Colin Kaepernick Recalls Protest and Releases Memoir
Former American football player returns to the spotlight ten years after the start of the protest that marked his career.
Colin Kaepernick returned to the spotlight by giving interviews to speak about the protest he held ten years ago and the release of his memoir, titled "The Perilous Fight", scheduled for release on September 15. The former quarterback revealed the behind-the-scenes of how he decided to take a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest against racism and police brutality, an act that divided opinions and drastically impacted his career and finances.
The start of the protest and the choice of the gesture
Kaepernick's protest began in August 2016, initially sitting on the bench during the national anthem before a preseason game. The former player was recovering from surgeries and used the free time to read about Black liberation, deciding not to stand for a country that oppresses people of color. Before a game in September, he and his teammate Eric Reid spoke with an army veteran, and it was Reid who suggested the idea of taking a knee to demonstrate the protest.
The reaction and consequences for his career
The impact of the gesture was immediate, generating divided reactions among fans, politicians, and athletes. While fans burned jerseys and public figures criticized the attitude, Kaepernick also faced divisions among league players, including discussions in a group chat with athletes from all teams. In 2017, after leaving the San Francisco 49ers, the quarterback could no longer find a spot on any team, which led him to file a formal grievance against the league for collusion, a dispute that was eventually resolved in a later settlement.
His view on the NFL and current work
Currently 38 years old and the father of a four-year-old girl, Kaepernick states that he has not watched an NFL game since he was sidelined from the league and reinforces that he does not intend to support an organization he believes is punishing him and other athletes who protested. For him, becoming a father increased the urgency and responsibility to continue the work started a decade ago, ensuring that the fight for community rights is not seen as the end of the road for those who decide to protest.
With information from NBC News, USA Today, The New York Times.
Source: NBC News, USA Today, The New York Times