The Kaepernick Effect | Nneka Alaka

Jordan Camacho, 21, a forward for his college’s men’s soccer team, never hesitated to understand why Colin Kaepernick made the decision to go against the NFL, and lead the movement of nationally standing up against the way African-Americans are treated in America, by not standing up at all, but taking a knee during America’s national anthem, before his team’s preseason games in 2016.

As an athlete himself, Camacho respects Kaepernick as not only a hard- working, dedicated athlete, but also as a black man in America. Camacho had all positive things to say about the recent Nike campaign starring Kaepernick and plays for his soccer team with pride, knowing that Nike’s logo rests strong on his team’s athletic gear.

“It’s good to have them back up his point of view and putting it on our uniform makes it feel like, being a black person on the team, that Nike’s behind us, so I want them to represent us,” Camacho said.

Following the recent backlash Nike received after its “Just Do It” campaign last month with former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, many college athletes as well as staff members at New York City colleges stand by Nike, its political collaboration with Kaepernick, and support college athletic departments who choose to continue to use Nike gear for its sports teams.

Hunter College student and mid-field player on Hunter College’s Men’s Soccer team, Arman Zamanzadeh, 20, is among the students who are well informed about the political controversy surrounding Kaepernick and his protest against the police and law enforcement.

“I do stand by his decision, mainly because of the values in which this country stands for in terms of freedom of speech and expression, which I think Kaepernick is currently exercising,” Zamanzadeh said. “He’s really standing strong in what he believes in, even through many of those in politics disagree with him.”

Being a highly involved member of Hunter’s athletic events and knowledgeable about important Hunter issues, Zamanzadeh denies ever hearing any news around Hunter’s campus about any athletes or coaches outwardly opposing to wear Nike products or following last month’s trend, displayed on social media of people burning their Nike merchandise in protest against Kaepernick. “For us it’s gear that’s provided to us for representing the school and less about Nike itself,” he said. “That’s like a double-edged sword if they were to do something like that or, you know, not wear the brand because essentially what they’re doing is representing Hunter first and foremost.”

Director of Athletics at Hunter College, Terry Wansart points out that Hunter is not necessarily bound to a contact with Nike and says Hunter is a multi-brand school who prefers to stay out of politics. “We do not choose any product based on their social or political positions, as we just follow the procurement process required,” said Wansart.

Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information at NYU, Jeffery Bernstein rallies behind Nike and Kaepernick and believes the Nike campaign was extremely thought provoking and an interesting take on the situation. However, Bernstein says the campaign has unfortunately increased the political divide in America and Nike would not have worked with Kaepernick if they thought his politics would harm their product sales. “I don’t think they did it because they felt it was the right thing to do,” Bernstein said. “They must have thought it would create a buzz and probably help with sales.”

Nike’s Corporate Department office has been contacted and offered no comment regarding any drastic change in sales from NYC colleges who utilize products for athletic clubs, following Nike’s campaign with Kaepernick.

Kaepernick’s leadership and stance against the NFL subsequently lost him his position as quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, however that did not stop him from having a great impact on other players on the field. Last year, many players from different NFL teams choose to kneel, interlock arms with members of the military or remained in the locker room as a demonstration of unity during the national anthem. Many defended these players’ rights to free speech and peaceful protest, which others accused them of being anti-American. In more recent news, popular music artist and businesswoman, Rihanna has made it public that in support of Kaepernick, she has rejected the request made to her by the NFL to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl Half-time show.

Camacho says he grew up wearing Nike, and despite the backlash and our current political climate, he will continue to wear Nike on and off the field.

“I think it’s great that a sports brand can risk their reputation for something that one individual who represents a whole community believes in.”