Kneeling has long been recognized as a gesture of profound respect, humility, and honor. In the 1980s, it was a common sight on football fields when players or coaches knelt to attend to injured teammates. However, on September 1, 2016, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee alongside teammate Eric Reid during the national anthem, the act was transformed into a powerful symbol of protest against systemic oppression. Kaepernick’s declaration—that he would not stand for a flag representing a country that oppresses Black people and people of color—ignited a firestorm of controversy and debate that continues to resonate today.
While Kaepernick became the face of this movement, his story is only one part of a much larger narrative. Over the past decade, dozens of athletes across various leagues risked their careers, salaries, and public reputations to stand in solidarity. From the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, led by Maya Moore, to NFL players like Kenny Stills and MLB catcher Bruce Maxwell, the movement was a collective effort that often predated or paralleled Kaepernick’s own actions.
The WNBA’s Early Leadership
In July 2016, the Minnesota Lynx became the first professional team to protest in support of Black lives. Led by co-captain Maya Moore, the team wore shirts honoring victims of police violence, including Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Dr. Drew Brown, a sociology professor at the University of Florida, notes that the contributions of these women were often overlooked due to systemic biases. “Black women were leading as whole teams, which hadn’t been seen before,” Brown explains. “The reason it didn’t get much notoriety is because of misogynoir and the fact that, at the time, women weren’t million-dollar athletes, although they were still risking their salaries and being punished.”
The Personal Cost of Protest
For athletes like Bruce Maxwell and Kenny Stills, the decision to speak out came at a significant personal cost. Maxwell, then a catcher for the Oakland Athletics, knelt in 2017 following inflammatory comments made by then-President Donald Trump. The backlash was immediate and severe, including death threats against his family. Similarly, Kenny Stills faced intense pressure from coaching staff and ownership, eventually finding himself traded and sidelined as his career momentum stalled. Despite the chilling effect these consequences had on other athletes, these individuals remain steadfast in their commitment to social justice.
A Legacy of Nuance
Ten years later, as the NFL remains a cultural juggernaut, the tendency to reduce the movement to a single figurehead has often erased the nuance of these collective efforts. Dr. Harry Edwards, a veteran organizer and consultant, emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the most famous names. “Every now and then, somebody asks me where the next Dr. King is coming from but I’m not looking for that,” Edwards says. “I’m looking for the next Claudette Colvin.” As we reflect on the anniversary of these protests, it is essential to recognize the stories of Moore, Stills, Maxwell, and the many others who risked everything to demand accountability and change.