This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Published on June 6, 2020, the kneeling controversy has been a long-standing issue in America, with its roots dating back to 2016 when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
According to Chad Williams, chairman of the Department of African and Afro-American Studies at Brandeis University, kneeling is both an act of defiance and resistance, but also of reverence, of mourning, but also honoring lives lost. It is also simple and clear, with its simplicity giving it symbolic power that persists.
However, the controversy surrounding kneeling has persisted, with President Trump and others labeling it as unpatriotic. This viewpoint was recently expressed by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who publicly apologized after saying that he views taking a knee during the anthem as an insult to the country.
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees said, linking such defiance to condemnation of the military.
On Friday, President Trump tweeted that Brees should have not shifted his stance, saying in all caps that there should be “NO KNEELING!" during a display of patriotism. Hours later, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to his players for not listening to the concerns of African-American players earlier, saying he supported athletes in protesting peacefully.
Despite the controversy, kneeling has become a powerful symbol of resistance and defiance, particularly in the context of the George Floyd protests. It is a reminder of the complexity of race in America and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.
