Roland Martin got the opportunity and the time to get the proper narrative on the Kaepernick affair on the air for many to hear. He did not disappoint. Kudos Roland.
Thank you very much, Roland Martin.
Roland Martin went on National TV and appropriately scolded the nation for their response to Colin Kaepernick protest by telling several unfortunate truths. He also directly slammed Jerry Rice and Drew Brees’ ‘attacks on Kaepernick.
The host pointed out that people’s responses fall into three camps, those who believe Kaepernick is unpatriotic, those who believe he is doing the right thing, and those who believe his protest is justified but poorly executed. Roland Martin’s response was spot on with his assessment.
“People are more concerned with what Colin Kaepernick is doing as opposed to why he is doing it,” said Martin. “Do you understand that the San Francisco Police Department, they’ve been embroiled in a racist text message scandal. No one wants to talk about that, but his socks. Then you also have the people who don’t want to talk about the fact that the police chief of San Francisco resigned in May because of another questionable shooting. Not that, but his socks. Let’s go to Oakland where they had three interim police chiefs in a matter of two weeks where they have a scandal of more than a dozen cops having sex with underaged prostitutes. Again, not what Colin Kaepernick is talking about, but they want to talk about why he isn’t kneeling. That’s the problem in America. We never want to talk about the real issue as to why he is protesting. It is how he is doing it. But I love when people say he should do it another way. Jerry Rice has said it. Drew Brees has said it, and others. But here is what’s interesting. I haven’t heard them say what the other way is. What is the other way? Please!”
It isn’t often that a pundit or analyst gets the time or opportunity to lay out the truthful narrative. It was granted to Martin today. He used every second to fill the time with substantive aggregated data that hit virtually all at once.
Martin continued making a case for Kaepernick. He pointed out that two prominent athletes, one African American, who were on the attack, have done little for the cause of social or criminal justice.
Roland had the perfect response to the question about whether patriotism or racism had anything to do with the attacks on Kaepernick. Martin said it was a combination of both.
“Americans, we love to ignore what the real issue is,” Martin said. “So folks don’t want to deal with what he was speaking of. And that is police brutality, a need for social justice reform. You see you have more people who are outraged with Colin Kaepernick as opposed to a judge allowing a man who sexually assaulted an eight-year-old boy to get thirty days in prison because he felt prison would be too tough for him.”
Martin pointed out that America is generally unconcerned with social and criminal justice issues while showing overblown interest in inconsequential issues. He used the Tamir Rice case among many others, to make that case.
The reason the tactics of Black Lives Matter and Colin Kaepernick are important is that absent protests in that manner, comfortable Americans remain comfortable. There is no need to step up and do what is right because those that are being wronged, seldom cross the paths of the comfortable.
We need those with the platform to reach mass audiences to use it. Many do not. Roland Martin’s message today will resonate and educate many today. He used his platform.
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