And, Milton parent why she supports her son who knelt
On January 12, Vermont Daily Chronicle published a news story about Milton High School students kneeling for the national anthem at an away game in Northfield. The story went ‘viral’ fast and elicited many comments – pro and con – on the post-George Floyd killing practice of kneeling for the national anthem at sporting events.
Social Media Director Paul Bean explains some of the process and reasoning behind publishing this story on social media. And below, a Milton parent explains why she’s proud of her son who knelt for the anthem.
by Jade Chicoine Geraw
If I had been interviewed for the current one sided article (“High hoopsters kneel during National Anthem,” Jan. 12), I would have said:
About 8 years ago when BLM was protesting at the St. Albans school I too was concerned. I thought “all lives matter,” what is this teaching our kids to just say one race matters. Being raised in a mostly white town in Vermont I hadn’t witnessed racism, therefore I thought how is racism a problem? I’ve never seen anyone be racist.
I had some back and forth discussions with people more educated on the issue than I. I then took it upon myself to research, talk to people of different race, religion and ethnicity. I came to understand no one is saying others do not matter but that this demographic of people are not being treated as all Americans should be, equals.
I came to learn many children in Vermont face racism daily. Can you imagine being called names daily because of the color of your skin? I can’t. I can not place myself in these children’s shoes.
I can’t tell you how many times I have called the school to report racism, my son comes home upset to tell me that his friends were called this today or that today, at school! Can you imagine what they hear outside of school, kids can be mean, but parents and adults are why these children think this type of behavior is okay and it was evident with the comments made on many posts.
Change needs to start at the top. It was evident that many grown adults have no compassion for the way children feel. They have no understanding of what other people in their community are dealing with. While our boys knelt in protest to the racism their teammates, friends, family and more have faced, players from the opposing team looked back at them, had some laughs, talked with their teammate next to them and some stared at the ceiling without their hand on their heart.
So for a mother, let me reiterate a mother of a player on the other team to degrade children for their behavior during the National Anthem maybe she should speak to her sons team as well. If standing at attention silently with their hand on their heart is the proper way to recognize the national anthem, then both teams were not doing that. There was a difference though, our boys, my boy, the ones kneeling, are doing it with purpose. Maybe one day adults will learn to have compassion for these children’s choice and right to fight against the mistreatment of those they love.
I found this quote by Andrew Freborg and I could not have said it better myself.
“ I stand to honor the promise the flag represents. You kneel because that promise has been broken. I stand to affirm my belief that all are created equal, and to fight alongside you for that promise. You kneel because too few stand with you. I stand because we can be better. You kneel to remind us to be better. I stand to honor all that have fought and died so that we may be free. You kneel because not all of us are. I stand because I can. You kneel for those who can’t. I stand to defend your right to kneel. You kneel to defend my right to stand. I stand because I love this country. You kneel because you love it too.”
The author is a Milton parent of a high school basketball player.