Why I sat during the national anthem

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, along with other NFL players, has popularized sitting or kneeling during the National Anthem as a means to protest police brutality. In solidarity with these NFL demonstrations, as well as in solidarity with the protests that have taken place in Charlotte, UNC students hosted a protest of their own Saturday at the UNC vs. Pittsburgh football game. I participated, and here’s why I did.

As a black woman in America, I’m tired. I’m tired of waking up to the news that another black man, woman, or child was unjustly killed at the hands of the police. It’s frightening to know that one of my friends, one of my family members or even I could be the next trending hashtag on Twitter. The death of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte this past week was heartbreaking because it happened in my hometown. This exhaustion and this heartbreak are the reasons why I participated in the National Anthem protest this past Saturday.

Courtesy of abc11

Some people have misconceptions about our form of protest. Although we may not have been standing, we still observed the anthem. None of us were speaking or on our electronic devices.

It is our first amendment right to protest our National Anthem. To those upset that we have chosen to protest, maybe you should look at the reason why we’re protesting in the first place instead of criticizing our actions.

The majority of critics are the same people who remain silent when members of my community are being killed by those who are supposed to protect us. People are upset about what we are doing, but are unconcerned with why we are doing it. It’s a damn shame.

Our protests are not meant to convenience you. You most likely will not feel comfortable. But guess what: Millions of us black Americans feel uncomfortable every day. So your two-minute long discomfort doesn’t even begin to compare to how many of us feel regularly.

To those of you who sat in solidarity with us, I appreciate you.

This country was built on the backs of enslaved black people. Some of y’all just want to tell us to get over it, that we’re now in a post-racial society and everything is fine and dandy, when in reality, it’s not.

So if you have an issue with why we’re protesting, maybe it’s time for you to give yourself a solid privilege check and try to understand why I, and so many others protest. We want what our country has yet to give us – liberty and justice, for all.