Why Does Everyone Love to Tell Black People How They Should Protest?

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It’s been a very interesting time in the ~~Divided~~ United States of America.
There’s a lot going on here.
It’s Presidential Election year and we’re either #WithHer or nah.
We don’t know if we should slide or insert our card.
I’m about to see King Bey in less than 48 hours. Yes, that is relevant to this post, thankyouverymuch.
Oh, and if you protest against the flag, you’re considered un-American.
Colin Kaepernick took a very controversial stand a few weeks ago when he decided to sit through the National Anthem. His response:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJRp-XJnLCQ&w=560&h=315]
Of course, the focus was never on the reason why he’s sitting. It’s the fact he’s sitting.
I’m going to be 100 about this…I wasn’t too keen on Colin’s protest initially. I know how people react when there’s a slight hint of disrespect to the flag and everything it stands for, though I supported his reasoning. When I heard how Colin is putting his money where his mouth is (and the 49ers organization as well), then I fully supported him.
I should also mention how many veterans support Kaepernick as well, but I digress.
The focus quickly shifted from why Colin is using a silent and peaceful protest to the fact he’s sitting down during the National Anthem. Weeks later, with much support from a lot of people, it’s still a contested conversation. More are focused on the protest itself, than the reason behind it. In fact, the reason why Colin is protesting is no longer mentioned.
And I had to wonder…does talking about how Black people and other minorities are oppressed make people that uncomfortable?
Listen, no one likes to talk about racism, race relations, and anything negative about minorities unless you’re a regular at Fox News. No one likes to be reminded about the Native American genocide, the Japanese interment camps, or 400 years of slavery. No one likes to talk about systematic racism and how it goes much more than just calling a black person a nigger and other racial epitpthets.
And quite a few people are surprisingly nonchalant of attacks on Muslims here in the country.
I, for one, don’t like hearing about there is a shooting of an unarmed Black person. I also don’t like hearing about there is a shooting of an armed Black person in an open-carry state. I don’t like knowing how police brutality against Black women are ignored in the media. But I pay attention because I like to be informed. I also like to help my community in any way I can.
Instead, people would rather call for ‘unity’ or ‘build a bridge’ (Yes, I’m looking at you, Seattle Seahawks. Speaking of which, why hasn’t anyone called out Pete Carroll for his controversial 9/11 beliefs?).
And there’s so much anger…just so much deep-rooted anger towards Kaepernick. Much more than what this guy is receiving and he’s running for President.
Yet, no one is saying, ‘Okay, let’s have a sit-down discussion and genuinely talk about the issues. How can I be an ally? What do you need?’
All Lives Matters folks…I never see y’all at any Black Lives Matter protests. I don’t hear about you frequenting any Black-owned businesses. And the only time you honor Mexicans in America is Cinco De Mayo, which you nicknamed Cinco De Drinko.
Instead, the same people get upset when we’re protesting in the streets. When we’re burning down buildings. (I saw more people care that a motherfucking CVS in Baltimore was burned down, than they were about Freddie Gray’s murder at the hands of the Baltimore Police Department.) When we’re hashtagging, you might click the name, shrug, and keep it moving. You’re not outraged.
But no…you love to make jokes at our pain…

What people don’t realize is that by the time a riot occurs, it was simply the fire from the gasoline and match. All it takes is for one incident (match) to the gasoline (years of oppression and racism) for everything to explode. That is why Watts occurred. Why Los Angeles occurred. Why Ferguson occurred. Why the Baltimore Uprising happened. When recent rioting in Louisiana and Milwaukee took place.
But no, all people saw were an incident happened, citizens became upset, and went into the streets. You honestly think the news is going to report what had been occurring for years prior to that?
And now people are upset that a few are starting to kneel during the National Anthem because they no longer believe in it? Here’s a quick refresher on the true history of the Anthem: Francis Scott Key was a racist slaveowner who was pissed that the British offered freedom to slaves who fought on their side during the War of 1812.
Here’s the third verse that many, until recently, didn’t realize:
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Yeah, he’s pretty much saying, ‘Haha, you slaves!’ I should also note that last line of land of the free also didn’t apply to us since the Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t until 1863.
So, I ask you…how should Black people protest against oppression? How should any minority group?
It’s a peculiar time to be Black in America. You have people who love our sound, love our look, love that we entertain but don’t necessarily love us. And it’s something we’ve long accepted. People love to steal our swag, our slang, and our style but when it comes to fighting alongside us? Nah, bruh…

You have people who are so uncomfortable with saying Black Lives Matter, they replace Black with All, though they know they don’t mean it. I mean, if All Lives Matter, why are so many against gun control?

And then it occurred me…people don’t mind that we protest as long as we do it where: A) they won’t see it, B) they won’t hear about it, and C) it won’t disrupt their quality of life in any form.
So again, I have to ask…how do you want us to protest?
Whenever I hear people say, ‘I don’t mind if you protest but just don’t do XYZ…’ (here’s looking your refrigerator-built ass Kate Upton), they are saying in not so many words, ‘Shut up, nigger.‘ The same people who tell us how we should protest, aren’t offering any solutions. They’re not being allies. They’re not saying, ‘Let’s talk this over before it boils over.’
I don’t mind if you protest, but just don’t do XYZ…
So is the First Amendment for all or for some?
Shut up, nigger.
That’s how it feels like.
You see, I don’t recall this amount of outrage when this picture was broadcasted all over the media:

Oh yeah. Let’s not forget he went into a church, murdered 9 people, and when he was arrested, the officers took him to Burger King because he was hungry.
Where’s the outrage about that picture? Oh wait, there wasn’t any.
What’s interesting about the outrage towards Kaepernick is that if you’ve ever been to any sporting event, this is what’s happening during the National Anthem: Someone is at the concession stand. Someone is getting merchandise. Someone is just entering the arena. Someone is in the bathroom. There are a ton of people who are not paying attention to the Anthem.
And 99.99% of those watching at home are doing this while the National Anthem is played:

Yes. You. You are sitting down at home while the National Anthem is played. I have been to many sports watching parties in bars, and in private homes. No one is standing when the National Anthem is being played on TV.
But when a football player does it, it’s wrong?
I leave this blog post with a quote by Jesse Williams: