the red hook
THE DUKES OF SNYDER, PART 3 -
STAR REVUE
PAGE 12
NOVEMBER 2021
FREE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
DO WE DO THIS AGAIN???? Government plan leaves O'Connell properties, including Food Bazaar, on their own. Story on page 5
Colin in Black & White Makings of an American Icon
W
hen Colin Kaepernick took a knee in support of racial equality, he faced national outrage and criticism. The backlash surrounding his choice to kneel in solidarity with the Black community was roaring. Some white football fans burned his jerseys, posting videos on social media expressing their disdain and disappointment in his views. Politicians and media personalities like Donald Trump called for Kaepernick’s removal from the NFL. To date, 2017 would be Colin Kaepernick’s last year playing in the NFL. However, Kaepernick’s racial issues with the NFL were not his first experiences with racism in sports, a truth well illustrated in Netflix’s limited series Colin in Black and White, directed by Ava Duvernay. At this year’s screening of Colin in Black and White, I had the privilege of not only previewing the show but hearing from Ava Duvernay as she was interviewed by ABC’s Robin Roberts (Good Morning America).
At the beginning of the series, we see a young Colin Kaepernick in his early teens played by actor Jaden Michael, living with his adopted parents in Wisconsin before moving to California. Early on it’s clear that Colin is adored by people in his surroundings. Kaepernick’s life is shown to be filled with love, sports, and an endearing midwestern charm.
One of the many critiques Colin Kaepernick has received throughout the years has been on the topic of his ‘Blackness.’ Some have labeled his involvement and struggles with racial equality as simply a consequence of the current racial climate ––– a trendy result of Black Lives Matter and other racial justice move-
by Roderick Thomas ments. However, in the series, we see a different story. Colin in Black and White shows a young Kaepernick wrestling with his identity in very white American settings. Colin’s hair, in particular, played a key part in his earliest struggles with racial equality.
Like many children of African descent born to, and adopted by non-Black parents, hair is often a challenge for their caretakers. In the early 2000’s NBA legend Allen Iverson’s signature braids (cornrows specifically) and personal style brought him a swarm of media attention, quite often negative press. Iverson’s natural hairstyle was called unprofessional, and like many Black men, he was casually labeled a thug. Colin Kaepernick grew up idolizing the young NBA legend, he emulated Allen Iverson’s basketball skills and style. The politics of Colin Kaepernick stars in a new Netlix series about himself Black hair is used to set the stage for the challenges Kaepernick would face as a biracial Black young man maneuvering the joys and nuances of young man in America. Despite his light complexion Black hair care. From getting his hair braided in and relative racial ambiguity, Colin’s otherness in his the homes of young Black women, to his first black mostly white surroundings and hair especially, set him barbershop experience. Colin’s journey into his Black apart. His hair was arguably his Blackest identifier. perspective is very entertaining and heartwarming to Soon Kaepernick would also be branded a thug and watch. unprofessional, not for his behavior, but his braided Colin’s parents, though early on portrayed as loving hair. caretakers, struggled to understand their son and his Despite the criticism Colin faced from his coaches (continued on page 16) and parents for his natural hairstyles, we still see a