When I finish my latest mystery novel I plan on reading a book I just took from the library today. It is called The Heritage by Howard Bryant and focusses on black athletes, and the politics of patriotism in the sports world.
I am deeply disturbed by the recent NFL ruling that players on the field must stand for the national anthem. White folks are telling POC once more to do what they are told. The "yes massa" mentality reeks in this decision. These men can be paid highly for their skills but this decision makes it clear that they are performing at the whim of white owners. White owners can make them wear pink accessories for breast cancer month (and frankly, I think there is nothing that looks stranger to me than guys playing football with pink socks and gloves) They can wear things to honor our veterans. None of these are bad. My point is that they are expected to put forth the agenda of the owners and the NFL. They are not allowed to use their positions to put forth respectfully, an agenda of their own.
The rise of nationalism in our country all ready scares the be-jesus out of me. I have friends who have been stopped at checkpoints while on vacation in the Northeast. They were stopped strictly because the family "didn't match." They were relieved they carried birth certificates showing they were related.
Really? In 2018 in the USA we need to carry papers. There are no words for how this chills me. The "real ID" license also chills me. I will have to get one. I need to get into federal buildings for my work and as of 2020 I can't without it. But the whole national data base things runs counter to the foundation of freedom that exist(ed) in our country and which I interpret as the intent of the much touted founding fathers. "Having papers" sounds a lot more like Nazi Germany to me and makes me worry for my children and their future. Somehow all this feels intertwined to me and I hope that reading this book will be part of helping me sort out my feelings and opinions more cogently.
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