Colin Kaepernick, Ten Years After Taking a Knee

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<p>Colin Kaepernick had a stunning rise as an N.F.L. quarterback after becoming a full-time starter, in 2012. He was a legitimate dual threat—as effective running the ball as he was throwing it. And, to this day, Kaepernick still holds the record for rushing yards by an N.F.L. quarterback in a playoff game. But his formidable skills as a player were quickly overshadowed by his decision—quiet at first—to engage in protest for social justice a decade ago. He knelt during the national anthem at games, and that generated an enormous amount of controversy, with everyone from his fellow-players to a future President weighing in on his decision. In the aftermath of his demonstrations, the San Francisco 49ers told him that they were going to cut him, and no other team would sign him. In his new memoir, “<a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/colin-kaepernick/the-perilous-fight/9781538777879/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>The Perilous Fight</u></a>,” Kaepernick describes how this wasn’t even the full extent of the league’s efforts to punish him. He and David Remnick discuss his new book and the consequences of his political activism. “I had football taken away from me,” Kaepernick explains. “I didn’t get to leave on my terms. And I didn’t get to leave because, ‘Oh, you're not good enough to play anymore.’ It was because of the causes I was supporting and the change I was trying to effect. So that leaves a sour taste in your mouth.”</p><p>Further reading:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/the-nfls-change-of-tone-and-the-limits-of-merely-listening" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>The N.F.L.’s Change of Tone, and the Limits of Merely Listening</u></a>,” by Louisa Thomas</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/colin-kaepernick-contested-workout-and-the-power-plays-of-the-nfl" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>Colin Kaepernick’s Contested Workout and the Power Plays of the N.F.L.</u></a>,” by Louisa Thomas</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/behind-nikes-decision-to-stand-by-colin-kaepernick" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>Behind Nike’s Decision to Stand by Colin Kaepernick</u></a>,” by Jelani Cobb</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/what-will-taking-the-knee-mean-now" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>What Will Taking the Knee Mean Now?</u></a>,” by Doreen St. Félix</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-racial-demagoguery-of-trumps-assaults-on-colin-kaepernick-and-steph-curry" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>The Racial Demagoguery of Trump’s Assaults on Colin Kaepernick and Steph Curry</u></a>,” by David Remnick</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Follow the show wherever <a href="http://swap.fm/l/tny-radiohour-eBFv3Y" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>you get your podcasts</u></a>.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>