The Tigers made the statement on Saturday to bring attention to bring attention to social injustices and economic disparities.
Woodrow Wilson coach Preston Brown made the decision this week to kneel for the national anthem before the Tigers’ home opener against Highland on Saturday to bring attention to social injustices and economic disparities.
He let his team know what he planned on Friday afternoon and as he kneeled on Saturday, most of the Tigers kneeled with him. One player, Rutgers recruit Edwin “Tank” Lopez, remained standing.
Brown said he didn’t ask his team to join him in his statement and didn’t know they planned to do so. Wilson is located in Camden, a predominantly black community.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat for the national anthem several weeks ago as a way to protest police brutality and oppression of black people. Other athletes have joined him since, and Brown felt it was time he joined the movement and make a statement.
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“All my life I felt like I stood up for the national anthem as a formality,” said Brown after the Tigers’ 13-7 loss. “It never meant that much to me. I still love America. I have nothing against it, and I still love our military and all that they do but it was never a song that moved me. I always just closed my eyes and did it.
“(Because) of recent events that happened the last couple years, things I experienced in college being an African-American student athlete in the south (at Tulane), I felt it was an appropriate time to do that.”
Brown said he had no problem with Lopez deciding to stand alone, saying it was his right.
“I was just sticking to the script,” said Lopez. “One little incident in the NFL shouldn’t change that. I was going to do my own thing. It’s a free country. I can see where they were coming from. They can do whatever they want.
“The national anthem is just supporting the troops, the ones that passed. I just felt I should show respect for them and the country.”
Brown, who teaches at Wilson and lives in Camden, said he sees disparities in Camden every day.
“I grew up in poverty, a lot of these kids are growing up in poverty,” said Brown. “There’s a lot of social injustices and economic disparities. There’s issues right here in our own community.
“Maybe people will talk about it and ask questions. I’m not really a talk-about-it person, but I like bringing solutions. Maybe it’s a start. If I can lift as I climb, I can bring young folks along. But there’s still policies in place that limit certain things for people of color.”
Asked for an example, Brown mentioned disparities in the housing market.
“For example, the houses in Camden on 36th Street are worth less than $100,000 and on the Pennsauken side they’re worth $180,000 literally across the street, built the same,” said Brown. “I got a four-bedroom on the left side worth $60,000 and across the street it’s $180,000. Whenever I tell people around the country I’m from Camden they don’t exactly smile.”
Jelani McCargo, who had committed to Navy before de-committing last month, answered questions about the game but said he didn’t have a comment on the stance the Tigers had taken.
Highland continued to stand for the anthem. Running back Orlando Council, who is black, said the Tigers' anthem stance was a way to gain attention on social media.
“They believe what they believe in,” said Council., who said he understood the social issues. “But there’s people who fight for our country every day regardless of what happens outside of that.”
Brown said he will consider to kneel for the anthem.
“I’m African-American, I wouldn’t rather be in any other country,” said Brown. “But I can’t be oblivious to the things I see every day that are different four blocks away in a neighboring town.”
Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.