“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man wields. It is a sword that heals’’(Martin Luther). Martin Luther used non violence strategies by kneeling down on the ground to fought against racial discrimination and for people to have equal rights. After fifty years later of the civil right movements people still in color are facing discrimination. A picture of an African American girl name Raianna Brown, who knelt down on the ground, while two of her whites teammates girls were standing up and put their hands on their chest to salute the flag. This picture went viral on the internet when the picture was posted the second time to support the NFL player. People had retweeted more than 35,000 times and 128,000 likes just in two days. The picture is known as Georgia Tech Cheerleader and was taken by David J, Griffin. This image displays an intersecting feminism and a civil right movement.  

The photographer might have taken the picture while sitting down. This could be the case since the image was shown from head to toe. However, the photographer blurred the background and mainly focused on the two white girls and one colored girl. The girls from the picture were cheerleaders from The Georgia Tech. On the picture, both white girls were standing up and their one leg were bent down. They were holding golden pom pom on their left hand which barely shows on the photo. Also, both of the girls put their hands on their heart to salute the flag. Their smile showed that they were proud of their country. Furthermore, they let their brown straight hair out. In between the two whites girls, an African American girl was kneeling down on the field ground. She let her natural curled hair out and her eyes were closed. Moreover, her facial expressions portrayed as she was humble. As the other girls, she wore the same uniform.

The picture was taken during the national anthem in the football field. After the photo went viral, a reporter name Caitlin Moscatello interviewed Brown about her reason for kneeling down. She told the reporter that she was inspired from Colin Kaepernick. She knew that she was going to support Kaepernick and kneel down on the field. However, right before the game on October 1, Terence Crutcher was killed by the law enforcement. Therefore, during the national anthem, she didn’t feel the comfortable standing front of the American flag and give respect to the country, the country who do not respect people in color. Brown stated, “ I just really didn’t feel comfortable standing for a flag for a country that I didn’t feel like was respecting people who looked like me.” During the interview with Caitlin Moscatello, Brown also talked about that, she wasn't disrespecting the country. But, she was sending the message to inform people on what is happening currently and that it can not be ignored.

When Moscatello asked the question to Brown about whether her teammate and coach knew about the idea of kneeling down during the game. She said she told her coach about the idea and coach was very supportive and same goes to her teammates. Her teammates also said they will support her, however when the time came, Brown was only one kneeling down. Brown said she respects her teammate's decision and they still are friends even though they didn’t protest with her.

During the anthem, Brown was only black and only female, who knelt in front of so many people. Which tells lots about this picture and the story behind the picture. Her natural hair shows that she was proud of who she is and also she portrayed as Angela Davis, who was a women’s right and a civil right activist. Therefore, Brown echoing the past and shows she was not only a civil right activist, but also she has feminism. She was breaking the rule for everyone that not only men have the power to change, but a woman can do it as well. She proved by taking idea after Martin Luther King Jr nonviolence strategies to prevent injustice racial discrimination against black which still happening in the 21st century.

Brown was passionate to protest peacefully and she was successful to send the message to the audience. Furthermore, even though her teammates were female and knew about the issue,  yet they did not support her in the field. Which tells the viewer that they are not supporting their own gender as a leader, but also they don’t think violence against black is the big issue. In addition, although all the cheerleaders were same uniform and representing their college, yet they are very different from Brown, This idea goes back to “Separate but equal”. That shows Brown as an individual powerful civil right activist and feminist, someone who fights for what is right.   

This positive message can people look at it a negative way. Brown got many negative comments on this post, such as some said, “I hope she gets kicked off the team and loses her scholarship.” After the hashtag (#TakeAknee) went viral with Brown’s photo on the Tweeter, which made president Donald Trump very upset. He said it is insulting the flag and kneeling down had nothing to do with race. Other bias might judge, who don’t know the story about kneeling down on the ground think it is a very disappointing image. They may not see the message behind it and think it is disrespecting the country and bring negative impact toward the country.  

The public can interpret the image in a different way and they can have thought as a group whether to support the image or see this image as a negative influence. However, in private people can take this picture very inspiring by some might empower their race and gender. They can be connected to the picture. As for me, after knowing the story behind of this picture, my respect for Brown is very high. She is not just taking the stand for social injustice, but she is also showing other women that one can change things and not only men. Which shows she is a strong leader who cares about her color people and the same time she respects other people’s point of view.

In conclusion, the picture can be title as Do you remember the past of 1965? rather than Georgia Tech cheerleader. In this picture bring back the story of people like Martin Luther, who fought during the civil right movements. After fifty years later, color people still facing the problem with equal rights. Raianna Brown, African American girl who knelt in front of everyone and peacefully protesting shows that she is a true civil right activist and feminist. She embraced  Angela Davis idea as well. Furthermore, she was sending messages to people that even though the 19th Amendment passed,  people are still being violated by based on skin color. Therefore, discrimination needs to stop and we need to prevent it from happening in the future.

Work Cites:

• “Angela Davis.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 27 May 2016.  

• Images, David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire/Getty. “The Cheerleader Behind the Viral #TakeAKnee Photo.” The Cut, 26 Sept. 2017.