The Smithsonian Museum of African American History has announced the addition of Colin Kaepernick’s artifacts to the Black Lives Matter exhibit. One of Kaepernick’s artifacts — a bench — is the butt of jokes on Twitter.com (pun intended).
The unemployed free agent quarterback is unofficially blacklisted by the NFL for his act of defiance during the pregame national anthem last year.
Kaepernick started off by sitting on a bench while his San Francisco 49ers teammates stood during the national anthem.
After furious public backlash — and a private meeting with his head coach — Kaepernick got off the bench and took a knee during the national anthem.
His actions — which many deemed to be self-serving — resulted in a loss of television viewers and advertising dollars.
Kaepernick waived a contract option from the 49ers at the end of the 2016 season. No other team has offered him a contract.
The Seattle Seahawks showed interest in Kaepernick as a second backup for Russell Wilson’s back up quarterback. But the team passed on him.
A few black players, including Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, are also protesting the national anthem during the 2017 preseason.
Twitter.com reacted to the news that Kaepernick’s bench was among the items on display at the Smithsonian.
Many were dismayed that Kaepernick, who is biracial, was added to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History before Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who is black.
But he's in the Smithsonian and Justice Thomas is not. WTF #MAGA #TCOT #PJNet
— ?? ggg217 (@ggg217) August 20, 2017
Kaepernick gets featured in black history Smithsonian museum before Clarence Thomas https://t.co/99AlFWz2Cw via @BIZPACReview
— ?Ophidian Pilot? (@ophidianpilot) August 20, 2017
What an insult to the legitimate honorees.
— RobW (@RobW_TN) August 19, 2017
Because it takes a special guy to lead your team to the bottom?
— Mark Simonelli (@marksimonelli) August 19, 2017
Still waiting for news on the Clarence Thomas exhibit in said museum.
— Kevin Barnard (@KevyB1990) August 20, 2017
Artifacts? A piece of grass where he placed his knee? Or the bench he rode?
— missamerica2017 (@missamerica2017) August 20, 2017
That speaks highly for the "important" artifacts that must be inside that museum, whats next the gun that shot the Dallas cops?
— Ed Bernas (@hazmat50213) August 20, 2017
I never knew so many white ppl cared about what goes in African American Museum? Only if they cared about Police Brutality
— KelvinX (@1_and_only_grip) August 19, 2017
Unbelievable!!! Good reason not to visit the Smithsonian! Sad
— Kim Ferguson (@CanChaserFergie) August 20, 2017
Doesn't the Smithsonian have anything better to display than Worthless garbage from a 3rd rate QB?
— Matt M (@MattMac1776) August 20, 2017
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Why are quoting what white people are saying with respect to a BLM artifact? They only bring up Clarence Thomas because he supports white causes, not his fellow black people. I’m not sure if you are pandering to white people or if you actually believe this type of bs. You being a drumpf supporter makes you highly suspect. And you’re a foreign black person, as well? I can’t wait to see how your fellow drumpf supporters treat you at a rally. Blog about THAT!
Pretty redundant to show the comments of white people, we expect them to have that reaction.
Wow all white people! Who gives a darn what they think! They are only giving an opinion because Colin is being recognized. They would care less any other day
His protest started an important conversation that is still going on. That song represents a lot of things to different people. Same with the statues. His protest showed us that certain groups of people are only willing to stand next to you if your cause doesn’t make them uncomfortable. We still have yet to see a prominent white player protest this issue. And we probably never will.
A bench in a museum that the oppressor owns is meaningless.
Smithsonian is notorious for stealing and obtaining artifacts/relics from throughout the world
Raise your hand if you knew the National Anthem was written by a slave owner and sung to the tune of an Irish drinking song?
I have seen a few white players protest this issue but like u said no prominent players.
What CK did is beyond brave. I don’t know too many people who would risk their income for something they believe in. The sprites are displeased. How surprising. ? I guess we have different definitions of comedy because all of these tweets are hella unfunny.
Religion. Its amazing how willing they are to over look all the sins and faults of this man and do everything in their power to find the good but in others they never give them that chance. Sound familiar ????
Not trying to start shit but when Clarence Thomas name comes up all I remember is the sexual harassment situation with Anita Hill. If you’re looking to someone without flaws then the CK bench is not surprising to me to be in the BLM exhibit. Just my opinion.
Cool.
