Why Is It Possible To Be Blackballed?

To be blackballed is to be excluded from membership by a negative vote according to Merriam-Webster (Merriam-Webster's dictionary, 11th ed., 2017). The situation ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is now facing due to his actions in the previous season by kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner could be considered such. The former 49ers quarterback, who led his team to a Super Bowl in 2013, is currently unemployed from football and it appears unlikely he will be employed in the National Football League (NFL) in the future. However, many believe he is not being ‘blackballed’ by the NFL and is out of a job due to his inability to perform as a quarterback. One of the most common arguments to support this claim is the fallacy that NFL organizations
16). In order to successfully accomplish proper research a variety of theories need to be applied. These theories help explain the way people think and feel about a particular topic based on their views, principles, and beliefs which construct a particular social world. Individuals with power understand the only way they can maintain control is by limiting social and cultural changes and the privileges which come along with them. On the contrary, people who want to make a difference in the world are not afraid of the repercussions that come with promoting change in society (Coakley, 2017, p. 13). Conflict, cultural, and structural theories were the primary and secondary themes used for
Conflict theories attempt to examine economic exploitation and capitalist expansion as well as identify racism, sexism, and nationalism which twist the meaning and purpose of sport. Cultural theory is also a useful tool when considering the sociological impact involving Kaepernick’s protest and kneeling during the national anthem. Coakley explains how people in positions of power represent their own personal interests by upholding certain structures and practices, in this case standing with hand over heart for the Star Spangled Banner (Coakley, 2017, p. 526). When an individual or group of people challenge the interests of those in power positions, they are portrayed in a negative or harmful manner, in this particular case – unpatriotic. Many dislike using a conflict theory when studying sport because it addresses issues which may be difficult to discuss, such as social issues of racial inequality and police brutality. A downside to using conflict theory is it can fail to recognize the notion of inequality coming from a variety of factors and not solely from social class or economic differences. Combining conflict theory with cultural theory is beneficial when analyzing Colin Kaepernick and his protest because it enables the researcher to use both theories to critically consider the way people view his demonstration. It is important to consider how social organization and access to power, authority,