This week, Nike’s latest ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick has sparked widespread attention, igniting both boycotts and fervent support for the brand’s stance on racial inequality and police brutality. However, for those directly impacted by the injustices Kaepernick is highlighting, daily life can be far from the polished images seen in advertisements. This stark reality was poignantly captured by a woman in a now-viral post.
While driving out of a local Walmart, Maya Johnson noticed a young Black teenager in a hoodie, carrying a backpack. At the same time, she saw a police car approaching, and instinctively, she understood the possible consequences. “We kneel because I had to roll down my window and tell that young man to take off his hood while walking down this dimly lit street,” she shared. “We kneel because I knew the police would likely turn back after seeing him, and just as I expected, their brake lights lit up.”
Maya felt compelled to back up, park with her hazard lights on, overwhelmed by the fear that the boy’s parents might receive a devastating call about their son’s fate. She described the anxiety-filled ten minutes spent watching as the officers patted him down and emptied his backpack onto the street. Once the ordeal ended, she offered him a ride home.
“We kneel because when I offered him a lift, he kept his head down the entire time. I could feel his anger,” Maya recounted. “We kneel because when I asked if he was alright (which he clearly wasn’t) and what had happened, he shrugged and said the police claimed he looked ‘suspicious’ walking alone at night.”
Maya emphasized, “We kneel because he was unjustly stopped. The only thing that made him look ‘suspicious’ was his skin color.” When they arrived at his home, the boy’s mother was already outside, confused as to why her son was being brought home by a stranger.
“We kneel because as he walked past her, I introduced myself and explained what had happened. I just didn’t want her to get news that her son had been killed, just six blocks from home, at the hands of those meant to protect him,” she stated, noting the tears welling in the mother’s eyes.
As some people burn their Nikes and vilify Kaepernick, they fail to grasp the harsh realities faced by Black families. Such encounters are all too common and should never be. Lives are at stake, and if people can’t comprehend the reasons behind the kneeling, it only underscores the necessity of continuing the protest.
Maya concluded, “We kneel because this is a situation that should never occur. We kneel because our greatest fear is sending our Black sons and daughters into the world and wondering if they will return home safely.”
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In summary, Maya’s heartfelt post serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle against racial injustice and the deeply rooted fears that many families endure. The act of kneeling transcends sports; it encapsulates a plea for understanding and change in a world that often overlooks the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities.
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