Colin Kaepernick was a talented quarterback in America's National Football League (NFL). But he is best known for his relentless activism against racial injustice.
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Colin Kaepernick is a name that is known to even those who aren’t ardent followers of American football or the National Football League (NFL). The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback rose to prominence first as a promising prospect, but his legacy would be almost entirely outside the sport. The reason? His protests against racial injustice and inequality in America. Kaepernick is now a name that is synonymous in the world of sport as an activist first. Mind you, his ability in the football field was nothing to scoff at either. Yet the fact that he isn’t as of now an active player means he is remembered largely for his activism.
With 5 years now having passed since the day his protests were first noticed, let us look back at how Kaepernick created a storm that is still raging strong.
Colin Kaepernick began his pro football career in 2011 in the 49ers, but was initially only a back-up player. But he made people sit up and take notice of him during the Super Bowl in 2012.
The 49ers might have lost the match but Kaepernick’s performances stood out. However, his career was up and down after that point and, prior to 2016, he expressed interest in being traded to another side.
He stayed on at the 49ers though, and before the 2016 season even began, would make headlines – but not for sporting reasons.
2016 saw a large number of high-profile cases of police brutality against African-Americans. Alton Sterling and Philando Castle had been killed by police, as had Charles Kinsey.
What’s more, the policemen involved in the death of Freddie Gray were acquitted. Thus, the nation was fairly fractured upon racial lines.
Kaepernick was active on social media and did not hold back on his opinions regarding the brutality. But that wasn’t enough for him. Knowing the platform he had reached millions, he decided to take a stand.
In the 49ers pre-season games, Kaepernick chose to sit rather than stand when the US national anthem played. However, it was only noticed in the third game of the season by NFL reporter Steve Wyche.
The reason it went unnoticed in the first two games was because Kaepernick was not in uniform. As such, his protest did not register with many.
But it was in the third game, and Kaepernick did not hold back when interviewed post-game. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,” he stated.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
It was in the final pre-season game that he would strike a pose now synonymous with him. After a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer, he chose not to sit, as that was seen as disrespectful.
However, he did not entirely stand either – he went down on one knee and held up his fist. The upheld fist has long been seen as a symbol of ‘Black Power’, and was first popularised by Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968 Olympics.
Kaepernick would repeat this throughout the rest of the season. Indeed, inspired by him, many other players began to find ways to express empathy with him and the cause.
His protest split opinions – while many agreed with his protest, many also took offence to his method of protesting. One of Kaepernick’s notable adversaries was newly-elected president Donald Trump.
However, that did not stop him from protesting. He even donated money to organisations that worked to uplift oppressed communities.
The fire was lit. And, despite all efforts, the conversations – and protests – would not be stopped. Even though since then, his career has all but been ended by others.
The NFL career of Colin Kaepernick has been on hold ever since the end of 2016. While that isn’t unusual for prospects in American football’s biggest league, it is in this case.
Kaepernick’s ostracisation from the league started after 2016, when he was released by the 49ers. At the time, it was seen as a simple case of a new coach wanting to implement a newer offensive style – one that Kaepernick did not fit.
Yet the fact that he remained unsigned through the next season – and has still not played actively for any side since – raised more than a few eyebrows.
Indeed, Kaepernick himself filed a lawsuit against the league for unofficially blackballing him. The case was eventually settled, but it did not lead to the resolution of his playing career.
Whether or not he ever plays again remains up for debate. What cannot be debated, however, is the impact he made with one simple gesture – one that is copied around the world by anyone wanting to take a stand against injustice.
