In new memoir, Colin Kaepernick reflects on his historic national anthem protest

Colin Kaepernick shares his painful early experiences with racism as a Black child adopted by a white family, illustrating how these moments shaped his identity and sense of justice.

Childhood Trauma Shaped Kaepernick's Racial Identity In a White Environment

Incident at Age Eight Revealed a Black Child's Vulnerability in a White Community and Fear of Parental Rejection

Kaepernick recounts an incident from his childhood when, at eight years old, he intended to join neighborhood children in play. Instead, the older kids grabbed him and tied him to a rose tree in a front yard. The incident ended only when a neighbor saw what was happening, yelled at the kids, and drove off. Kaepernick ran home, but the shame and uncertainty about whether his adoptive parents would understand or support him kept him from telling them what had happened. This episode was Kaepernick’s first major confrontation with his vulnerability as a Black child in a predominantly white neighborhood.

Parental Unpreparedness for Racial Dynamics Left Young Black Boy Vulnerable to Racism

Reflecting on the event, Kaepernick says he was not prepared for racism in that moment because, as a young Black boy raised by a white family, he had not been taught how to interpret or respond to such hostility. His family, unversed in the lived experience of being Black in America, could not prepare him for the realities he would face, leaving him unprotected against the dynamics of race in his environment.

Kaepernick's Lifetime of Experiences and Self-Education Informed His Decision to Take Social Action

Years of Study on Racism and Black History Grounded His Activism

Kaepernick explains that by the time of his NFL protest, he had amassed a lifetime of experiences and dedicated years studying racism, Black history, and the systems that perpetuate injustice. He emphasizes the importance of both knowledge and moral responsibility—acknowledging that witnessing anti-Black violence and understanding its context forced him to confront his own role: “If I know these things are wrong and I know people are being killed and I do nothing, then what does that say about me and my character?”

His Privilege as an Adopted Son in a White Family and NFL Player Versus the Reality of Anti-Black Violence Creates Moral Urgency

Kaepernick recognizes his unique perspective as both an adopted Black son of a white family and an NFL player, which gave him privilege and visibility. He contrasts this with the ongoing reality of anti-Black violence in America, feeling a responsibility to act and to protest when ...

Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the national anthem emerges against a backdrop of heightened visibility of police violence against Black Americans, amplified by the growing influence of social media. In his account, Kaepernick describes the period leading up to the protest as marked by videos of Black people being killed, widely shared online, which made these acts inescapably public and demanded a response.

Kaepernick's Protest Arose From Witnessing Escalating Killings of Black Americans and Feeling a Moral Imperative to Respond

Kaepernick explains that exposure to repeated killings, broadcast and intensified by social platforms, deepened his sense of both historical and contemporary injustice. He reflects on the impact of witnessing these acts, saying that after understanding this context, the critical question arose: “What am I going to do about it?” For Kaepernick, remaining silent in the face of such clear wrongdoing would not only be a missed opportunity but a failure of personal and moral responsibility. This internal reckoning—recognizing that knowing about the injustices and doing nothing would be a failure of character—pushed him toward public protest.

Evolution From Sitting To Kneeling: Teamwork and Veteran Consultation

Kaepernick did not undertake the protest decision alone. He recounts meeting with Eric Reid, All-Pro safety for the 49ers, to discuss their response to these injustices. Together, they decided on kneeling as their shared method of protest.

Seeking greater understanding and inclusivity in their action, Kaepernick and Reid also sat down with Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and NFL player who had written an open letter about the protests. Boyer met with them before a game in San Diego, expressed support for their cause, and initially indicated he would kneel with them. However, at the last moment, Boyer told them that his oath to the military prevented him from kneeling, though he stood in solidarity beside them on the field. Kaepernick observed afterward that Boyer seemed to seek personal attention from the situation, subsequently claiming ...

Kaepernick Anticipated Protest Backlash, but Scale Exceeded Predictions

Colin Kaepernick acknowledges that he expected backlash once he was asked about not standing for the Star-Spangled Banner, recognizing that activism directed at patriotic symbols often faces resistance. He refers to history as a guide for anticipating opposition to this kind of protest. However, while he foresaw some level of backlash, Kaepernick emphasizes that the magnitude and intensity the backlash ultimately reached surpassed his expectations. He notes that it is impossible to predict exactly how events will play out or to foresee the scale to which the response will escalate.

Widespread Sports Support Shows Most Americans Aligned With Protest

Amidst the backlash, Kaepernick also observes that there was significant and vocal support for the protest movement. He points out that this support appeared early and spanned across sports, mentioning figures like Megan Rapinoe on the soccer field, as well as participants in Pop Warner football, high school football, and even band members, all joining protests by kneeling during the national anthem. Kaepernick sees the global wave of protests in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, as a culminating moment. He believes these demonstrations provided both the country and the world with crucial perspective: that people widely desire to be treated with dignity and want self-determination. According to Kaepernick, the majority of people support these ideals and seek them for themselves and others.

Protest Led to Change Despite Kaepernick's Costs

Kaepernick’s protest came at significant personal cost, including hatred directed towar ...

Colin Kaepernick and Michel Martin explore the intersection of patriotism, activism, and systemic suppression in the NFL, focusing on financial interests, imposed political narratives, and the personal and collective consequences for athletes who dissent.

NFL's Financial Ties With Military Reveal Commodification of Patriotism in Sports

Kaepernick reveals that the NFL was compensated by the military to stage displays of patriotism before games as part of military recruitment efforts. This practice included paid pre-game patriotic displays and national anthem performances. Senator John McCain publicly denounced the use of taxpayer money for these acts of "paid patriotism," arguing that sporting events should not be leveraged by government funds to promote enlistment.

Athletes Should Separate Activism From Work While Employers Impose Politics

Critics of athlete activism, including Kaepernick's protests, often argue that players should restrict their political actions to the off-season and avoid activism while representing their teams. However, Kaepernick counters that the NFL itself imposes political messaging by incorporating military and patriotic rituals into its entertainment, demonstrating that the league is far from apolitical. The narrative demanding that athletes "just play" or "shut up and dribble" ignores how the league actively promotes certain political values while discouraging others.

Kaepernick's NFL Exclusion Is a Deliberate Act to Suppress and Intimidate Players From Recognizing Their Collective Power

Kaepernick explains that, despite some coaches and general managers privately expressing interest in signing him, NFL owners denied him opportunities, effectively blacklisting him. He sees this exclusion as a calculated message to other players—an attempt by owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discourage athletes from realizing and using their institutional power for activism. Kaepernick suggests that making an example out of him serves to intimidate other players considering speaking out or protesting for change.

Jay-Z's NFL Super Bowl Deal Betrays Kaepernick Movement

Kaepernick also discusses his disappointment in Jay-Z’s decision to sign a partnership with the NFL, which effectively undermined the ongoing protest movement. He notes that Jay-Z only reached out to him because a reporter’s question forced the contact before a press conference, not out of genuin ...