@article{0176ffd482f54b0f9f0bf4755f8df3d3,
title = "Weaponized Patriotism and Racial Subtext in Kaepernick{\textquoteright}s Aftermath: The Anti-politics of American Sports Fandom",
abstract = "The history of sports culture and fandom has long been as reactionary as it has been hospitable to progressive politics. As the most conspicuous recent example, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick{\textquoteright}s U.S. anthem protest generated intense controversy with many critics claiming that sports and politics should, generally, not mix—a condemnation that ignores that context{\textquoteright}s already pervasive militaristic nationalism. This article offers the first nationally representative examination of fans{\textquoteright} antipathy toward sports{\textquoteright} politicization through a critical textual analysis and inductive classification of their responses to the issue. Ostensibly “aracial” rebukes to that activism could nonetheless be characterized in lineage with historically stereotypical representations of and affronts to black athletes: as threatening to society, not intellectually equipped to engage, and illegitimate as leaders.",
keywords = "Colin Kaepernick, fans, politics, protest, race, sports",
author = "Michael Serazio and Emily Thorson",
note = "Funding Information: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3613-7282 Serazio Michael 1 Thorson Emily 2 1 Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA 2 Syracuse University, NY, USA Michael Serazio, Associate Professor of Communication, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave., St. Mary{\textquoteright}s Hall S355, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. Email: serazio@bc.edu 10 2019 1527476419879917 {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2019 2019 SAGE Publications The history of sports culture and fandom has long been as reactionary as it has been hospitable to progressive politics. As the most conspicuous recent example, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick{\textquoteright}s U.S. anthem protest generated intense controversy with many critics claiming that sports and politics should, generally, not mix—a condemnation that ignores that context{\textquoteright}s already pervasive militaristic nationalism. This article offers the first nationally representative examination of fans{\textquoteright} antipathy toward sports{\textquoteright} politicization through a critical textual analysis and inductive classification of their responses to the issue. Ostensibly “aracial” rebukes to that activism could nonetheless be characterized in lineage with historically stereotypical representations of and affronts to black athletes: as threatening to society, not intellectually equipped to engage, and illegitimate as leaders. sports politics fans race protest Colin Kaepernick edited-state corrected-proof Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a $16,350 grant from Boston College{\textquoteright}s Research Across Departments and Schools Program awarded to Emily Thorson and Michael Serazio. 6,350 grant from Boston College{\textquoteright}s Research Across Departments and Schools Program awarded to Emily Thorson and Michael Serazio. ORCID iD Michael Serazio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3613-7282 Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2019.",
year = "2020",
month = feb,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1177/1527476419879917",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "21",
pages = "151--168",
journal = "Television and New Media",
issn = "1527-4764",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",
number = "2",
}