It’s never too late to do something great for a great cause. J. Cole took to Twitter to speak on the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick and Donald Trump’s rants against protestors who take a knee to stand up against injustice.
“Got mad shit I shoulda tweeted over the months (or years?) but didn’t. I’ll do better. Now Ima need a thread 4 this next part. Bare w me. God bless every player that finds courage to kneel today. But the real power comes from you deciding to not watch. Your eyes translate to advertising money for the League and its owners. Same ones who speak out against Trump today, are the same ones that denied a qualified man a job because he took a stand against injustice.
You and me have the power to deny them our attention ($$ to them) until they make a wrong situation right. How do they make it right? I know there are people smarter than me with better answers. But here’s one. Hire 3rd party investigator approved by NFLPA to determine if kap was denied a job unfairly as punishment for his stance. (I know, I know) And compensate the man for his losses if they determine he was. Bare with me I’m just a rapper.. now look.
Every day they stay quiet on this they’re saying that they condone what’s happening to Kap and the message it sends. Well, you have a choice on how you respond to that. You can choose to not watch. if a boycott doesn’t force them to action, don’t even trip. This is where the real flex happens. Black people spend a lot of money with NFL corporate sponsors. White people who don’t fuck with white supremacy spend a lot of money too.
So, next you turn your attention to these sponsors. Pick one of the biggest ones and say, “do you agree with blackballing players when they speak out against oppression?” “If not, why are you spending all this money with a League that clearly condones that? … “You know what, I don’t think I can spend my money with you no more until you fix this.” Repeat this with another company, and another. Thats when the magic happens. And sadly, in this capitalistic world we live in, that’s when your voice is heard. When you hurt the pockets. I respect whatever you decide to do. Watch or don’t watch, whatever’s in your heart. But I’m not watching til it feel right.
It was hard during preseason and the first week. But then I was like, wait, is it actually hard? Some of us got grandparents that walked miles to work instead of riding bus, just to show the bus companies that they won’t tolerate racism. So when I think about it like that it’s very easy on Sunday to say, “Nope, I’m straight.”
This may be the biggest opportunity we have ever been presented to come together and show the world and ourselves our true economic power. Thank you Colin for your sacrifice. Ima stop it there. Peace and love to all, let’s give energy to the solutions, not the problem. Even if you don’t rock with mine.”
