I have never been a person who lived and breathed politics and race issues. I have been a novice when it comes to these problems because it gets very complicated. When it comes to sports, I just want to see the action on the field or the court. Whether you are black or white, religious or an atheist, if you can play your sport on a elite level I respect and love you for it.

Believe it or not as young African-American kid growing up, I didn't believe in racism. I knew it existed because of the experiences my parents and elders have told me but I was young and ignorant. I didn't see white or black. I saw everyone the same. My white and black friends maybe different but I look at everyone the same. Over the years I have seen that everyone in America doesn't think like that, which is sad. There is a lot of unfairness and injustice actions that have taken place in the last couple of years that has me thinking that what I believe maybe a fantasy. I am really happy that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has the courage and conviction to speak on his beliefs, which are accurate and true, knowing the backlash will come at him hard and heavy.

Kaepernick has made the decision to not stand during the National Anthem before football games because of one word, " justice". He believes that black people in America are being treated unjustly because of police brutality and he will not stand for the flag. I support him 100% percent for his reasoning but I wish he would go about it in a different way. I understand why people white or black could be a little turned off by Kaepernick's protest. The American Flag if nothing else is a symbolic figure of freedom and how brave soldiers of many generations have fought for us to live our lives the way we want to live them. For a " wealthy" African American athlete to protest that way seems unpatriotic to some but not me. He has every right whether you agree with or not to express his feelings toward this issue. He specifically stated that he has a problem with police brutality, not our American soldiers.

Sports has become a place where saying the politically correct statement is the way to go. Some athletes will avoid these controversial topics so they can keep their brand, money, fame and popularity. I applaud Kaepernick for breaking that trend. I respect him for using his platform to let the world know what is really going in the black community and why we are so upset. He may lose his job as quarterback, his endorsements and fame but in the end he is helping millions of people. I appreciate the fact the Kaepernick seems to love the blood and flesh of his people rather than amount of money and fame he may have.

For the people who are so quick criticize Kaepernick and his beliefs ask yourself this question; Does he have a point? The same way you have the right to share your opinion, he has his. I wish people of other backgrounds, creeds and races could see how hard it is for African Americans to survive in America. I wish people could be open minded and actually take time to realize that we need to find a solution because we a have a major problem. We live in a world where a black man named Philando Castile was shot and killed in front of his daughter and girlfriend because the police officer felt threatened when he reached down to give him identification. But a white man named Dylan Roof can kill nine innocent black people in a church in Charleston, North Carolina. Get arrested " first" not killed and its reported that while the police we were taking him to the police station, Roof said he was hungry, so they stopped at Burger King to feed him.

All Kaepernick, myself and many people in America want is to have a equal playing field. I pray that athletes don't become puppets because they are blinded by the million dollars being given to them. Help our community by using your platform to persuade others to care about the injustice happening in our country. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul did their part at the 2016 ESPY Awards. The late great Muhammad Ali unapologetically shared his feelings during his time. Now Colin Kaepernick has come out and shed light on this issue with his protest. They all have told the truth and now its time to put those words into action.