Colin Kaepernick was born on November 3, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Colin, who was born to an interracial couple (a white mother and black father), was given up for adoption when he was a baby. His birth mother, who was 19 year old, said that "it was the toughest decision I've ever made, but for him it was the right decision". When Colin was just 5 weeks old, he was adopted by Teresa Kaepernick and her husband, Rick. The couple already had two children, son Kyle and daughter Devon. Colin moved with his adopted family to Turlock, California when he was 4 years old. Turlock is in Central California, south of San Francisco.
Football was Kaepernick's first love. In the fourth grade, he even wrote a letter predicting that he would be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers."I hope I go to a good college in football then go to the pros and play on the Niners or the Packers, even if they aren't good in seven years," he wrote. Colin also liked to play basketball and baseball, and was considered a better baseball player than a football player. Colin was a great student and enjoyed school. He had a 4.0 GPA in high school, which is about the best you can do! However, school wasn’t always easy for Colin. As a kid, Colin was called racial slurs and other mean remarks by children at his school and even by their parents. Colin was also asked a lot of uncomfortable questions about looking different than his parents.
College Years Kaepernick went to the University of Nevada, Reno, where he set several school and college records in baseball and football. He became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a single season. After College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, a baseball team, but chose to play football in the NFL. A Rising NFL Star Colin was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, just like he predicted when he was a kid. During his third season, Colin became a star in the NFL, using his strong arm and fast legs to be one of the most exciting players in the league. Colin led his team to an 11-4-1 record (11 wins, 4 losses, 1 tie) and led his team all the way to the Super Bowl. Colin played in the NFL until 2016. Many believe he was ‘blackballed’, or not allowed to play by NFL teams because of his activism.
Activism in the NFL
In August of 2016, Colin refused to stand for the national anthem to protest the murder of Mario Woods, a 26-year-old black man, who was killed by 5 San Francisco police officers. Colin continuously took a knee rather than stand while the anthem was playing and donated $1 million to organizations supporting black communities. Kaep felt angry and sad due to the frequent happenings of police brutality in America against black people, and the fact that even when captured on camera, police officers weren't being held accountable. Colin explained his protest in an interview: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football..." Colin added that he would continue to sit during the national anthem until seeing "significant change" for people of color. Colin’s actions were very brave, as he knew his actions could have risked his career as a football player. Some people disagreed with the way Colin protested because they thought he was ‘disrespecting the American flag’, and it became a very controversial topic all over the country. Colin has not been picked up by an NFL team since 2016.
Inspiring Others
Colin’s activism helped other athletes become aware of their platform as famous athletes on TV and the impact they could have. About 200 other football players from around the NFL followed Colin’s lead and protested in similar ways since he started in 2016. Colin also influenced athletes from other sports to protest and speak up about racial injustices, like USA Soccer star Megan Rapinoe, as well as athletes from other sports. Thanks to Colin and others that came before him, like Muhammed Ali and many others, athletes will only continue to use their voices to speak up and enact change. After FootballIn 2016, Colin started a campaign and charity called the ‘Know Your Rights Campaign’ (KYRC), which was inspired by the Black Panther Party from the 1960s + 1970s. Per the organization's website, the camp is "a free campaign for youth to raise awareness on higher education, self empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios.” KYRC is designed to host camps in different communities to teach young people — particularly Black youth ages 12-18 — about their rights as citizens of our country. It also helps young people gain knowledge around their health, education, technology, self-empowerment and money.
After the video of murder of George Floyd went viral, Kaepernick offered support to nationwide protesters. “We have the right to fight back! Rest in power George Floyd.” Colin’s charity also helped pay for legal fees for people arrested in protests, and still does today.
When COVID-19 hit, Colin and his charity raised a total of $1,004,535 (over 1 million dollars) to help families in need. His campaign helped give many families food, supplies, and economic assistance.
Awards Because of Colin’s bravery and activism, he has won many awards. There are a couple that stand out. In 2017, GQ magazine released its December 2017 issue with Kaepernick on the cover as its "Citizen of the Year. "He's been vilified by millions and locked out of the NFL — all because he took a knee to protest police brutality," the magazine said.
In 2017, Kaeprnick won the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, which celebrates individuals whose dedication to the ideals of sportsmanship has spanned decades and whose career in athletics has directly or indirectly impacted the world. The magazine said he won the award for his fight for social justice and for sticking to his beliefs no matter the cost.
Nike’s Campaign In September 2018, Nike endorsed the NFL star as the ambassador of its "Just Do It" 30th-anniversary campaign. The Ad features the message: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Nike has stuck with Colin since they sponsored him before his protests.