The Act of Kneeling: At The Intersection of Sports and Politics

Abstract

Colin Kaepernick’s protests that took place during the 2016 NFL season raised some of the most intense and valuable discussion upon race in recent memory. Sports protests are not new in Sociology, but the research on it is scarce. My paper explores the in-depth sociological patterns found in two of the most influential populations, collegiate football players and conservative thinkers, about the 2016 protest. My essay provides a holistic picture on the varying views of the protest as well as the significance of the kneeling gesture and influence of America’s most well-known media outlets. This paper will answer how the minds of collegiate football players and conservative observers thought toward Kaepernick’s protest to understand what caused such a great racial divide in America.