Kaepernick joins Medium, will create content on civil rights
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has joined the board of directors of Medium and will work on content focused on race and civil rights, the U.S.-based online publishing platform announced on Thursday.
Kaepernick, who sparked a national debate when he protested against racial injustice by kneeling as the U.S. national anthem played during a game, will be publishing across Medium’s platform and sharing thoughts on anti-Black racism in society, the company said.
Medium allows users, including companies and media outlets, to post blogs that readers can annotate.
“I know he will bring valuable insights and leadership to Medium, especially in this moment when the world is finally catching up to his vision on racial justice,” Ev Williams, chief executive of Medium, said in a statement.
“I couldn’t be more happy to welcome Colin to Medium. He’s an incisive, independent thinker, whose integrity has inspired so many. The world needs more of that.”
Kaepernick’s protests, aimed at drawing attention to police brutality against minorities, began in 2016 when he popularized the gesture of kneeling during pre-game renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” while a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
He became a free agent after that season, during which he went 1-10 as a starter, and has since been unable to find a team to play for. Many experts attribute his political activism as the key reason teams are wary of signing him.
The action of kneeling during the U.S. national anthem had all but disappeared from the world of sports, but returned recently following the death last month of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, which sparked protests across the United States over police brutality.
Kaepernick launched a publishing company in February which is also part of the partnership.