anthem Protest, Donald Trump and More." Bleacher Report. N.p., 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. ]

2016 has not been the 49ers best season. With a total of 11 consecutive losses following their opening day victory over the San Diego Rams, some writers take issue with Kaepernick’s protest based on the team’s standings. One such writer is Jason Howerton of the Independent Journal Review. Writing of the 49ers December 4th loss to the Cleavland Browns (3-9), his headline states: “Kaepernick Takes a Knee at ‘Soldier Field’ Before making NFL History – That’s When His Coach Benched Him.” The “history” Howerton refers to is the first time an NFL quarterback had been sacked more times than the amount of passing yards completed[footnoteRef:2]. Kaepernich, sacked a total of 5 times, only threw for 4 yards, leading to his ultimate benching in the fourth quarter of the game. Yet, if Coach Chip Kelly benched his player based on performance, why would Howerton allude to Kaepernick’s protest as being the reason for his ultimate substitution? Perhaps it is because the Independent Review Journal is “a popular destination for conservatives,”[footnoteRef:3] or because Howerton himself has written many articles praising conservative figureheads, and the Republican Party. Despite his headline, Howerton does not focus his article on Kaepernick protest, but instead utilizes a ridiculing tone to characterize Kaepernick’s surprise to being pulled despite his performance through the December 4th game[footnoteRef:4]. It seems the writer would like readers to believe that Kaepernick’s perception of his own performance is illogical, thus his protest and reasons for protest are also illogical. While Howerton does not explicitly state these claims it is easy to imagine a young conservative football fan coming to this conclusion from the combination of the headline and story about a poor performing and out of touch quarterback. [2: Howerton, Jason. "Kaepernick Takes a Knee at 'Soldier Field' Before Making NFL History - That's When His Coach Benched Him." Independent Journal Review. Independent Journal Review, 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. ] [3: Kaufman, Leslie. "Independent Journal Review Website Becomes a Draw for Conservatives." Nytimes.com. N.p., 02 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. ] [4: Howerton, Jason. "Kaepernick Takes a Knee at 'Soldier Field' Before Making NFL History - That's When His Coach Benched Him." Independent Journal Review. Independent Journal Review, 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.]

Meanwhile, in the sports pages of the Chicago Tribune, Jason Howerton’s sentiments regarding Kaepernick’s protest are echoed by sports writer Chris Kuc. His December 4th headline reads: “After national anthem protest, Colin Kaepernick dreadful in loss to the Bears.” Again, this headline connects Kaepernick’s performance on the field to his ongoing protest. Though this headline is troublesome the article itself is not as damaging a display of Kaepernick’s character. Kuc highlights that Kaepernick does not dodge responsibility for his performance, quoting Kaepernick’s insistence that the constant snowfall played a key role in his performance[footnoteRef:5]. Kuc also chooses to highlight aspects of Kaepernick’s political stance, acknowledging Kaep’s honoring of Fred Hampton, a famous Chicago Black Panther, by wearing a shirt with Hampton’s image. Kuc quotes Kaepernick’s framing of his protest on the 4th in honor of the anniversary of Fred Hampton’s murder by the Chicago Police on the same day in 1969[footnoteRef:6]. Kuc’s decision to focus on this aspect of Kaepernick’s protest depicts Kaep as a thoughtful and informed individual as opposed to a quarterback in denial. Further, Kuc’s decision to attribute Colin’s poor performance to difficult weather conditions allows the reader to sympathize with Kaep instead of scoffing at his poor statistics as Howerton’s article so joyously does. However, Kuc’s article also describes Chicago fans jeering at Kaepernick’s decision to take a knee during the Anthem. Chris Kuc’s well rounded article is redeeming and critical of Kaepernick despite the loaded headline. This may be due to the credibility of the Chicago Tribune considering it is one the 8th largest papers in the country. It may also be that Kuc, a Chicago sports analyst, appreciates Kaepernick’s highlighting of Chicago history as he honors Fred Hampton and the Black Panther’s legacy of protest against police repression. Regardless, while Chris Kuc draws readers with a controversial headline, he did well to serve readers a mostly un-biased article from which they may form their own opinions. [5: Kuc, Chris. "After National Anthem Protest, Colin Kaepernick Dreadful in Loss to Bears." Chicagotribune.com. N.p., 04 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. ] [6: ibid]

