In light of Donald Trump’s incendiary comments about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, many NFL players chose to kneel or sit during the National Anthem on Sunday (September 24). The NFL’s suspected blackballing of Kaepernick due to his protest has also inspired many fans, including J. Cole, to boycott the league.
The Dreamville founder expounded on the boycott in a series of tweets.
“God bless every player that finds courage to kneel today,” Cole wrote. “But the real power comes from you deciding to not watch. Your eyes translate to advertising money for the League and it’s 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.”
He also shared his idea about how the NFL could rectify the situation.
“How do they make it right?,” he wrote. “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.”
He added, “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.”
Cole then detailed ways to make the boycott impact the NFL in more ways than a loss of viewership and attendance. The 4 Your Eyez Only rapper told fans to reach out to the league’s sponsors.
“Black people spend a lot of money with NFL corporate sponsors,” he wrote. “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 black balling players when they speak out against oppression?’
“If not, why are you spending all this money with a League that clearly condones that?,” he added. “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.”
Cole capped off the series of tweets by detailing his own experience with the boycott and expressed his belief of the protest’s importance.
“I respect whatever you decide to do,” he wrote. “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,” he continued. “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.”
Check out Cole’s entire Twitter thread here.
Respect!
The NFL is in big trouble! Both the right and the left intend to boycott.
I thought I will never agree with anything you say you scumbag, but you are right for the first time in your natural ignorant life!!
Only brainless idiots watch football anyway. Go read a book dummies, sports are just 90% advertisements for shit companies like coca cola and mcdonalds, whose products are poison!
It’s sad to see hip hop buy into the BS – It is becoming part of the system it was once against. HAS ANYONE SEEN KAP PLAY? HIS PERFORMANCE DECLINED HEAVILY BEFORE THE KNEEL – Football is about money, therefore they will pay players who give them the best chance to WIN. Kaepernick was terrible and that’s why he isn’t playing. Mix poor ability with antics, and tell me, as a owner of a football club, why would you hire kaepernick? J Cole missed with this one 🙁
Missed what? Stfu white boy aka gentile you know nothing pure as the bible says about yal cold hearted subhumans
Josh mccown is 2-22 in his last 24 starts over seasons and is as starter for the new york jets, case keenum is 2-9, in his last 11 starts and for the Vikings over the last 2 weeks, point is qb with weak play are in the STARTING IN THE LEAGUE kap had 16 tds to 4 ints with no help.
FUCK WHITE PEOPLE.
Lmao these motherfuckers even dumber than i thought they are losing most views due to allowing this shit to happen not the NFL preventing it so sounds great people on the right snd left side both stop watching its really gonna hurt lmao already down 23% from 2015-2016 may as well make it 73% this year lmao and in the end guess who your hurting? All the idiots dumb enough to take knees lmao this shits priceless
Somethings are more important than money.
Then tell those NFL players to forfeit a percentage of their salary towards good causes because millionaires dont protest and cry about equality they do what the fuck made them millionaires and do it damn well or otherwise enjoy when everyone walks away sorry you dont get to be multimillionaires and force opinions upon people who have paid hunreds of millions of dollars in NFL passes at the same time its one or the other grow up its one of the highest paid sports leauges worldwide not a soapbox so enjoy the loss in viewership
And FYI dumb fuck a FOR PROFIT FOUNDATION is all about the money
I respect their stance but i am not going to stop watching football. go PATRIOTS!!
UNITY ma dude. I a lot of blacks (not all), especially rapper are proud to do ignorant shit, then turn around and yell racism.
People watch the NFL? I thought like for 95% of the people it is a reason to drink, eat and socialize under the pretense of “watching” the game. The only people watching are fantasy football nerds. Football is so fucking boring.
For real. The whole stop/start bullshit and games dragging on forever makes it such a boring sport. No wonder no other country has decided to adopt it seriously………because it sucks.
Football is probably the most boring sport out of the major sports. Thank god there are only a handful of games a season. Plus, its really weird that the game is played by majority african american players but the audience is more white than the PGA.
> paid millions of dollars a year to throw a ball really badly
> awfully oppressed
pick one.
man who gives two shits about sports?
Who care’s about celebrities in general?
Millions upon millions Thats how the 1% stays in control. Entertainment is the opiate of the people.
Kap is one seriously weird looking dude
I know my rights also. Boycotting all football, NFL products, and also Hollywood actors and shows. And now dropping me my Dish network and saving $70.00 a month
I’m not boycotting the NFL because Kap can’t make millions throwing a ball. If he really wanted to do good he would use his platform to begin a political campaign. He could always use his status to bring in money to help educate the less fortunate. Football isn’t life it’s an opportunity.
Umm… He has been doing that ever since he started kneeling. Seminars for youth in inner cities, millions in donation given to charity. Do research. He’s been doing everything you just said for years
How come it takes two bi-racial dudes like Kap and Cole to make change happen?
Because they see both sides of the coin. They see the white privilege but have no access to it.
We really need to see more diversity in sports.
Sunday NFL is my favorite way to catch a quick Z. A few drinks, nachos and another boring NFL game, is a good way to catch up on the sleep.
Fuck HhDX, still deleting comments