Social media has been slowly digesting the story of San Francisco 49ers back-up quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who refused to stand for the national anthem Sunday. His personal protest ignited a firestorm, and nearly every Twitter user has an opinion, including San Francisco 49er legend, Jerry Rice.
Monday night, Rice Tweeted about Kaepernick and ignited a firestorm because while demanding Kaepernick respect the flag, he questioned Kaepernick’s political position.
https://twitter.com/JerryRice/status/770451825921105920
Rice, who is black and grew up poor in Mississippi (so he’s pretty familiar with the more difficult side of the American experience), immediately felt the social media outrage. Suddenly, Rice was on the receiving end of angry, racially charged Tweets taking him to task for daring to point out that “all lives matter.”
@JerryRice the cooning never ends
— @KarmaJonez (@KarmaJonez) August 30, 2016
@JerryRice shut ur ass up! keep your uncle tom, dick in the booty ass IN the closet and OUT of real black people affairs!
— Miko Grimes (@iHeartMiko) August 30, 2016
@JerryRice If you respect his stance why are you speaking against it. Oh that's right, you're a COON!
— Willie D (@WillieDLIVE) August 30, 2016
MalcolmX said anytime you get a black man speaking with power they find the nearest uncle Tom to counter what he said Tiki Barber Jerry Rice
— Buddha (@buddhacoleman6) August 30, 2016
WOW! Look at this boot-licking sh*t right here. #jerryrice SMDH #getofftheplantation https://t.co/cMc6pam1kk
— UnapologeticBlackman (@the_ubm) August 30, 2016
Black Lives Matter’s Toure even went so far as to say Rice’s Tweet — and not Kaepernick’s display — was “offensive.”
Jerry Rice tweets “all lives matter” in response to Kaep and with that I can no longer see him the same. Best WR ever. But this is offensive
— Touré (@Toure) August 30, 2016
Some Twitter users at least had fun with the controversy.
BREAKING NEWS: Jerry Rice has been downgraded to Jerry Quinoa
— Omar Goodness (@HaStyleTweets) August 30, 2016
A few people were grateful to Rice for making a stand that might be unpopular with other members of his community.
@JerryRice I think it's sad that you take a stance, and suddenly are "not black enough". Classic No true scotsman. Thanks for speaking out.
— Aj Robinson (@ajrobinson_boc) August 30, 2016
Now, this is a real American man #ThankYou@JerryRice ????????????????❤️ https://t.co/fg8SyMCz0m
— Never Retreat 2016 (@mattersofmind) August 30, 2016
Jerry Rice has not commented on the matter further.
