Feature Story
This year’s 73rd annual Emmy Awards ceremony revealed more than just winners. It also gave television fans a sneak peek into a brand-new Netflix limited series, “Colin in Black & White.” The biographical series follows activist and former NFL player Colin Kaepernick as he shares his story with the world, from childhood to the present day. “Colin in Black & White” is set to premiere on the streaming service on Friday, Oct. 29.
Executive produced by Ava DuVernay (“Queen Sugar”) and Kaepernick himself, the Netflix original dives into some of the world’s most pressing issues through the lens of Kaepernick’s formative years. With the former San Fransisco 49er narrating the series, each episode takes a look at the challenges he faced in terms of race, class and culture. It’s the story we don’t know about the football quarterback — and maybe it’s not so black-and-white after all.
But Kaepernick isn’t the only familiar face (and voice) we’ll be seeing in the six-part miniseries. Playing the notable figures in his life (whether for good or bad) are Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”) and MaryLouise Parker (“Weeds”) — they portray Rick and Teresa, his adoptive parents — while Jaden Michael (“Vampires vs. The Bronx,” 2020) plays a young Kaepernick. Together, these three actors provide the historical and contextual details of Kaepernick’s life growing up as a Black child living with his well-meaning, adoptive white family.
Also appearing in the show is Amarr Wooten (“American Housewife”) as Eddie and Mace Coronel (“Wireless”) as Jake, two of Kaepernick’s best childhood friends.
Directing the series are DuVernay, Sheldon Candis (“LUV,” 2012), Robert Townsend (“Hollywood Shuffle,” 1987), Angel Kristi Williams (“Really Love,” 2020) and Kenny Leon (“American Son,” 2019), while Michael Starrbury (“The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete,” 2013) also serves as an executive producer and the show’s writer. And though Kaepernick may not have written the script, he did serve as a consultant behind the scenes.
“Colin in Black & White” reunites DuVernay and Starrbury, who previously worked together on the Netflix limited series “When They See Us,” which received 16 Emmy nominations, including a nod for best writing, and came out with two Emmy wins.
The show exudes the motivation of a TEDTalk, the school-based drama of Degrassi and the credible feel of a documentary. Because of this, it’s more than just drama miniseries; it’s educational, inspirational and relatable.
In 2016, Kaepernick revealed himself to be a strong voice in the modern Civil Rights movement and a controversial football star. As the backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, he (in)famously remained seated, out of uniform, during the United States national anthem. When asked why, he explained that he refused to “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.” It was one of several protests surrounding a noticeable increase in police brutality against people of color in the U.S.
Kaepernick received major backlash for the act, but he made it clear that even if he were to be kicked out of the league and stripped of his endorsements, he is not anti-American and was only doing what he felt was right. And Kaepernick wasn’t alone — before long, hundreds of other NFL players followed suit. Still, he was booed on the field, pulled out of a contract renewal with the 49ers and sparked a debate that still goes on today.
Kaepernick remains an advocate for social justice and a free agent. He sued the National Football League for attempting to prevent him from playing, and the two parties ultimately settled the dispute in 2019. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2017.
Needless to say, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
“Colin in Black & White” gives viewers the background on how and what shaped his activism and his world views. Neither a soap opera nor a finger wag at people with opposing political views, “Colin” appears to be more a reflection of real life, prompting audiences to do more than sympathize with Kaepernick’s childhood. By engaging with the series, the audience has a chance to reflect on the issues he faced growing up, ones that remain prevalent today.