What Colin Kaepernick needs to do next.

It’s been nearly four years since Colin Kaepernick first sat and then begin kneeling during the playing of the United States of America’s National Anthem and raising of the flag before NFL football games.  The man unquestionably had good intentions and a most worthy message to communicate.  Unfortunately his choice for how to convey his message has overshadowed the message itself.

Listen to sports talk radio and TV. When people speak of Colin Kaepernick the focus is on his not receiving another chance to play in the NFL because he kneels during the playing of the anthem and raising of the flag.  Why he kneels gets very little, if any, mention. When his message is mentioned it is done so in passing and no real discussion about it takes place. The best he gets is some commiseration and sympathy for his self-inflicted plight.

If Kaepernick’s message had been heard, would we have had the protests and riots of the past few days? What has changed since Kaepernick began kneeling except his employment status with the NFL? Not much, if anything pertaining to his cause, the message he wanted to get out because he obscured it by tying it to the flag.

I think Colin Kaepernick could still carry the day, but it will not be easy. He’s proven himself strong in the face of the criticism directed at him. He is to be admired for sticking to his convictions. We can honestly call him a man of principle.

One thing lost in this is the necessity of having white Americans on-board with the changes that need to be made. It ain’t happening without them. And alienating a significant segment of the population via his choice of how to convey his message just wasn’t a good decision. It wasn’t. It just was not.

Four years later and society has not seen change, but what would happen now if Colin Kaepernick were to go public with an announcement proclaiming his message, but stating he would no longer kneel to promote it. No apology necessary. Simply say it’s time to progress his message and make progress in the process. That he recognizes the value of kneeling during the anthem and raising of the flag has lost its effectiveness and he wants to refocus concentration on the message itself.

Colin Kaepernick re-brands himself.

Start today and this week, Mr. Kaepernick.  Today, June 14, 2020 is National Flag Day and this week is National Flag Week. Symbolically there could not be a better day for Kaepernick to re-brand himself and resend his message in a different manner.

He goes on a speaking tour raising funds while telling his story. Radio, TV, Podcasts, Universities and High Schools.  He donates proceeds to a foundation and or charity he sets up to further educate and promote equality and ... maybe more importantly ... equity among the races.

I think he has a tremendous opportunity to make a lasting impact if he’s willing to once again step forward, take another risk and promote his message in a manner that will unite a broader spectrum of people in his cause. In essence, he has an opportunity to mold the majority it will take to bring lasting change.

These opportunities do not come along frequently. We cannot afford to let them slip away.