What gets me is that he is mixed and they treating him this way smh
Who is drumpf?
Sandra, I’m sure you can figure it out via context. Why not reply regarding the substance of my statement?
What do you mean?
Hes not pandering to his white side, That’s why.
That’s not twitter. That’s just some racists hiding behind fake accounts lol
This post is probably white supremacist sponsored and approved. Anyway, I saw that some members of the NYPD raised their fists in support of Kaepernick during a rally. Now that’s something interesting, not a bunch of rednecks and self-hating negros desperate to be their lapdogs trying to clown on black people daring to stand up and protest ignorance, hatred, racism, brutality – and murder .
If they want Clarence in the museum so bad, then they should start a petition or protest but I highly doubt they will.
I’m proud of him. He was one of the few ball players that stood for what he believes in…. in spite of the consequences
The only ones belly aching about Uncle Thomas are White or dancing around the plantation Negroes. Who cares what White people think about OUR museum? It’s not about THEM.
Standing against the grain is costly. One has to be very strong to do so; therefore, I salute Kaep. Even though he’s biracial, he’s more “Black” than most “real” Black people are. I say if he’s willing to stand up for us (unlike so many boot-licking Negroes) than he has my vote. To hell with what everyone else thinks.
P.S. I think have the Tweets featured are from fake people anyway. Why are White folks concerned about what’s featured at our museum?
Bingo!!!!
Twitter rants from fascist racist.
Love it. Since they are fixated on Clarence Thomas these are the same mofo’s crying like a bytch when that college coach in Pittsburgh statue had to come down because of a sex scandal. They all on the statute crying and going on, holding onto it for dear life. I guess they said we got a admitted sexual predator in office why not. I can’t think of his name but that phune football commentator that took Charles Barkely to task about talking about black folks like a dog and he spoke on Coiln how these same people was marching for freedom of speech and some statues over the weekend but are the first one’s to attack Colin. I said speak brother speak. Ain’t nothing like a phune well dressed brotha not afraid to speak the truth.
You ain’t neva lied. White folks ain’t going up in there to see generational/worldwide wealth from a black man like an invention like a traffic signal they use everyday. They gonna keep looking at the 6:00/10:00/11:00 news and keep listening for the death count in Chicago to make sure we have not contributed anything to society to make this country great.
Double raise your hand if you know the song The Yellow Rose of Texas was about a mulatto woman. When white folks learned the true meaning of that song they stopped singing it.
“Why are White folks concerned about what’s featured at our museum?” Bingo. Them and their flunkies are working overtime and panicking because there’s more of us than them and they’re losing their grip.
I believe “drumpf” is donald trump. Similar to when people would (and still do) use “Obummer” referencing former POTUS Obama, and “Dubya” referencing Bush Jr.
We’re still considered the n word no matter how much azz is kussed.
Close but no. Drumpf is Trump’s actual family name as made evident in the documents of his family’s immigration to this country. (Colbert Report)
Dubya is an affectionate name the GOP nicknamed 43 to distinguish him from his father
Obummer was a derogatory name for 44
This country has Civil Rights Laws, Anti-Discrimination Laws, Equal Opportunity Employment Laws, AND US Citizen Colin Kaepernick CAN’T GET A JOB IN HIS PROFESSION BECAUSE OF RETALIATORY DISCRIMINATION.
The NFL must be sued for employment discrimination.
The entire NFL from coaches and players to cheerleaders, concessions, and janitors ALL need to walk off the job and show the NFL that employment discrimination and blacklisting will not be tolerated.
Also, where are Colin’s white adoptive parents and family. I have not seen them be visible. They NEED to immediately throw their white presence and privilege behind their biracial son’s black power movement.
Colin kneeling is today’s version of refusing the Vietnam draft.
Colin Kaepernick is the Cassius Clay of this generation.
Y’all can be mad. The decision has been made, cry me a river.
I don’t get these faux patriots! I guess the only type of patriotism is their type? ?????
Wow did the whole Black Life Matter message get lost in translation…
Democrats and Liberal Elite its all about Optics….. They adopted ruined and dragged it out…
Now why don’t they help the man get his job back or step in and advise him on a better strategy he lost millions on the Hashtag movement and nobody came to his Aide… and the hash tagers received lot of $$$ too…
They rushed to Aide illegal immigrants with lawyers met them at the airport before they got off the plane! fighting with the travel ban….
