Final answer:
Professional athletes refused to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner, notably Colin Kaepernick during NFL games in 2016, to protest racial injustice and police brutality, aligning with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individuals who refused to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner in an effort to bring attention to social and racial justice are d. professional athletes.
Colin Kaepernick, a NFL player, notably knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial inequality, symbolically supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. His actions, initially met with negative feedback, have sparked increased discussion and understanding of systemic oppression and racism in the United States. Following his example, other athletes—both black and white—began to kneal in solidarity during the anthem in various sports, affirming their support for the movement. Jackie Robinson also expressed a similar sentiment in his autobiography, stating how he could not stand and salute the flag, feeling the weight of being a black man in a white world.
The act of kneeling during the national anthem by athletes, such as Colin Kaepernick and others, is not just a display of solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement, but also a broader challenge against systemic racism and a call for societal change. This form of peaceful protest aligns with a longer history of sports figures using their platform to highlight injustice, dating back to iconic moments like the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute.