Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Education

Major

Educational Practice

Date of Defense

4-4-2019

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Matthew Davis

Committee

Dr. Phyllis Balcerzak

Dr. Thomasina Hassler

Dr. Timothy Makubuya

Abstract

One of the biggest and most controversial issues facing this country is the police brutality towards African – Americans. Many African – Americans have been killed by the police even while being unarmed. The opinions on this topic has further divided a nation that has already had its racial parameters stretched with the 2016 Presidential Election. However, the most unlikely professional athlete decided to endanger his career and take a stance against these heinous acts of violence. Colin Rand Kaepernick, a biracial man who was adopted at an early age by a white couple; attended the University of Nevada, and was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick fought his way into a starting role with the 49ers, only to lose it later in his career and become the backup quarterback. Kaepernick wasn’t a household name like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Aaron Rodgers, he was just an unassuming man who decided enough was enough and he decided to take a stance against the brutality inflicted on African – Americans by the police. Kaepernick, refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States. Kaepernick’s stance sparked a national quandary by forcing the citizens of the United States to pick a side of where they stand with their views on patriotism. In this study I utilized two tenets of critical race theory (CRT) as the theoretical framework to determine what role does race play into the patriotic views of school principals when it comes to students participating during the Pledge of Allegiance. The first tenet of CRT, racism is ordinary provides a color blind perspective as white administrators try to make a connection between race and patriotism. While, the second tenet of CRT, legal storytelling offers African-American administrators the opportunity to recount their experiences with race and patriotism.

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