Constantine-Simms's # Take A Knee: The Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick latest book is unparalleled, because it allows more than 100 strong and defining academic voices to offer their perspective on Colin Kaepernick's controversial act of kneeling during the USA national anthem in 2016, an act that has become one of the most iconic black athlete political protests, since the 1968 Mexico Olympics, when African American athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos stood on the winner's podium, while displaying the black power salute, during the US national anthem.
Colin] Kaepernick's simple act spread like wildfire throughout U.S. society, becoming the preeminent symbol of resistance to the United States' persistent racial inequality," said the publisher's press release. The book cover has the USA flag in the background and a black silhouette image of the former NFL quarterback, on one knee.
This no holds barred, 1178 page book # Take A Knee: The Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, covers Jim Crow segregation in sport, Black athlete activism, NFL viewer boycotts, white nationalism, The NFL white balling of Colin Kaepernick, the NFL settlement and apology, The Nike Sponsorship controversy, while outlining how Jay-Z and the NFL effectively killed off the protest and Kaepernick's NFL career.
With his act of protest, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national conversation about race and justice in the USA with far-reaching consequences for football, society 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."
This book concludes by asserting that despite contemporary Black Lives Matter protests and the gains of the Civil Rights era, the long-standing conflict between the African American community and the police, continues to be the reason why Black sports activists like Colin Kaepernick took a stand by taking a knee and will continue to do so for some time to come.
