“Colin in Black and White is a scripted limited series inspired by my experience as a Black child, adopted by a white family,” the activist told Netflix. “I did not have a lot of references or guides growing up to help me navigate some of the negative experiences or interactions I went through as a young Black kid. When we were thinking about telling this story, we wanted to explore that idea more and give people references of how these situations can impact and shape one’s identity and growth.” Here is everything you need to know about Colin in Black & White.
When does Colin in Black & White premiere?
The new limited series premieres Fri., Oct. 29 at 3 a.m. ET on Netflix.
How to watch Colin in Black & White?
Colin in Black & White will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix. Presumably, all six episodes of the limited series will drop on the same day (Fri., Oct. 29) as Netflix tends to drop full seasons of its shows all at once.
How many episodes of Colin in Black & White will there be?
The limited series Colin in Black and White will feature six, 30-minute episodes.
Who is in the Colin in Black & White cast?
Rising Hollywood star and New York City native Jaden Michael stars as young Colin in the new series. You may have seen Michael previously in director BazLurhmann’s Netflix series The Get Down, or in the 2020 flick Vampires vs. The Bronx. Kaepernick has said of the actor playing him, “I look forward to the world meeting the incredible Jaden Michael, a young actor who plays me during my high school years, just a kid growing up in Turlock, California who wanted to play ball.” Meanwhile, 18-year-old Michael reacted to being cast as Kaepernick last year by writing on Instagram, “I couldn’t be more ecstatic to tell the story of the Legend, the Leader, the All-Star.” Parks and Recreation alum Nick Offerman and Weeds actress Mary-Louise Parker will portray Kaepernick’s “well-meaning” parents, Rick and Teresa Kaepernick.
Was Colin Kaepernick adopted?
Yes. The Kaepernicks adopted Colin at five weeks old after his single, teenage mom, Heidi Russo, decided to give him up for adoption. (It’s been reported that his father’s identity is unknown.) The Kaepernicks had suffered the loss of two of their biological sons to heart defects before adopting Colin. He also has two, older siblings: sister Devon and brother Kyle.
Is Colin Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White?
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback narrates the series.
Is there a trailer for Colin in Black & White?
“Since the day I was born, my passion, my love, was being a quarterback. But what you start out as, is not necessarily what you become,” Kaepernick says in the trailer, which was officially released on Oct. 12. Watch below:
What is Colin in Black & White about?
Colin in Black & White “chronicles Kaepernick’s coming of age story, tackling the obstacles of race, class and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family,” per Netflix. The series is based on the athlete’s high school years. “In high school, I faced a lot of different challenges from sports, to my family, and other parts of my personal life, which a lot of viewers may be able to relate to. But I also faced obstacles as a Black kid growing up in a white family in a white community,” Kaepernick said. For director DuVernay, it was important that Colin in Black & White “wasn’t another autobiographical series about a famous person as a child.” “No disrespect to those shows, but it’s been done - and done well. I was interested in pushing a bit further into this storytelling trope,” she said. “It was about challenging the process to determine how we could expand the core of a young person’s path to power into a story that can appeal widely and personally to others.” “The goal was to take the kernel of the idea and make it mean something to viewers whether they’re watching in Detroit or Dubai, Shreveport or Senegal. This is how the idea of weaving cultural and historical context with the young person’s story came to my mind. This is how I approached the story construction as Michael Starrbury and his stellar writing team went to draft the ideas,” DuVernay continued. “The aim always was to allow Colin’s story to catapult viewers into a broader understanding of their own journey alongside the various histories and cultural legacies that each of our lives is impacted by.”
When did Colin Kaepernick start kneeling on the football field?
Kaepernick was pictured sitting during the national anthem ahead of the 49ers’ August 26, 2016 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL Media following the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Veteran and former football player Nate Boyer—who thought “kneeling was more respectful”—advised Kaepernick to kneel, which he did at the Sept. 1, 2016 game. “I’m not anti-American,” he later said (via ESPN). “I love America. I love people. That’s why I’m doing this. I want to help make America better. I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody is coming from. Those conversations are important to have, because the better we understand each other, the better we know each other, the better we can deal and communicate with each other, which ultimately makes everyone, puts everybody in a better position. In a 2017 op-ed for The New York Times, Eric Reid recalled that “after hours of careful consideration” and a “visit from Nate Boyer” he and teammate Kaepernick “came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, the next day during the anthem as a peaceful protest. We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.”
What did Colin Kaepernick’s parents say about him kneeling?
Kaepernick’s protests on the football field had the support of his mom and dad. “Colin is carrying a heavy load and following a difficult path that he truly believes in. He is putting his entire future and possibly his life on the line for those beliefs,” Teresa and Rick Kaepernick said in a statement to ESPN’s The Undefeatedin 2016. “As his parents, it pains us to read articles and tweets saying that his family does not support him; this could not be further from the truth. We want people to know that we are very proud of our son and admire his strength and courage in kneeling for the rights of others.” Teresa and Rick also explained that their son had “chosen to kneel for the national anthem as a protest to the continuing racial inequality in this country.” They added, “He has explained his reasons for this in multiple interviews, yet it seems some people still do not understand his point. For whatever reason, there are some who want to view this as an anti-military protest or an un-American stance. These views could not be further from the truth, but we know that people will believe what they wish to believe. The recent remarks (attacks) by Admiral Harris supported by the Pentagon are over the top, and we feel the desire to make a public statement in support of our son.”
Is Colin Kaepernick still playing football?
In March of 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers, making him a free agent. Since then, he’s yet to be resigned to any NFL franchise. Next, 25 Football Films That Will Get You in the Touchdown Spirit