On the Aug. 30 edition of CNN’s “New Day,” comedian D.L. Hughley discussed the hypocrisy surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Over the weekend, Kaepernick ignited a social media maelstrom after announcing he would not stand during the national anthem.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” he told NFL.com.
Kaepernick’s critics also say he was too wealthy to protest police brutality and oppression.
Subsequently, outraged fans hurled racial slurs and burned his jersey online.
In the clip above, Hughley voices his support for the young QB while calling out his critics.
“It’s ironic,” the comedian starts. “Kaepernick is being silent to protest the mistreatment of people of color … America is being silent while people of color are being mistreated. So there’s nothing more American than silence. None of those [critics] have came out … when people are being brutalized.”
Hughley points out that football is just a game and being an athlete is temporary.
“Football is an escape. And Black people oftentimes don’t get an escape from reality,” he explains. “Reality confronts us all the time. There’s no Sunday off.”
Then host Chris Cuomo asks Hughley about the shooting death of Dwyane Wade’s cousin.
He tells Cuomo that Black people in cities like Chicago suffer from extreme poverty and unemployment. Jobs will lower crime, he says.
