In 2016, NFL player Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the playing of the national anthem before games to protest systemic racism and police brutality. His protests sparked national debate and began a conversation that has lasted over five years.
Especially after the events that took place in 2020, more and more athletes have joined in on this conversation – and so has Willie Robertson and his family, who we know from the show Duck Dynasty. In Willie and his wife Korie’s new Facebook Watch series At Home with the Robertson’s, the couple invites people from all walks of life to talk with them about important topics, as well as teach them about something they do on a daily basis.
In the very first episode, the couple spoke about racism with Love and Hip Hop’s Yandy and Mendeecees Harris. The had their bi-racial son, Willie Jr., join them for the conversation. When they spoke about the national anthem protests, Willie Jr. joined them again.
In a recent episode, the couple was joined by NFL players Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, and Nate Boyer to talk about the national anthem protests. Boyer was a Green Beret and served seven years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a long snapper in the NFL.
During the episode Willie said, “I just felt like the flag should really bring us together … that just feels a little un-American.”
“At what point is it appropriate to make your point? I just kind of wanted to dig into that,” he continued. “I would hope we could see the flag and realize even in our differences that it kind of pulls us together although, we see maybe it doesn’t.”
The Robertsons heard everyone’s point of view, and even had his Uncle Si, who served in the Vietnam War, join the conversation, but despite having a better understanding as to why the players kneel during the national anthem, Robertson says he will continue to stand.
“I’ll still stand [during the National Anthem] cause that’s what I’m going to do and just because someone — especially our guests that came in — just because they don’t’ doesn’t make me dislike or hate them at all. I can understand it better.”
Watch the full episode below.