I remember reading that somewhere before. If it’s true, thanks! Was a long weekend!
Girl this!
This blog is FULL of WS…hope it’s worth is Sandra! Be careful what you share on here as it’s clearly INFILTRATED by CoIntelPro
*Peace to the Revolutionaries*
Democrats and Liberal Elite its all about Optics.
______________________________________
Optics are the way something looks to an outsider, especially concerning political actions. A politician playing golf during a violent protest in their home state would be an example of bad optics.
OK, WE GET IT!…. Now go to the dictionary and look up another word.
All of this!
You got it! That’s exactly what’s happening. They are scared too death.
You got that right, and the thing is…they stole this country, claim it’s theirs, and now they want us who have built this country with our blood, sweat, tears, and lives. What’s more, they invade many countries in Africa as well. It’s world domination they want.
But white folks didn’t like Muhammad Ali until he wasn’t able to talk anyone. But when he did talk he let them know that he was the Greatest and didn’t apologize for it either.
OUCH!!!!!!
White folks still trying to tell us what to do They will never tell the Jewish museum who to put in there but quick to tell us what to do.
What exhibit would they put for Justice Thomas a coke can with pubic hair orrr his one of his scandals that has happened in the past…they all need to have a seat.
Absolutely correct!
That’s a stretch. You need to review your history.
When deciding whether to protest think about the consequences. Was it worth being ….well broke. Nothing has changed except his bank account.
Jesse Williams did the same thing; pretending to be down for the cause, just to draw attention to himself.
Dude is not the Cassius Clay of this generation.
Colin Kaepernick · Net worth
$16 million USD
Zip it forest gump
Colin Kaepernick · Net worth
$16 million USD
Zip it forest gump
Was the Conversation about net worth? Uhhmmm No…
Not the brightest light bulbs.
How do you really know how much somebody is worth if your not them or the IRS? LOL
For real – do you EVER have something positive, supportive or relevant to say? Actually, don’t bother. Already know the answer.
Much respect to the Cleveland Browns today for taking a knee last night, and the people who supported them.
If people had that attitude during the civil rights movement we’d still be getting lynched every other day and sitting in the back of the bus. “Something” tells me that you’d be happy with that, but most people of color would not be.
I bet half of the people pretending to be outraged have no idea what a Clarence or a Thomas is
Thank you!
He may not be Cassius Clay, but he is the Cassius Clay of this generation. Both Cassius Clay and Colin Laepernick sacrificed their income to stand up for black rights. He most certainly is.
Both Cassius Clay and Colin Laepernick sacrificed their income as professional athletes to stand up for black rights.
I’m curious how the EEOC would handle a complaint submitted by Colin Kaeperkick. They’d have to take his case.
Clarence Thomas is vile. What he did to Anita Hill was vile. Although astutely educated and qualified, his behavior and actions toward Anita Hill are not those of a man of faith or justice.
I do agree people are letting his take the fall. But white liberals always do that.
Lets be fair in that we can discern the heart and context of an advocacy statement.
Anita Hill is an esteemed black female professor and vanguard for education. To tribute Clarence Thomas is to slight her. Ethically, the Smithsonian cannot tribute him.
Yes, I’m sure they would.
You’re welcome.
Exactly.
Remember that story sometime ago when the young black woman from a black Ivy League family scaled the flagpole to remove the confederate flag. They said she could have died scaling that flagpole.
Well, what got me was that her lookout standing at the base of pole was a white MAN. That white MAN stood there, watched, and egged on a black woman to scale a flag pole. In my opinion that white MAN should be doing a feat like that and a real men would not have let her do it.
Racially speaking, it’s more likely law enforcement would take extreme measure against a black woman than a white man. And how they let a black woman in her child bearing years yet to marry educated with no record whatsoever from a good family risk her life.
The white liberals used that sister and did not value her womanhood.
That he’s aligning himself racially and socially with blackness. As a biracial man, he would suffer backlash or blacklisting if he disassociated himself from black people, politics, and issues.
They don’t give a darn about Clarence Thomas. He’s just a covenient point of contention.
I support colin kapernicks freedom of speech… I knew he was going to be punished for his actions though if he had to go out looking for a job the following year. I am glad people are finally supporting and not just politicizing him because the backwards liberals using him politically and they left him hanging. An extremely super late response.
His fraternity got behind him and I really respect that. Hopefully he will get his job back.