Taking a Knee for Change. Colin Kaepernick between Activism and (Anti-)Patriotism

Abstract or Introduction

In recent years, there have been repeated reports of police violence or inequality towards African Americans in the media. The example of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick shows that the world of sports did not remain untouched. His protest beginning in August of 2016 has split the American society between those who see him as an activist for the American people and those who see him as an unpatriotic traitor to his own country.

The aim of this master’s thesis is to answer the question which arguments are made use of by both ends of the spectrum and which of the two perspectives is in the majority. The related research question is how Kaepernick’s protest has been perceived since its inception in 2016 and which changes have occurred up to the end of 2022.

In order to answer this question, selected statements from both sides will be drawn upon in order to show how a former CIA employee or former presidents of the United States perceived the protest. By taking studies from newspapers and the online community on Twitter into account, further insights into the issue will be provided to find out how users of these two media outlets view the protest. Finally, an analysis of newer interventions (2019-2022) will be presented.

The analysis has shown that the flag of the United States and the feeling of devotion and gratitude to one’s own country are the main reasons for choosing a side on the subject. At the beginning of the protest, Kaepernick was viewed positively by the print media, while the online community was largely in disfavor. This picture changed, however, as the media in 2022 mostly report neutrally about him, while positive reactions are gaining the upper hand on Twitter.