Letter best: We should all take a knee until justice is for all

The NFL players’ protest is not about dishonoring America’s national anthem, military or flag. It’s about fighting racial injustice that’s officially promoted and condoned.

Blacks in uniform — football, basketball and military — all suffer unjustly from systemic racism. Yet, it’s doubtful that any racial group in America can compare on a percentage basis with blacks when it comes to lives sacrificed contributing to America’s greatness, both as slaves by force and freed people as patriots.

The third stanza in the Star Spangled Banner (our national anthem) states clearly the contempt that the slave-owning writer, Francis Scott Key, had for the lives of “hirelings and slaves.” It’s revered by most who sing it.

In contrast, the black national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, written by James Weldon Johnson, predates the adoption of Key’s song as the national anthem. Every voice, not just black voices. It’s about America, a land where black fathers also died. Its lyrics about struggle, perseverance, freedom and God are inspiring, unifying and respectful of all Americans.

So, how hypocritical are Americans of any race committed to one nation with “liberty and justice for all”? Shouldn’t we all, in our own way, “bow our knees” in protest until freedom and justice are realized for all?

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Letter best: We should all take a knee until justice is for all."