The Helpful History of Minority Demonstrations

American football fans display their respect for the flag

John Richards responds to Ed Stetzer's article on Kaepernick’s protest

This weekend, President Trump fired the tweet heard ‘round the sports world. And the sports world—specifically NFL players and owners—responded with protests and demonstrations. As he is apt to do, Ed penned a very thoughtful response to the controversy and proposed a Christian response.

I’m grateful Ed asked brothers and sisters to move beyond the protest and seriously consider the issue of race in our country. I also echo his sentiments that white evangelicals stop, listen, reflect in prayer, and ask how you can act when issues like this arise.

I did take exception to something he mentioned in the article. After a conversation today, he suggested I write a response giving a perspective I hope might be helpful in framing the Christian response. Read More

When did dropping to one knee or kneeling become a gesture of disrespect? Since ancient times vassals, serfs, and others in a subordinate position have paid homage to their lords in this manner. They have stood in their lord’s presence only with their lord’s permission. Indeed standing in their lord’s presence was viewed as an affront to their lord, an affront for which they might forfeit their lives. The Anglican practices of kneeling to pray and kneeling to receive communion are derived from this longstanding custom as is the Anglo-Catholic and Roman Catholic practice of genuflecting before the altar if the reserved sacrament is present

If one goes to a football game, one is likely to observe far greater disrespect for the American flag among the fans than among the football players. Fans wear American flag bandanas, head scarves, T-shirts, and hoodies. They mop the sweat from themselves with American flag towels. They may sit on American flag cushions. Such practices are hardly respectful of the nation’s emblem. Yet we do not hear our president criticizing the fans for their disrespect for the flag. As several news articles have pointed out, President Trump has both personal and political reasons for his attacks on the NFL and its players. He has a long-running feud with the NFL from the days that he was the owner of a football team. His attacks on mostly Black football players for what he describes as disloyalty plays well with one segment of his base.