In his Netflix special, Colin in Black & White, former NFL football player Colin Kaepernick compares being in the NFL to slavery.
The athlete-turned activist dives deep into the details of the NFL league’s draft process and training camp.
“What they don’t want you to understand is what’s being established is a power dynamic,” said Kaepernick, who was previously the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
“Before they put you on the field, teams poke, prod, and examine you searching for any defect that might affect your performance. No boundary respect. No dignity left intact.”
The Netflix special then shows a scene of a line of Black actors playing the role of NFL prospects who jump off the field and turn into slaves at an auction with shackles on them. In the scene, white slave owners bid on the players at an auction as they whip them.
Colin Kaepernick, in his new Netflix special, compares NFL training camps to slavery. pic.twitter.com/bu5C2alild
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 30, 2021
Related Story: 30-Year-Old is the Youngest Black Woman to Own a McDonald’s Franchise
“Look at this here! Come on! Who wants this?” the auctioneer shouts in the scene.
The controversial scene has gotten a reaction of folks, who angrily disagree with his notion.
On Twitter former NFL player and Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens said, “How dare @Kaepernick7 compare the evil endured by so many of our ancestors to a bunch of millionaires who CHOSE to play game.”
How dare @Kaepernick7 compare the evil endured by so many of our ancestors to a bunch of millionaires who CHOSE to play game. https://t.co/fy01QlVV2f
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) October 30, 2021
Radio host Clay Travis also commented and said, “Colin Kaepernick compares the NFL combine, which allows all players of all races a voluntary chance to become multi-millionaires, to slavery.”
Colin Kaepernick compares the NFL combine, which allows all players of all races a voluntary chance to become multi-millionaires, to slavery. Anyone still defending this imbecile lacks a functional brain. pic.twitter.com/rMaKi7c6xh
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 30, 2021
“Anyone still defending this imbecile lacks a functional brain,” he added.
The show premiered on Netflix on October 29, and the streaming platform described the show to be “the coming of age story of a kid who just wanted to play ball, but was destined for much more.”
