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This week on CounterSpin: Surrounded by reporters eager to talk about the cancellation of the White House visit and new NFL policy on standing during the National Anthem, Malcolm Jenkins, safety for the Super Bowl–winning Philadelphia Eagles, chose not to speak, instead holding up signs with information on racism in the criminal justice system and community work players are doing. “Before the anthem even started, players were involved in these types of social justice issues,” Jenkins said afterward. “And so for us, it’s staying on topic, doing the work, supporting those who are doing the work and pushing forward.”
The work Jenkins is talking about is the topic of a timely new book by journalist Howard Bryant; it’s called The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America and the Politics of Patriotism. Howard Bryant is a senior writer for ESPN.com and author of a number of books, including Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston. We’ll talk with Howard Bryant today on CounterSpin.
Transcript: ‘The Black Athlete Has Been Involved in the Political Struggle From the Beginning’
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And Janine Jackson takes a quick look at “Trumpwashing.”
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An idea about why the Amican Flag at sporting events covers the whole playing surface .
The playing field is a metaphor for the Earth with the flag symbolizing the empire.
I also think that people go to football games so they can be part of a group, feel patriotic. and of course, drink beer. Games have the excitement of gladiators attacking each other, the half-time shows with music, the crowds, the military air shows. I think a lot of Americans are so disconnected from each other, that this whole show, which football creates, becomes a real bonding moment for many people. For a lot of people, race doesn’t matter here , because their team members are THEIR guys. Until of course, the guys, rightly remind people how they are treated off the field, when the police do their racial profiling——- because then even football fame doesn’t always help the players.