Interestingly enough, a different Chicago Tribune sports writer took quite a different stance on Kaepernick’s Soldier Field protest. Shannon Ryan, also a sports writer for the Chicago Tribune, wrote a December 5th article that took very little focus on Kaepernick performance against the Bears. With a head line reading, “Start listening to Colin Kaepernick – and learning,” Ryan begins her article with a reference to 1966 and Martin Luther King Jr.: “In 1966, in Soldier Field, Martin Luther King, Jr., called out police brutality and demanded better from our country before marching with nearly 30,000 others to City Hall.”[footnoteRef:7] Upon reading this sentence the reader is transported from football field to political rally. Connecting Kaepernick to such an important civil right leader is a bold move by Ryan. In the sports world it is more controversial a stance than claiming that Kaep’s protest is responsible for his, and his teams, poor performance throughout the 2016 season. That these two opposing opinions on Colin Kaepernic (that of Ryan and Chris Kuc) exist on the same sports page of the same paper speaks to the large readership of the Chicago Tribune. It also speaks to the Tribune’s valuing of Chicago history as both Ryan and Kuc use historical references throughout their article. Yet, what is more interesting is that Shannon Ryan does not focus on football at all. Instead her article references criticism of Kaepernick’s protest and her own defense of Kaep’s political stance as both informed and important. Like Kuc, Ryan acknowledges Kaepernick’s connection to Fred Hampton’s death at the hands of police. Ryan takes it a step further by emphasizing Kaepernick’s “non-violent protest” at the start of the game.[footnoteRef:8] Yet as supportive as Ryan’s article may be, it is incredibly biased. Ryan, who covers primarily college sports, may be speaking directly to a politicized audience, but is she reaching beyond that audience? I would venture to say no. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to read an article that does not drag Kaepernick’s political actions, holding his efforts accountable for the team’s loss. [7: Ryan, Shannon. "Start Listening to Colin Kaepernick - and Learning." Chicagotribune.com. N.p., 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. ] [8: ibid]

To push further while reaching back, Slate Magazine writer Josh Levin wrote a September 14th article entitled simply, “Colin Kaepernick’s protest is working.” While the date of this article seems far removed from the 49ers December 4th loss to the Bears, it can help to give perspective on the first three writers’ stances. Levin opens his article with a review of the criticism hailed at Kaepernick in the first 5 weeks of his protest, which he began in the preseason[footnoteRef:9]. Levin quotes many critics as calling Kaepernick an idiot, or calling his cause uninformed and misguided[footnoteRef:10]. Some critics go so far as to claim that Kaepernick should focus his energies on charity work, as he is a wealthy man, as opposed to peaceful protest.[footnoteRef:11] Yet, for every criticism levied at Kaepernick, Levin shows a counter on part of the 49ers quarterback. Whether it is Kaepernick and his teams pledge to donate a total of $2 million to various civil rights groups across the country, or the quoting or a very articulate Kaepernick expressing his reasons for protest[footnoteRef:12], Levin does not fall short in his defense of Kaepernick. This writing pairs well for a Slate reader, considering the contrarian reputation of the magazine and the often left-leaning stances it has been known to take. Yet it is important to note Levin’s message: that Kaepernick’s protest is working. Working in that it has begun a dialogue in the sports world about police brutality and the validity of protest within sports. While he makes this assertion in week two of the NFL season by week 13, the week of the 49er loss to the bears, at least 10 NFL players have joined Kaepernick in his protest[footnoteRef:13], some of which have participated since week one. While Levin is writing for a specific audience, his analysis of the protest carries weight, and ultimately, Josh Levin is right. [9: Sandritter, Mark. "A Timeline of Colin Kaepernick's National Anthem Protest and the Athletes Who Joined Him." SBNation.com. N.p., 06 Nov. 2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. ] [10: Levin, Josh. "Colin Kaepernick’s Critics Called Him an Idiot. Who’s the Idiot Now?" Slate Magazine. N.p., 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. ] [11: ibid] [12: ibid] [13: Kapadia, Williams, Et. Al. "NFL Players Who Protested during the National Anthem in Week 13." ESPN.com. N.p., 04 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. ]

Just as important as keeping up with current event is the ability to develop an informed and independent opinion. This has become increasingly difficult in an era of click-bait advertisements and the decline of print media, yet there is still hope in the unrivaled connection today’s younger generations have with the internet. While many see a reliance on the internet as a downfall, it would serve us better to instead educate young and old alike on how to navigate through the clutter of information that is the internet. Media literacy is easier to develop today than it ever was as we no longer live in an era where our local paper informs us of the going-ons of the world. And so as students and educators it is our duty to show people how to dig through information, in search of not only the truth, but in search of our own point of view.