A limited series about Colin Kaepernick’s high school years is coming to Netflix.
Kaepernick has teamed up with Ava DuVernay to create a six-episode scripted series, titled, Colin in Black & White. The series will focus on Kaepernick’s formative years and provide a look into the acts and experiences that led to him becoming the activist he is today, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will narrate the series himself.
“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick said in a statement. “We seek to give new perspective to the differing realities that Black people face. We explore the racial conflicts I faced as an adopted Black man in a white community during my high school years. It’s an honor to bring these stories to life in collaboration with Ava for the world to see.”
In 2016, Kaepernick’s activism gained national spotlight when he began kneeling during the National Anthem ahead of his NFL games to shine a light on racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic oppression. Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 and has not played in the NFL since. He settled a lawsuit against the NFL in March of 2019, after arguing the league plotted against him after the 2016 season.
Kaepernick’s peaceful protests have gained national attention once again in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
“With his act of protest, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national conversation about race and justice with far-reaching consequences for football, culture, and for him, personally,” said DuVernay. “Colin’s story has much to say about identity, sports, and the enduring spirit of protest and resilience. I couldn’t be happier than to tell this story with the team at Netflix.”
The series will be penned by Michael Starrbury, who worked with DuVernay on the Netflix series When They See Us, a limited series based on the story of the Central Park 5. Starrbury will executive produce the series along with Kaepernick and DuVernay.
