Article Analysis: African Americans’ Refusal to Revere the US National Anthem

African-American players, beginning with quarterback Colin Kaepernick, started kneeling as a way to silently protest racial discrimination and police brutality in the United States. However, the roots of Black athletic activism go back several years before Kaepernick, at least to the emergence of Black Lives Matter movement itself, and the scale and scope of contemporary Black athletic activism extends well beyond Kaepernick’s “take a knee” campaign as well. “Colin Kaepernick is Righter than You Know” by Jon Schwarz and Brent Staples’ “African- Americans and the Strains of the National Anthem” are vital articles in discussing the African Americans refusal to stand whenever the Us national anthem is played.

Schwarz’s article in particular, was written as a response to the public’s backlash that saw Kaepernick refuse to defer to the national anthem during the 2016 baseball match. The article argues that African Americans are not obliged to obey the song. His argument is based on the historical motivation of Francis Scott Key, a composer in which the national anthem cheers the inhuman slaughter of emancipated African American fighters during the 1812 C.E war. According to Schwarz, America should compose a new national anthem (Schwarz 1-3). He advances his sentiments and tells the Americans that African Americans have valid and sensible reasons not to defer to the national anthem. As such, it would only be human if America addresses their grievances in order to bring about interracial harmony.

The article “Colin Kaepernick is Righter than You Know” was published on the 28 August, 2016 on The Intercept website. Apparently, his choice of a publisher reveals that the article aimed at reaching the general public. The article contemplates that both the Caucasian Americans and the African Americans should be treated equally. There are various hyperlinked document resources that exist for Schwarz article such as the content that covers the responses of twitter users to the explanation; an article discussing Kaepernick’s reasons for not deferring the national anthem, a reproduction of the words of the national anthem, an article that describes the events taking place during the Battle of Fort McHenry in 1814; an article that explains what some African Americans who fought alongside the British in the war of 1812 went through in Trinidad; as well as an article that explains that, by 1833, Washington police were brutally treating the African Americans.

It is worth noting that this article has some limitations including the writer’s failure to effectively align the body of the article with the article’s title. In this, the writer declares in the title that Kaepernick was right in his action for disregarding the national anthem. The body of the article however, shows ambiguity as the writer invites the readers to evaluate the sentiments and acceptability of Kaepernick’s actions (paragraph 18). His failure to make certain assertation distracts the reader and hinders the grasp of the author’s main theme.

Much like Schwarz article, Staple’s article contemplates that the African Americans often struggle with double consciousness feelings because the US civic and political system is basically designed to inhibit form them full citizenship. Staple congratulates the insider-outsider status for disrespecting the national anthem (staple). Staple uses these claims to inspire the American society to rectify policies and adopt factors that will ensure equality and a sense of belonging. Staple published his article on the New York time on the 9 June, 2018. Just like Schwarz, Staple wanted to reach a wider domain, perhaps the whole American society. Staple addresses the exigency that, in the idea of declaration of independence document, the rights and origin of both the African Americans and the Caucasian Americans must be respected and upheld equally.

There are various resources existing for Staple including hyperlinked documents such as Martin Luther king’s speech “I Have a Dream,” the pbs.org “Lift Every Voice and Sing” article, and W.E.B. Du Bois’s “Double Consciousness” treatise. The limitations that exist for Staple include his self-identification as an African American who disregards the national anthem (paragraph 1). His confession can be viewed as a limitation in the sense that it may dissuade his audience from accepting his arguments, he would be considered biased hence not trustworthy enough. Additionally, the author does not give documentary proof indicating that the national anthem was common during the period when the African Americans were often lynched in the South (paragraph 7).

A comparative rhetorical analysis of these two articles for determining their effectiveness. With respect to the logical appeals, the two articles effectively demonstrate to the readers that there are certain parts of the national anthem that perceive African American as inferior and ones who deserve to die. In this regard, Schwarz’s article states that the national anthem declares in the third stanza that “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the … gloom of the grave / And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave” (Schwarz 2). This section connotes that the American flag waved victoriously following the Caucasian American soldiers’ actions of decimating the African American soldiers in the 1812 war. Apparently, the section portrays the murdered African American soldiers as mere slaves who deserved to die at the mercy of the victorious American soldiers. It is based on this explanation that the readers may agree that the African Americans are right in their way of disrespecting the national anthem as it alleges that the whites are superior. Similarly, Staple satisfies his readers in stanza three as does Schwarz. According to Staple, line views the black as inferiors who deserved to die in the 1812 war. In the view of racial bias in this stanza, audience of the two authors would unanimously agree that African Americans should disregard the national anthem

On the ethical appeals, Staple’s article satisfies the readers more than does his counterpart’s piece. First, Staple identifies himself as a black who has had real experience of the injustices as does the fellow blacks. He writes in his article that he was a witness when Dr. King was brutally murdered in the 1960s for nonviolently advocating for equality (Staple paragraph 2). This action highlights a biased treatment of African American and the audience definitely see Staple as a credible author. On the other hand, Schwarz does not fully offer ethical appeals. The author simply establishes his credibility by taking a neutral stance, common for all scholars. He also invites his readers to make their judgment on African Americans refusal to revere the national anthem (Schwarz paragraph 18). This scenario will however lead to readers concluding that the author is trustworthy for not taking sides, hence they will easily accept the author’s viewpoint.

Regarding emotional appeals, Staple again satisfies the readers better than Schwarz. Staple’s article talks about a specific factor concerning national anthem that arouses emotions of the reader. In particular, the article connotes that the anthem was popular during the baseball matches, a time when African Americans were prohibited from engaging in the white-only games (Staples paragraph 7). This section makes the readers experience the negativity of the time. Conversely, Schwarz provides an emotional appeal showing that the national anthem does not respect other persons who fought courageously for freedom during the 1812 war. Although the statement would provoke the readers emotionally, it will not be significant because the readers would not understand that it is only the African Americans who fought for freedom.

Works Cited

Schwarz, Jon. “Colin Kaepernick is Righter than You Know: The National Anthem is a Celebration of Slavery.” The Intercept, 28. Aug. 2016. Print.

Staples, Brent. “African-Americans and the Strains of the National Anthem.” The New York Times, 9 June 2018. Web. 28 September 2019.