Colin Kaepernick

In Colin in Black & White, Kaepernick describes the Combine as a process in which young black athletes are measured, inspected and assessed, with the visual presentation drawing a parallel with a slave auction. The comparison provoked further controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Left without a contract after the 2016 season, Kaepernick filed a grievance under the collective bargaining agreement alleging that the NFL and team owners had conspired to exclude him in retaliation for his activism. In 2019, he and Eric Reid reached a confidential settlement with the league.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

The NFL organised a workout for Kaepernick in Atlanta, but the parties disagreed over the waiver to be signed, media access and video recording. Kaepernick eventually moved the session to a high school in front of the media present, while several clubs left the original venue.

State of the evidence

Documented

Nike chose Kaepernick as the face of a campaign built around the slogan "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything". Critics burned or destroyed Nike products and called for a boycott, while the campaign became a symbol of political polarisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Kaepernick initially remained seated and then knelt during the national anthem, explaining that he did not wish to honour a national symbol while black people were experiencing oppression and police violence, in his view. His gesture became a national controversy and inspired other players.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Photographs showed Kaepernick wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs during training, prompting outrage from police unions and law enforcement supporters.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In Miami, Kaepernick was sharply questioned about a T-shirt depicting a meeting between Malcolm X and Fidel Castro and comments contrasting certain Cuban investments in education with the American prison system. The controversy was particularly intense within Florida's Cuban community.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Personally implicated

As his political activism attracted national attention, Kaepernick stated that he had not voted and did not want to choose between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, drawing criticism about the consistency between protest and civic participation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated