VCU news

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to remain seating during the national anthem in protest of how African-Americans and minorities are treated in the United States has sparked widespread debates about patriotism, freedom of speech and the appropriateness of such a display of dissent.

Brendan Dwyer, Ph.D., associate professor and director of research and distance learning at the Center for Sport Leadership in the VCU School of Education, is an expert on the business of sports, as well as in the social components, technological aspects and research methods associated with both sport and higher education.

Dwyer said that Kaepernick’s act took courage, but that that past protests suggested other athletes would be unlikely to follow suit.

The major question, in my opinion, is what will happen next?

“In an age where some people believe courage comes in 140 characters or less, Colin Kaepernick did more in 90 seconds than a lifetime of tweets,” Dwyer said. “Many will argue [about] the act, but it appears he was prepared for the consequences, which cannot be said for most athletes’ behavior. The major question, in my opinion, is what will happen next? Will more athletes join Kaepernick's cause? History suggests they will not.”

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