Colin Kaepernick slams Jay-Z for saying America has 'moved past' kneeling as a form of protest
Colin Kaepernick slammed Jay-Z for saying that people have "moved past" the kneeling protest that the former instigated during the national anthem at a National Football League (NFL) match in 2016.
After it was announced Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports company would be teaming up with the NFL to work on live entertainment and social justice initiatives, the rapper was asked what his thoughts were about the protests started by players like Kaepernick, Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson, which gave rise to controversy which almost divided the nation.
"I think we're past kneeling," Jay-Z said. "I think that we forget that Colin's whole thing was to bring attention to social injustice so in that case, this is a success - this is the next thing."
The rapper, who is rumored to become a majority stakeholder in a team after signing the deal with NFL, added: "We get stuck on Colin not having a job... this is more than that. I support any protest that's effective. I'm into action, I'm into real work - I'm not into how it looks from the outside. If protesting on the field is the most effective way, then protest on the field. But if you have a vehicle that can inspire change and speak to the masses at the same time, it's hard to steal the narrative away."
On August 17, the former San Francisco 49ers player posted photos of Reid, Stills and, Wilson taking a knee at recent football games. "My Brothers @e_reid35 @kstills @ithinkisee12 continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!" he captioned the photos as an obvious jab against Jay-Z's comments.
His former teammate's sentiments were echoed by Reid before a preseason game on August 16.
"Jay-Z claimed to be a supporter of Colin. Wore his jersey. Told people not to perform at the Super Bowl because of the treatment that the NFL did to Colin. Now he's going to be a part-owner and it's kind of despicable," he said as per a Daily Mail report.
He also accused the rapper of making "a money move" and capitalizing on the situation. "For one, when has Jay-Z ever taken a knee to come out and tell us that we're past kneeling? Yes, he's done a lot of great work. A lot of great social justice work. But for you to get paid to go into an NFL press conference and say that we're past kneeling? Again, asinine," Reid added.
Reid, who himself kneeled before the game, where the Panthers lost 27-14 to the Buffalo Bills, also said that NFL was using Jay-Z as cover for Kaepernick still not having an NFL job.
"The (injustice) that's happened to Colin, they get to say, "Look, we care about social justice, we care about the black community because we're with Jay-Z," he said. "Jay-Z is doing the work for them. We all know that it's unjust that Colin isn't in an NFL locker room, the way he lost his job. But they get to pretend they care about social justice."
Months after taking a knee in September 2016, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Since then other NFL teams have avoided making him an offer and the popular belief is that the former quarterback was blacklisted for his actions. Three years since the protest, Kaepernick remains unsigned.
Although Jay-Z claimed during a press conference last week that he had discussed the NFL deal with Kaepernick, the latter's girlfriend, Nessa Diab, wrote on Twitter, that the rapper's statement was was a "lie."