Colin Kaepernick knelt 10 years ago. America responded with a clear warning to Black people

Key Points:

• Ten years ago, Colin Kaepernick began protesting police killings of Black people by kneeling during the national anthem in the 2016 NFL season, an act that led to his effective banishment from professional football.
• Kaepernick's protest, alongside Barack Obama's presidency, symbolized a profound challenge to white American fears about Black equality, sparking a culture war that has persisted across sports, politics, and media.
• Despite the mild nature of his protest compared to historical American activism, Kaepernick faced severe backlash, with many players and media figures distancing themselves to avoid similar consequences.
• The broader societal response has included systemic resistance to Black progress, exemplified by political rhetoric, media complicity, and the suppression of athlete activism, culminating in events like the January 6 Capitol riot.
• Kaepernick's legacy serves as both a warning to other athletes and a sobering reflection on the limits of racial justice in America, highlighting the need to abandon naive hopes for shared equality amid persistent anti-Blackness.