Photo Essay: The national anthem protests

The national anthem is played before every sports game that takes place in the U.S. Each person in atendance (if able) is supposed to stand, face the flag, remove their hat and listen to the national anthem in its entirety. The national anthem's purpose is to let us as civilians pay our respects to the men and women who fought for our right to have the freedoms that we enjoy every day we are on this earth.  For the past two football seasons select players have decided to kneel during the national anthem. The first player to begin the movement was Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. After his lone showing, many other players around the league joined in. Immediate backlash was had for the players as they chose not to stand. Some were claiming it to be disrespectful for all the current and former members of the military. The protesters (mostly African American) claim that they want everyone to understand that they do not mean to insult military members, but instead want it to be know that they are protesting police brutality, especially injustices done to the African American community. Such protests have gained such national attention that even president Trump weighed in on the subject. Eventually, commissioner Roger Goodell had to make a new national anthem rule that was declared this spring. The new rule states that if a player or team personal is on the field during the national anthem he/she must stand for the national anthem or they will be fined by the NFL. However, players and team personal have the option to stay in the locker room during the national anthem. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/colin-kaepernick-apos-supporters-voices-030613731.html Scene Setter: Kaepernick supporters gather outside of NFL Headquarters where meetings to change anthem rule took place.

Any major issue that the NFL faces is handled at their Headquarters in New York city. This photograph is important because not only does it show the location of the meetings to discuss the anthem controversy but it also shows how much the protesting means to the people. The supporters pictured want their voice to be heard just as much as the players want theirs. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nfl-players-huddle-owners-over-national-anthem-protests-n811651 The medium shot: Current and former players leaving NFL headquarters after meetings to discuss anthem controversy

For months, stemming from last fall/winter, numerous amounts of meetings between players, owners, and NFL personal took place to discuss the anthem controversy. Not all meetings included all parties. Some meetings were players and owners, others were owners and league personal, some were players and league personal, and some meetings included all three parties. The NFL wanted to hear what the players had to say other than just having the team owners speak on their behalf. This photograph is important because it shows unity between former and current players alike. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/sports/nfl-owners-kaepernick.html
The portrait: Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem

Coming Kaepernick will go down in history as the man that said so much without saying anything at all. This picture has everything a portrait needs: the action of Kaepernick kneeling, his afro which he says helps him embrace his African culture, and everyone else standing in the background. This is a very significant photo that is still being used today as news stations cover the anthem protests. The action taken place in this photo is the very reason the rule change was implemented. 

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/10/27/poll-majority-still-disapprove-nfl-anthem-protests/ Capturing Detail: Fans of the Miami Dolphins holding "STAND UP" signs in light of players kneeling

Not everyone is in agreement with the NFL players protesting. Many do not want to believe that they are protesting police brutality but more disrespecting military veterans. It is interesting that everyone in this picture holding up a sign is caucasian. The players protesting are protesting police brutality on the African American community, which would explain only caucasian fans holding up signs. It is hard for caucasian fans to understand what African Americans go through on day to day life. 

https://www.sbnation.com/2018/5/25/17391410/nfl-anthem-policy-timeline-colin-kaepernick
Capturing Action: Kaepernick joined by teammate's

Kaepernick was alone in his first protest, but was quickly joined by teammates. After Kaepernick spoke out about the real reasons of his protest he was quickly joined by teammates. After his teammate joined him in protest other players around the league also joined. This photo is important because not only does it show Kaepernick with his teammates supporting him, but in the background are military members holding the flag at mid-field during the national anthem. This photographer's specific angle is interesting because of the implications made about Kaepernick's protests and his actual stance. 

The United States of America is the melting pot of the world. So many different cultures and ethnicities gather to live together in this great country. One of the reasons our country is so great is that citizens of this country have the opportunity to exercise the right of free speech. Colin Kaepernick was exercising his free speech right when he began his protests. At the time, there were no rules in place that said Kaepernick could do no such thing. Each picture chosen tells its own story of the National Anthem debate leading up to the decision to make a rule. The protest outside of the NFL headquarters set the stage for the photo essay as it shows where the meetings were made about the protests and NFL players were not the only people that feel something needed to be said. The players and former players coming out of meetings honed in on theft that it was not just owners and NFL personal taking the matter into their own hands. My main subject was Colin Kaepernick and the image I chose zeroed in on Kaepernick and Kaepernick alone as he protested the anthem. The detail of my fourth picture really captured who exactly did not agree with the protest, mainly caucasian men. Finally, my action photo showed other players supporting Kaepernick along with military members holding the flag during the national anthem. Their are many ethical concerns that come with the pictures I chose because everyone attends sports games at some pointing their life. Everyone faces an ethical dilemma in their lifetime. How does one respond to said dilemma? Kaepernick decided to take action and do something about the dilemmas he saw faced the African American community. The reporting done following this story would be a lot different without pictures. Putting a face to the name and action with visuals helps readers more understand the story. Visual reporting is as important as written reporting because it gives readers more information about the topics they read or hear about in the news. The more technology advances, however, increases editors capabilities to doctor photographs to sway readers a certain way towards a certain agenda. I did not use any doctored photographs but it goes without saying that there are doctored photos out there and readers must be careful.