Disgruntled ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has made millions and has arguably lived the American Dream, is writing a book with two of the nation’s most famous Marxists.
Despite having a reported net worth of $40 million and residing in a $5.4 million mansion in Las Vegas, Kaepernick argues that black liberation is unattainable within a capitalist system.
In an interview with the New Republic, the 35-year-old former NFL quarterback defended his collaboration with Robin D.G. Kelley and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor in editing the anthology titled “Our History Has Always Been Contraband: In Defense of Black Studies.”
Kelley, a professor of history at UCLA, describes himself as a “Marxist surrealist feminist,” while Taylor, who teaches African American studies at Northwestern University, is known for her vocal Marxist views and involvement with the International Socialist Review.
Regarding his collaboration with these “prominent black Marxists,” Kaepernick stated, “I’ve long admired Keeanga and Robin’s work as well as their uncompromising political analysis and understanding that Black liberation simply isn’t possible under capitalism.”
He continued, “I think the anthology makes this argument quite well, and I hope it challenges readers to see that racism is not white supremacy’s only ingredient. White supremacy persists in part because of its relationship with capitalism, heteropatriarchy, ableism, and so on.”
It is critical to recognize that Kaepernick gives the game away: The socialist left’s accusations about “white supremacy” and “racism” are not about anyone’s bigoted actions against minorities, as much as it is about attacking anyone who defends capitalism and the constitutional democratic republican system in America.
The book features essays by civil rights icons such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Angela Davis, who argue that systemic racism is deeply ingrained in the capitalist economic system.
Kaepernick, Kelley, and Taylor have also contributed essays to the project, which predominantly features authors critical of capitalism.
The release of the book coincides with conservative efforts, led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, to prevent the teaching of critical race theory in public schools.
Kaepernick suggested that “black history and, more generally, a critical engagement with U.S. history, threatens the white supremacist status quo,” and he characterized his new book as the kind of material DeSantis aims to ban.
He further emphasized, “Any attempt to whitewash the past should actually be understood as a concrete step toward fascism and a desire to build a nation state where power is concentrated in the hands of a self-anointed (read: white) few.”
The anthology, which asserts that “black Studies is a crucial tool in fighting back against a white supremacist political agenda,” is available as a free ebook.
Since the 2016 season, Kaepernick has not played in the NFL, after sparking a national debate on free speech by protesting against racist police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem before games.
During his six NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick achieved an 88.9 quarterback rating, throwing for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns. However, his time as a starter in 2016 was accompanied by a 1-10 win-loss record for the 49ers.
In March 2017, he opted out of his contract in anticipation of his release and has remained unsigned since. Later that year, Kaepernick filed a lawsuit against the NFL, accusing team owners of colluding to keep him out of the league due to his protests during the national anthem.
In 2019, he reached a settlement with the NFL for an undisclosed amount, having accused owners of blacklisting him in retaliation for his controversial protests.
In addition to his involvement in various media projects, Kaepernick operates a publishing company and established “The Colin Kaepernick Foundation,” a nonprofit organization that aims to empower racial minorities.
Colin Kaepernick was raised by two white adoptive parents.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Source: Becker News Rephrased By: InfoArmed