Black Americans Support Colin Kaepernick. White People? Not So Much

Even white Democrats are more likely to disapprove of his protest.
Harry How via Getty Images

Colin Kaepernick might have the hottest-selling jersey in the NFL, but he sure doesn’t have the support of white America.

Only 29 percent of white Americans approve of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s recent decision to sit during the national anthem in protest of the mistreatment of people of color in the U.S., while 69 percent disapprove, according to a new YouGov poll.

Among black Americans, the sentiment is essentially flipped. Seventy-two percent of black American approve of Kaepernick’s protest, while only 19 percent disapprove.

There is a strong racial divide over Colin Kaepernick's protest.
There is a strong racial divide over Colin Kaepernick's protest.
YouGov

Something of a similar divide exists between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats much more likely than Republicans to support Kaepernick. However, if you focus solely on white Democrats, that support shrinks noticeably. By and large, white Democrats are more likely to disapprove of Kaepernick’s actions.

A political divide is also present, but to a lesser degree.
A political divide is also present, but to a lesser degree.
YouGov

The black-white divide over Kaepernick, while stark, closely mirrors other polls on related issues. Last year, a poll conducted by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found three-fourths of black Americans saw the police’s use of force as a serious problem, compared to just one-fifth of white Americans. Similarly, the poll also found that the vast majority of black Americans believed police were more likely to use force against a black person, while the vast majority of whites did not believe that to be the case.

The APNORC poll results somewhat mirror YouGov's.
The APNORC poll results somewhat mirror YouGov's.
pnorcorg

Kaepernick has made clear that he was sitting during the national anthem to draw attention to such mistreatment ― a specific problem he believes must be fixed.

“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” he said late last month. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

His decision has drawn both praise and ire, with some saying it could cost him his NFL career. On Monday, however, President Barack Obama vocalized his support of the quarterback.

“He’s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement,” Obama said. “I think there is a long history of sports figures doing so.”

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