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Black Twitter Calls Out Hypocrisy of #BoycottNFL After Athletes Stand up Against Racism

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)
Colin Kaepernick kneels during national anthem (ESPN/Twitter)

Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem. (ESPN/Twitter)

#BoycottNFL became a top trending topic on Twitter today after white users became fed up with protests of the “Star Spangled Banner.” San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick spurred the movement in late August. Since then, many other athletes joined in.

And white Twitter is not having it.

@USAsHero dismissed NFL stars like Kaepernick and Brandon Marshall of the Broncos as “spoiled, entitled babies.”

https://twitter.com/USAsHero/status/774261898967670784

Jeanna Eckert called for a boycott over two weeks ago to draw attention to Kaepernick’s “right to be stupid.”

https://twitter.com/JeannaEckert/status/770623011703525377?

Jedidiah Williams also used the 49ers player as his reason for opposing the league. Williams called Kaepernick a “spoiled cry baby” who “doesn’t know jack squat about…sacrifice.”

https://twitter.com/Jedidiahman/status/774280415888576512

PJG decided he would avoid the NFL “if more losers continue to disrespect our flag.”

https://twitter.com/redarmy67/status/774222502260121600

William Paxton responded to former congressman Joe Walsh’s criticism of the players. Paxton stated “the rich and privileged” were “disrespecting our country and propagating lies.”

https://twitter.com/Truthseer1961/status/774224382659035136

@HiCaliberLilGal responded to Tariq Nasheed’s argument against an NFL fan strike. She said the league is “paying a Black guy millions for mediocre athletic performance.”

https://twitter.com/HiCaliberLilGal/status/774276167037652992

Nasheed shot back at his critic by alluding to Nazi Germany’s history with Jewish athletes before the Holocaust.

And more Black Twitter users pointed out the silliness and hypocrisy of the hashtag.

L. Darcel explained there was no boycott when rape accusations about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger emerged in 2008 and 2010. Nor did a boycott occur when former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocked out his then-fiancé in an elevator.

Darryn M. Briggs pointed out player concussions as an un-boycotted issue.

Chris P. used a humorous GIF of James Harden to show his reaction over the uproar.

BYHISGRACE8 provided a quote from late political singer Nina Simone for her response.

The user proclaimed anyone who wants to boycott the NFL believes its players have “no right to think for themselves.”

But at least one Black person thought an African-American boycott of the league could force change.

 

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