Colin Kaepernick Says His White Adoptive Parents ‘Perpetuated’ Racism & Anti-Blackness: ‘You Look Like A Little Thug’

Athlete-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick is opening up about his upbringing in an new graphic novel calledChange the Game.

While promoting this book, he’s also dishing on how Rick and Teresa Kaepernickhis adoptive parents, who are white”perpetuated” anti-Blackness and put him through “very problematic things.”

Colin Kaepernick Says It’s ‘Important To Show’ The Experiences He Lived Through

Colin’s commentary came by way of a sit-down withCBS. During this interview, the former San Francisco 49ers QB acknowledged how his parents, who have been in his life since he was only five weeks old, love him dearly.

However, their biracial adoptive son nonetheless still went through “very problematic things” growing up. As a result, Colin noted that it’s “important to show” how some of these experienceswhich included his parents’ pushback against him “embracing his Blackness”played out.

“I know my parents loved me, but there were still very problematic things that I went through. I think it was important to show, ‘No, this can happen in your own home.'”

Kaerpernick went on to ponder, “How do we move forward collectively while addressing the racism that is being perpetuated?”

Colin Cites His Mother’s Objection To Cornrows: ‘You Look Like A Little Thug’

According to excerpts fromChange the Gamethat were shared by theNew York Post, some of the “very problematic things” that Colin experienced include his parents’ negative reaction to him rocking cornrows.

In response to this decisionwhich was influenced by Allen Iverson, who “wore his Blackness light a suit of armor”the graphic novel cites Colin’s mother as responding, “He’s getting what rolls?”

When recalling the incident, Colin toldCBSthat he recalled comments like, “Oh, your hairs not professional. Oh, you look like a little thug.”

In another example shared by theNew York Post, Kaepernick highlighted a situation that involved his father openly speaking to a man who was donning a hat that featured the Confederate flag. In spite of Colin knowing that the Confederate flag “symbolized racism and slavery,” the book depicts his white adoptive father being unfazed by the matter.

What do you think about Colin Kaepernick speaking on the matter?