10 years after taking a knee, Colin Kaepernick is still waging a 'Perilous Fight'
NPR • • sports
Key Points:
- Colin Kaepernick, adopted into a predominantly white family, faced early racial trauma that shaped his understanding of Black identity, finding support and community through football.
- Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, Kaepernick rose to prominence but began protesting police violence against Black people by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, sparking widespread controversy.
- Following his protest, Kaepernick was effectively blacklisted from the NFL, leading to a collusion grievance and settlement in 2019; he remains determined to return to the league and challenge the narrative against activism.
- Kaepernick criticizes the NFL's culture of obedience, media misrepresentation of his protest's intent, and the league's political stance opposing calls to end police brutality against Black communities.
- Despite his love for football, Kaepernick would discourage his children from playing contact football early due to concerns about brain injury risks associated with the sport.
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