Video Archive
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While many who disagree with Colin Kaepernick feel athletes should leave political messages to politicians, a look at American sports history provides a clear picture: ever since the advent of sports broadcasting, athletes have used their platforms as public figures to promote political messages and support movements of change.
This video walks through some of the highest-profile sports protests covered by the media. The events, listed in chronological order: Mohummad Ali refuses to be drafted for the Vietnam War, citing religious principles (1967); Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in a black power salute after receiving Olympic gold medals to protest discrimination and racism against African Americans (1968); various NBA players - including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant - wear "I Can't Breathe" shirts during pre-game warm-ups as a tribute to Eric Gardner (2014); Jared Cook, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Tavon Austin enter the field with their hands raised to protest the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson; members of the Minnesota Lynx WNBA team wear shirts with the phrase "Black Lives Matter," sparking a series of Black Lives Matter protests by other WNBA teams and various fines from the WNBA itself (Summer, 2016); Colin Kapernick sits during the national anthem for the first time to protest police brutality and oppression of people of color in America (August 26, 2016). |
This video is about the portrayal of Colin Kaepernick’s protest through various news outlets. It shows the audience the basics of what he did and why he did it through the eyes of the news, while also showing the multiple reactions he received, both negative and positive. We wanted to keep this video fairly short with a lot of jump cuts to add an element of how fast something like this spreads, and how news operates in America. We also wanted to include a variety of responses - both positive and negative - but weighing more heavily on the negative side to indicate to the viewer that most of the response Colin received from media sources was negative. The reason we kept this video fairly short was to highlight how easily it is to be consumed/convinced by news media in today's society, and how easy it is to make someone the scapegoat.
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This video is about Colin Kaepernick’s protest and how people reacted on social media. There have been multiple memes, tweets, and Facebook pages created surrounding this topic. While some posts and pages have been very critical about the protest, there have also been positive responses. Responses on social media from military veterans to president elect Donald Trump has brought more attention to the subject.
With the advancements of technology today, many people have access to media. While some people use media as a platform for social change, there are some people who choose to take advantage and post harmful messages. Many people even manipulate social media and create fake accounts to post hurtful messages and cyberbully others. While many are hiding behind computer screens and fake accounts, Colin Kaepernick is being followed on a worldwide stage, fighting for what he believes in. |
In the aftermath of Colin Kaepernick’s initial National Anthem Protest there were mixed responses from his sporting peers and fans. The video reveals opinions from NBA players Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal, and shows the political aftermath of the protest, with President Barack Obama remaining very neutral. Further, we see the opinion of Olympian John Carlos, who was a crucial figure in the 1968 protest. With other sporting figures around the world joining the protest for the visibility of issues surrounding black oppression, the protests have moved onto the sporting fields of amateur leagues and high school games. Who else will this movement inspire? How else will these protests manifest themselves? What else can we all do to increase the visibility for social injustices and black oppression?
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