USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie has told that he serves a country that “does not even tolerate me only because of the color of my skin.”
“This year, we played at the start of the season and the fans were making monkey noises at me after the game,” McKennie said in a video produced by Adidas.
“It’s catastrophic.”
“I went back home to Dallas and I’m scared to drive at night only because if I get pulled over, I don’t know what is going to happen. I am serving a nation that may not even recognize me only because of the color of my skin.”
“It’s certainly a little tragic. I felt it was a responsibility and a responsibility when I wore the armband: one being American and two being Black American. I just felt a need to raise consciousness internationally. I got a lot of support from it. I got hate from it, too.”
“You’re a football player, you’re not supposed to make political statements,’ and in my mind, I’m just wondering,’ I don’t see how this is a political statement at all.’”
“An individual has lost his life, and I will not shut up and dribble. I’m not going to lessen my beliefs just because people think I should just play soccer.”
“I don’t want to be just known as a good soccer player. I want to be known as a great human being, as a great person, and that’s what I’m trying to do; to build my legacy. I love this version of me.”
