Colin Kaepernick: Standing Up and Service

7/31/2023

The name Colin Kaepernick brings different ideas to peoples’ minds. To some, he was a successful NFL quarterback, to others a civil rights hero, and to others a wasted talent. But one thing is for certain Kaepernick works to battle inequity, with or without an NFL job.

Kaepernick saw the story of the “breakout backup” quarterback in 2012. At the time quarterback Alex Smith had suffered a concussion, forcing a young Colin Kaepernick to take charge of the team. He led them to a Super Bowl but unfortunately came short of the Lombardi trophy.

Kaepernick started the infamous movement of kneeling during the national anthem. Some saw him as an unpatriotic traitor while others saw him as a civil rights advocate. The kneel had to do with dissatisfaction with the treatment of African Americans. He sought to use his platform to bring light to police brutality. He lost his job do to a drop in performance after a lingering shoulder injury. He has since dedicated his relentless effort towards philanthropy.

Kaepernick wrote several books, landing endorsement deals with Nike and Ben and Jerries. He pledged in 2016 to raise $1,000,000 for oppressed communities. He reached his goal 1500 days before the launch of the books and has been hard at work.

The divvying of funds went to an impressive 41 charities that addressed, homelessness, education, reproductive rights, and more needs in human wellness. He also capitalized on the momentum he had by creating his own charity “Know Your Rights Camp”. He brought light to different charities by donating 10,000 dollars to each organization, inspiring matching donations from peers and celebrities.

Kaepernick has a burning passion for philanthropy as he seeks to find funds for charity by any means. Kaepernick through Goldin Auctions has put up for sale a 1 for 1 rookie card of his, signed and embedded in it is a piece of his game-worn jersey. The card's bid is at $2,400, but experts project it to reach upwards of $25,000 eventually. 

During super LIV, instead of exercising the usual position that ex-NFL players often do, he served hot meals in New York City’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. He also partook in the 100 Suits for 100 Men campaign, handing out professional work attire for men in marginalized communities.

Kaepernick served as Nike’s 30th-anniversary representative, bringing light to racial inequalities. The advertisement implemented Kaepernick’s racial causes with its slogan. It repeated, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. Just Do It,” which embodied Kaepernicks deep conviction in his believes, going so far as to lose his NFL job. Nike and Kaepernick together released a limited black Air Force One shoe with the date 08 14 16 printed on it, reminding all of the first day he chose to kneel. The shoes sold out immediately. This campaign brought mixed reactions like many other acts in Kaepernicks career have. However, it brought publicity to Kaepernicks important messages of fighting racial inequality and police brutality.

Kaepernick’s actions can and have been perceived in many different ways. Many felt his actions were unpatriotic and disrespectful to service. But, however it may be received, it is undeniable that Kaepernick was able to bring to the largest stage in the country very important issues that many felt had to be addressed. 16 million viewers watch the NFL every Sunday. This amount of publicity facilitates the diffusion of a charitable and socially mindful culture. Football serves in so many unique ways and cases as a platform to raise important initiatives. Each cause promoted, and every dollar given contributes to the betterment of American lives, which is why what Kaepernick did was controversial but most significant. He simply used football as a means to show influence creates change. Since starting the “Know Your Rights camp” they have raised a total of 1.75 million dollars to give to “black and brown communities.

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Works Cited

"Colin Kaepernick Super Charity Sunday ... Serves Up Meals, Clothes for the Needy." tmz.com, 3 Feb. 2020, www.tmz.com/2020/02/03/colin-kaepernick-super-bowl-charity-suits-meals-jay-z-anthem/.

Kozlowski, Joe. "Colin Kaepernick Doesn't Have an NFL Job, But His Football Career is Still Raising Money for Charity." Sports Casting.com, 8 Sept. 2020, www.sportscasting.com/news/colin-kaepernick-doesnt-have-an-nfl-job-but-his-football-career-is-still-raising-money-for-charity/.

Sriya, Bhwya. "41 Charities Together Received $1,000,000 From Colin Kaepernick, 1500 Days Before October 'Comeback.'" EssentiallySports.com, 28 July 2023, www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-news-forty-one-charities-together-received-one-million-from-colin-kaepernick-fifteen-hundred-days-before-october-comeback/.