Kaepernick’s ‘Colin in Black and White’ Compares NFL to Slavery

Former NFL Player Colin Kaepernick’s Netflix Docuseries sparks conversation over the comparison of the NFL to slavery.

November 2, 2021 at 10:00 am
ENTERTAINMENT

Contributed by Lauren Taylor 

The new 6 episode limited series Colin in Black and White debuted on Netflix over the weekend. The series, created by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, is causing conversation over a particular scene in which the NFL selection process is compared to a slave auction.


Kaepernick says, “What they don’t want you to understand is what’s being established is a power dynamic… Before they put you on the field, teams poke, prod, and examine you. Searching for any defect that might affect your performance. No boundary respected. No dignity left intact.”

This episode shows a reenactment of the selection process for a team, this includes the team officials examining the players during a combine and as they run drills. The scene then has the players walk off-screen onto an auctioning block in shackles being haggled over and sold to white men.

Opinions came in all forms as people took to social media to discuss their thoughts. Some found controversy in the message and others felt as though it was powerful and needed.

Kaepernick began his activism journey in 2016 where he took a knee during the national anthem in order to protest the injustices of Black people in this country. His peaceful act started the #takeaknee movement and received backlash from those who deemed it disrespectful.

Colin in Black and White is now streaming on Netflix