June 24th 2020

By Constance Townsend-Jordan 

Bending the Knee was once a formal act of submission in reverence or recognition of authority to a King or Queen. It was a demonstration of surrender and humbleness.

Today, bending the knee has become an act of principled and peaceful protest as initially demonstrated by one athlete, Colin Kaepernick. While Kaepernick’ s leadership and advocacy for social justice has promoted a wave of controversy by the NFL and our country’s leadership, it has also sparked a question in the mind of the people, why bend the knee? 

In 1968 at the Summer Olympics, Olympiads Tommie Smith (Gold Metal) and John Carlos (Bronze metal) drew controversy when they raised their black-gloved fists (black-power salute) during the Star-Spangled Banner in protest against racism. They were ousted from the games. Their expression of solidarity as a means of a whispered scream for a marginalized people, garnered the attention of the world and came to symbolize the Black Power movement towards equality. 

In 1972, Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett were barred because they did not face the flag when the National Anthem was played. This sparked the “rebellion” in 1973 when Long Island college athletes chose to lay down during the National Anthem.  The fight against brutality, inequality and for inclusion feels like a festering wound that has been reopened.  

After 155 years of so-called freedom, we are still exposed to a world that wields its anger, and unjust tirades on people of color. Years of neglect, ignorance and willful mistreatment waged on our communities have drawn attention worldwide. In the massive unprecedented protests of the past few weeks, people have come to see the face of an America seething with racism.

The expression of such injustice has taken its gradual toll--- in fists cliched high, a humbled bent knee, lying face down in the street and gasping for our last breath, from a whisper to a scream.  The soil of America cries out with the voices of those who have suffered too often and too long. 

We used to fight for reform in our society and government. Now the fight becomes more personal as we rage against injustices in our backyards and communities. 

America can no longer turn its back when it sees young men and women gunned down or strangled the streets. We cannot stop protesting for lives that matter. 

We need leadership that hears the voices, stands beside us with clinched fists and a bent knee, fighting for equality. We need leadership that will no longer silence our screams.