You should be aware that we are republishing this article, which was first published in the news in September of 2016.
A few members of a high school football team from New Jersey kneeled during the playing of the national anthem, following the example set by Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, and Brandon Marshall, linebacker for the Denver Broncos.
As was the case with Kaepernick and Marshall, coaches and students at the mostly non-white Woodrow Wilson school participated in the contentious gesture in order to bring attention to issues of social and economic inequality, as reported by NBC News.
Preston Brown, the coach of the Tigers, in the beginning stated that he was going to kneel by himself in protest.
I am well aware of the third verse of the national anthem, which is not typically performed, and I am aware that the lyrics of the song were not initially intended to include people like me,” he added. “I am even conscious of the fact that the third stanza is not typically sung.”
He is referring to the third line, which is quiet, and it runs as follows: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”
“[Because] of recent events that have occurred over the past couple of years, things that I experienced in college as an African-American student athlete in the south, I felt that it was an appropriate time to do that,” remarked Brown, according to NJ.com reports.
An additional statement that he made was, “I am African-American, and I would rather be in any other country.” It is impossible for me to remain indifferent to the fact that the things I see on a daily basis are different in a neighboring town that is only four blocks away.
It is possible that some of the students made the decision to join Brown after he informed the players of his intentions. This was likely due to the fact that the students could connect with his motives.
Brown explained, “I grew up in poverty, and a lot of these kids are growing up in poverty because of their circumstances.” “A great number of social injustices and economic inequities exist in the environment. At this very moment, there are problems in our very own community.
The Camden City School District has stated that they agree with Brown’s sentiments and have applauded the students, despite the fact that they continue to advocate standing for the flag.
“We are proud of our students’ engagement with what is more broadly a very important social justice issue,” said Brendan Lowe, a spokesman for the school district. “Whether our students choose to stand, kneel, or otherwise, we are proud of their expression of their participation.”