OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick has taken aim at his white adoptive parents and is accusing them of perpetuating racism in a new interview he did. The former football star described his childhood household as “problematic” which he talks about in more detail in his book, “Change the Game,” in an interview with CBS Chicago.
“I know my parents loved me, but there were still very problematic things that I went through,” he said. “It was important to show that, no, this can happen in your own home, and how we move forward collectively while addressing the racism that is being perpetuated.”
One of the arguments he details in the book was when he wanted to embrace his blackness and get cornrows, a hairstyle was worn by his favorite basketball player Allen Iverson.
“He’s getting what rolls?” he remembers his mother, Teresa, said.
“Oh, your hair’s not professional. Oh, you look like a little thug,” he claims she said.
He said that the conversation with his mom has affected him his entire life and is why he wears his hair in an afro currently.
“It also is informed why I have my hair long today,” he said.
He said he could have had a football or baseball career but chose football because there were more black players in the NFL.
The 35-year-old has not been on a professional football field as a player since 2016 but still says he wants to return someday.
Colin @Kaepernick7 accuses his parents of "problematic" behavior raising him, saying they were "perpetuating racism," such as when his mother didn't want him getting cornrows pic.twitter.com/NFXnLeLGXX
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 9, 2023
His comments were hammered hard on Twitter, with many calling him ungrateful.
“Liberal parenting has problematic issues too or so it seems. Turning kids into whiners that spend a lifetime feeling owed. Colin Kaepernick accused his white adoptive parents of problematic upbringing, perpetuating racism. Hmm…Go figure,” one Twitter user said.
Liberal parenting has problematic issues too or so it seems. Turning kids into whiners that spend a lifetime feeling owed. Colin Kaepernick accused his white adoptive parents of problematic upbringing, perpetuating racism. Hmm…Go figure. https://t.co/bryWb6phGn
— Colette Harrington (@sweetcarolinatv) March 9, 2023
“If you’ve ever been on the fence about Colin Kaepernick, now you know … a horrible, disgraceful, ungrateful POS,” another said.
If you’ve ever been on the fence about Colin Kaepernick, now you know … a horrible, disgraceful, ungrateful POS.
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) March 10, 2023
“How big of a piece of s*** do you have to be to accuse your adoptive parents of being racists?” another Twitter user said.
How big of a piece of s*** do you have to be to accuse your adoptive parents of being racists?https://t.co/20olHFOy7z
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 10, 2023
“Colin Kaepernick came out and thanked his adoptive parents for giving him an opportunity to be raised in a two-parent home, get an education, grow up to be a professional athlete who made decent money. Just kidding, he called them racists,” another said.
Colin Kaepernick came out and thanked his adoptive parents for giving him an opportunity to be raised in a two-parent home, get an education, grow up to be a professional athlete who made decent money.
Just kidding, he called them racists.
— 🇺🇸🤟🏻 (@esoryelsnya) March 10, 2023
“This guy is so far gone for fame and victim status that he is now trashing his own parents for another few minutes of spotlight. How truly pathetic,” still another said.
This guy is so far gone for fame and victim status that he is now trashing his own parents for another few minutes of spotlight. How truly pathetic. https://t.co/mLUpvZaqGi
— Vicki McKenna (@VickiMcKenna) March 9, 2023
“Rich and famous ‘victim’, Colin Kaepernick, is crying racism again, this time about his adoptive parents. The bigger his lies, the bigger his afro, Pinocchio-style. And because he has his biological white mother’s skin, he cosplays as a 1970’s pimp to try to distract you from it,” another Twitter user said.
Rich and famous ‘victim’, Colin Kaepernick, is crying racism again, this time about his adoptive parents. The bigger his lies, the bigger his afro, Pinocchio-style. And because he has his biological white mother’s skin, he cosplays as a 1970’s pimp to try to distract you from it. pic.twitter.com/c6axiStxjc
— Bosch Fawstin (@TheBoschFawstin) March 10, 2023
“Colin Kapernick is an ungrateful pos. Imagine being his parents, who rescued him from a probable life of poverty and emotional pain, only to be called racist for doing so. My goodness. Smh,” another said.
Colin Kapernick is an ungrateful pos. Imagine being his parents, who rescued him from a probable life of poverty and emotional pain, only to be called racist for doing so. My goodness. Smh https://t.co/UmoCj0G2mz
— 🇺🇸Proud Daddy911🇺🇸 (@Hairball911) March 9, 2023
“Colin Kapernick should be disowned by his adoptive parents and they should just walk away. If he is that ungrateful for them, he can be grateful they aren’t in his life like THEY chose to be when no one else did,” another said.
Colin Kapernick should be disowned by his adoptive parents and they should just walk away. If he is that ungrateful for them, he can be grateful they aren't in his life like THEY chose to be when no one else did
— Corruption is our biggest enemy 🇺🇲 (@Lynch4Treason) March 9, 2023
CNN reported.
In “Colin in Black and White,” a Netflix series revisiting Kaepernick’s childhood from 2021, there is a scene depicting the moment the former NFL player’s mother calls him a “thug” because they disapprove of his hair.
The book, titled ‘Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game,’ is “a graphic novel memoir detailing his high school years before he entered the spotlight of professional sports,” according to the Scholastic publishing group’s press release. It was co-written with Eve Ewing.
In the same interview, Kaepernick said he still has a desire to play football professionally.
He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 after his refusal to stand for the national anthem ahead of games to protest police brutality and racial injustice while he was a San Francisco 49er sparked controversy.
