NEW YORK _ Jay-Z views his project with the NFL as the next step after kneeling, an action that not only piggybacks Colin Kaepernick's movement but enhances it. At the same time, the music mogul is being criticized for partnering with the league that blackballed Kaepernick, catering, as skeptics believe, to the NFL's preferred sweep-under-the-rug solution.
Jay-Z doesn't see it that way.
"I think we're passed kneeling and I think it's time to go into action," he said. "I'm not minimizing that part of it. That has to happen. That's a necessary part of the process. Now we all know what's going on. What are we going to do? The kneeling was not about the job, it was about injustice. Let me bring attention to injustice. Everyone is saying how are you going forward if Kaep doesn't have a job. This wasn't about him not having a job. That became part of it. That became part of the discussion. He was kneeling to bring attention to injustice. We know what it is. Now it's about how do we address that injustice? What's the way forward? Anyone have any other suggestions about what's the way forward?"
Jay-Z's idea of moving forward was brokering the business relationship with the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, a conversation that began after Jay-Z turned down an offer to perform at the 2018 Super Bowl. At a press event inside Roc Nation's office in Manhattan on Wednesday, the project was pitched as "unifying America" through education and actions that addressed policing and the criminal justice system. In addition, the partnership gives Jay-Z and Roc Nation creative influence over the Super Bowl halftime show and other entertainment shows under the NFL banner.
Presumably it has the monetary backing to invoke real social change, but also carries the specter of corporate influence. Kaepernick's inclusion in the project would've lent credibility to the message, along with the 31-year-old's expertise in coordinating community events to combat police brutality. Jay-Z said Wednesday that he spoke to Kaepernick about the project but couldn't answer why the quarterback isn't involved.
"You have to ask him. I'm not his boss," Jay-Z said. "But I can't just bring him into something. That's for him to say."
Goodell also said he spoke with Kaepernick about the project. However, Kaepernick's lawyer told TMZ the conversation with Jay-Z never occurred.
Regardless, Jay-Z didn't want to let Kaepernick's unemployment get in the way of progress. Goodell added Wednesday that Kaepernick can sign with any NFL team that wants him.
"Colin's whole thing was to bring attention to social justice. In that case, this is a success," Jay-Z said. "This is the next thing. There are two things to the protest: go outside and you protest, and then the company or the individual says, 'I hear you. What do we do next?'
"So for me it's action, actionable item, what are we going to do with it? Everyone heard, and we know what you're saying, and everybody knows I agree with what you're saying. So what are we going to do? (Affect) millions and millions of people, or are we going to get stuck on Colin not having a job?"
