Ever since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick announced he would no longer stand during the national anthem due to the way Black people are treated in this country, there has been an outpour of both support and disagreement.
On Tuesday, former NFL player Rodney Harrison voiced his opinion on the matter, stating that he disagreed, however he took things a step further when he incorrectly proclaimed Kaepernick isn’t Black.
Everyone has the right to voice their opinion on any matter they choose, but it’s important to make sure all of your facts are correct before you attempt to slam someone publicly. This is the lesson Harrison learned the hard way after he had to apologize to Kaepernick, who is biracial.
Via ESPN:
Former NFL player and current NBC analyst Rodney Harrison has apologized on Twitter after criticizing Colin Kaepernick and his refusal to stand for the national anthem while suggesting that the San Francisco 49ers quarterback is not black and doesn’t truly understand racism.
In an interview with iHeartRadio, Harrison said Tuesday that Kaepernick has the right to stand for what he believes, but he “has to understand there might be consequences and might be backlash to what he’s saying.” “I tell you this, I’m a black man. And Colin Kaepernick — he’s not black,” Harrison said. “He cannot understand what I face and what other young black men and black people face, or people of color face, on an every single [day] basis. When you walk in a grocery store, and you might have $2,000 or $3,000 in your pocket and you go up into a Foot Locker and they’re looking at you like you about to steal something.
[He went on to further state], “You know, I don’t think he faces those type of things that we face on a daily basis.” Harrison took to Twitter later Tuesday to apologize for the remarks, saying he “never even knew [Kaepernick] was mixed.” Harrison will not be disciplined by NBC for his remarks and is expected to be on air for “Football Night in America” on Sept. 11, an NBC Sports executive told TMZ Sports.
This all could have easily been avoided if Harrison had simply stated his opinion and kept it moving. By speaking on something he didn’t have full knowledge of, he now looks foolish.
SOURCE: ESPN | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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