Sports and Politics- Sport As a Propaganda Vehicle

On October 4, 2018, we talked about the role of politics in the sports culture, more specifically, the political uses of sport as it is used as a propaganda vehicle. In most cases, athletes who use their superstar platform to stand up in what they believe is right is largely controversial. Athletes raising awareness to controversial topics such as social injustices among African-Americans has dated back years beyond my generation's time. In the last several decades we have seen athletes such as, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who protested against African-American treatment after placing in the 200-meter race during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as well as Toni Smith, who protested against the war between our country and Iraq.

Today, being no different than years previous, we see athletes standing up to controversial issues that our country faces.

Eric Reid is a Safety for the National Football League, who was recently signed to the Carolina Panthers within the last two weeks. Reid, following those before him, has used his status as an NFL player to help raise awareness to topics he feels need awareness, in his case, it's social injustices amongst African-Americans in the United States. The safety had a stint with the San Fransisco 49ers in which he also partook in kneeling during the national anthem, which drew both positive and negative feedback, one could even debate as to whether that is the reason he hadn't had a job in some time. 

When the time came, during his first week back in the league, Reid knelt again as the anthem was played. After the game, the Panthers' safety was asked as to why he continued his protest, his response was that it was furthered by current events. The current events include the confirmation of judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the recent hiring of the police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice back in 2014. The newly signed safety used his star platform to voice his displeasure with the nation as of late. In addition to the kneeling movement, Eric also wore a t-shirt that read "Know your rights" that also stated 10 points. 

To read more about the topic visit: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/10/08/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Reid-NFL.aspx?hl=kneeling.