Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has opened up about his upbringing, his historic decision to take a knee during the national anthem in 2016, and his ongoing journey in a new memoir titled The Perilous Fight. Adopted as a baby into a white family in a predominantly white town, Kaepernick recalls an incident at age eight when a group of older boys used a racial slur against him and tried to tie him to a tree. He kept the incident from his parents, noting that instinctively, as a Black boy, he felt they would not believe him. Football eventually became a space where he could navigate his Blackness, relying on supportive teammates and their families to guide him through issues involving racism and police interactions. Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, Kaepernick led the team to the NFC championship games in 2013 and 2014, as well as the 2013 Super Bowl. However, growing concerns over high-profile police killings of Black individuals, including Mario Woods, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile, prompted him to protest at the start of the 2016 season. He states that he could not show pride in systems that continued to oppress and target people of color. The protest generated widespread backlash, and after the 2016 season, Kaepernick never played another game in the league. He later filed a grievance accusing NFL owners of collusion, which resulted in a settlement in 2019. Reflecting on the league’s environment, Kaepernick criticized the culture of obedience that demands players seek permission from authority figures. He also addressed false narratives claiming he no longer wanted to play, emphasizing his passion for the sport while maintaining his desire to return to professional football and change the narrative surrounding his protest.
Source: npr.org
