Colin Kaepernick, former NFL quarterback turned social justice activist, recently accused his adoptive parents of “perpetuating racism.”
In an interview that aired Thursday, Kaepernick discussed his new graphic novel, “Change the Game,” which details his journey of coming to terms with his racial identity while growing up in a White family.
Kaepernick recounted several instances of disagreements with his parents that he attributed to racism, describing his upbringing as “problematic.” In the novel, he illustrated a specific example of a fight he had with his parents during high school over his hairstyle. The former football player was inspired to braid his hair in cornrows like his hero, NBA star Allen Iverson, but received pushback from his parents.
Kaepernick’s teenage interactions helped shape his decisions as an adult to embrace his ethnicity. He has since become a social justice activist, partnering with Netflix for a docudrama series based on his life and with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for its non-dairy flavor “Change the Whirled.” He has also made endorsement deals with Nike and other major companies over the years.
Kaepernick’s accusations against his adoptive parents serve as a reminder that the fight against racism is far from over. It is important to continue addressing the racism that is being perpetuated, both in our homes and in our society as a whole.