Colin Kaepernick Explains It Was "Difficult" Having Race Talks With Parents

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v San Francisco 49ers
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 23: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during their NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi's Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Kaepernick faced pushback after stating his white adoptive parents said "problematic things" during his upbringing.

He remains one of the NFL's most controversial figures in recent years, and all Colin Kaepernick wanted to do was take a knee. The former NFL star's career has been derailed due to his silent protest that shook up political and sports circles. Kaepernick has reportedly been blackballed from the league, but he continues to pursue his career on and off the field. He works effortlessly with several organizations, and recently, Kaepernick unveiled his new graphic novel, Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game.

In it, the activist used his life story as the plot. We see a young Black man trying to navigate life with white adoptive parents in predominately white spaces. In an interview with CBS Mornings, Kaepernick also spoke about the "problematic things" his parents would say and do. In a follow-up dialogue with the author of his graphic novel, Eve L. Ewing, he further explained how difficult it was to navigate those conversations. "I've had a lot of responses from other transracial adoptees on that front," Kaepernick revealed.

Colin Kaepernick Struggled With Having Tough Conversations

In those discussions with adoptees from similar backgrounds, the former baller explained how "unique" those dynamics are. Kaepernick has always stressed the love he has for his parents. Throughout his career, he's made it clear that he couldn't have reached such heights without their support. "It is very difficult for people to have a nuanced conversation around it," he told Ewing. "Like, yeah, the people that love you and that you love can also perpetuate very problematic elements, and those things can exist at the same time."

"And part of it is like, how do you grapple with that? How do you navigate that?" he further questioned. "And especially at a young age, where it's like, are you equipped to navigate that, and are your parents equipped to navigate that?" Additionally, Kaepernick also revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he was purposeful in what stories from his youth he wanted to share. Change the Game is from the perspective of a teenage Kaepernick, navigating social circles and home life while feeling both loved and like an outsider. The graphic novel is available for purchase now.

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About The Author
Erika Marie
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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