Redskins Want the Smoke...
Written by Hilari Styles
As a Dallas native living in Washington D.C., I must say that I am quite impressed by how the NFL protest, led by Colin Kaepernick, is effecting the Washington Redskins’ ticket sales. On September 16, the football franchise showed up to the first non-sold-out opening game in over five decades. Yes, fifty years and now all of a sudden, you lost your friends! The stadium was barely half full and I must say that was completely inspiring.
While the news media and other outlets would like you to believe that the fall in ticket sales is due to the team’s lack of ability to bring home the win, I know differently. I first lived in D.C., from 1999-2007 and during that time I was a diehard Dallas Cowboy’s fan. This was a war zone for a person like me due to the lifelong rivalry of the two teams. The irony in that time was that D.C. was then dubbed “Chocolate City” because the majority of the local population of the city was black Americans. These people made up the fan base for the Washington football franchise. These people were the season ticket holders and the people who would wear paraphernalia just about anywhere, including, but not limited to opera at the Kennedy Center.
These are the people who would nearly die for the love of the burgundy and gold. These are also the people who reside in our nation’s capitol and are our first civilian responders. They show up and can be counted on during national protests. They are the Marines of our community. They are the gatekeepers to justice on many platforms and the NFL boycott is no different.
In part I moved back to the district because the energy and the fight for black liberation and equality is unmatched here. The standards for self-love and awareness are apparent in everything from the aesthetic to service and activism. It is rare that you encounter a local coward when it comes to liberty and justice for Black America.
You may not get the truth from your local newspapers or television stations, but trust and believe me when I tell you, the NFL protest is alive and well here in Washington D.C. This is how IMPACT looks! This is how you smoke them out of hiding. The strategy to use football to fight injustice is becoming more and more apparent in its genius. State to state and city to city the response will be different. This protest will create an internal divide between rich white men who once had ultimate control and power over a gaggle of men with muscles and influence. The infighting has already begun, I’m certain of it!
The calls are already being made. Have you heard the saying “A fool and his money will soon part?” Trust me, the money is the motive and they don’t want to be foolish! If my intuition serves me well, we will see some unhued people speaking on the killing of unarmed Black people by police.
