In the NFL 2016 pre-season, then–San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to sit during the customary singing of the national anthem. A couple of weeks later, 49ers safety Eric Reid joined him in taking a knee during the national anthem. Both overrun with the injustice of police brutality toward African-Americans, they used their station and their influence to silently send a very loud message.
Fast forward to 2017. Kaepernick now holds the title of “former” NFL player. A president decides to go after him and his peaceful posture of protest at a rally and on Twitter.
I’m not going to pretend that I know everything about the posture of kneeling and the history of how it’s been used. However, when I think of kneeling and the reason for kneeling, I come up with this.