Produced by Ava DuVernay, “Colin in Black and White” is a Netflix biographical drama miniseries on the formative years of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who leads him to become a footballer and activist.
Unless you know Colin, you don’t know Kaepernick. Comes from co-creators Ava DuVernay and former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick Colin in black and white, a new limited series that chronicles the coming-of-age story of Kaepernick as a black adopted child from a white family dealing with the barriers of race, class and culture.
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The series, to be released in six episodes of 30 minutes each, stars Jaden Michaels as a young Colin before reaching the highest levels of American football as an NFL quarterback and becoming a cultural icon and activist; Nick Offerman and Mary-Louise Parker as his good parents Rick and Teresa; And Kaepernick himself, who appears as the current narrator of his story, guides the audience through a series of historical and contemporary episodic moments.
In 2017, DuVernay met with Kaepernick, who came to limelight both on and off the field after advocating for and protesting social justice issues.
Back when he was a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick first took a knee during the United States national anthem (a symbolic gesture against racism, whereby a person would take a knee instead of standing for an anthem or other such occasion). Kneels on the knee). Before a football match in 2016, he said he could not stand to show pride in the flag of a country that oppressed black people. In 2017, Kaepernick was released by the 49ers. The anti-racism statement has since become a prominent symbol in sports and during protests. It has been a feature of Black Lives Matter protests, including those in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.
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Speaking on the series and the message behind it, Kaepernick explains in a Netflix blog post, “I didn’t have a lot of references or guides to help me navigate some of the negative experiences or conversations that I’ve had. happened as a young black kid.. When we were thinking about telling this story, we wanted to explore that idea more and give context to people that these situations affect one’s identity and development. How can influence and shape it?
She hopes that viewers of color feel empowered and less alone as they watch Colin in black and white. “I want black and brown children and their communities to be guided on how we can combat racism and oppressive systems. I hope someone can see that they too can come on the other side and say, ‘ I faced those struggles. I have worked through them, and I was able to succeed and come out the other end while maintaining my dignity and my identity.”
DuVernay adds, “Essentially, I was interested in the process of becoming the star of your own life. It doesn’t mean serving others or being selfish and ego-driven. It means standing up and standing strong for yourself. Having the confidence to be so that you can be the best version of yourself… We want to remind people to respect themselves. Because if you’re standing still, and you’ve experienced any of these challenges, So you are on your way. Keep taking your steps. One after the other, one after the other. For there is glory in your feet.”
Colin in black and white Debuts on Netflix on October 29, 2021.
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