An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. -Martin Luther King Jr.
Colin Kaepernick is living. Became a fan of Kaepernick not because of his football skills but because of his anthem protest. TBH, didn’t know who he was until then. He got hell, football fans were pissed: How dare he use his position to call attention to the plight of PoC, whose human rights were violated and abused daily? How dare he publicly acknowledge police brutality? Or that #BlackLivesMatter?
In support, I decided to sit during the anthem at football games. While it felt odd as everyone around me stood and some displayed disapproval, it was liberating to step outside the box of hypocrisy.
Initially, was disappointed when I read his Know Your Rights Camp’s Ten-Point Program. How were granola-bar rights going to help underprivileged kids with police encounters? Several days later the light bulb went on, these were basic human needs.
For many inner city underprivileged kids, such basic human needs were lacking and not a given. Food, shelter, health and a sense of safety were daily challenges and unmet needs. Many don’t know they deserve to be loved and nurtured.
Inspired by the Black Panthers’ “Ten-Point Program” (per the Daily News), Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights (per Washington Post):
1. You have the right to be free.
2. You have the right to be healthy.
3. You have the right to be brilliant.
4. You have the right to be safe.
5. You have the right be loved.
6. You have the right to be courageous.
7. You have the right to be alive.
8. You have the right to be trusted.
9. You have the right to be educated.
10. You have the right to know your rights.
Alas, number 10 is not possible.
And why not? 🙂
Because your rights are curbed by an impossibly large number of laws that vary from one spot to another.
Excellent point!
Who’s handing out these rights?
Just mainstream slogans/clichés to make people feel good. Won’t change anything.
Such a cynic
Hmmmm…….well…..OK…….that’s what I am at times. But how about me being a “realistic cynic”? Just this once?
Ahem…….just one.
“You have the right to be alive.” Tell that to your doc, priest, or whoever is there, when your about to breathe your last breath.
I support the sentiments and regards rights as a mere concept. Capabilities express.