On Saturday Nov 16, 2019 Colin Kaepernick held a private NFL workout at Charles R Drew high school in Riverdale, Ga. This came moments after the NFL who had agreed to a workout approached him with a waiver and advisement that the Press will not be allowed to attend. In response, Kaepernick walked away from their offer and held his own workout.. For his workout, the former Super Bowl quarterback walked onto the field in poetic fashion, wearing a t-shirt bearing the name Kunta Kinte.

But why a Kunta Kinte shirt versus Nike Training gear?

Do we all know who Kunta Kinte is?

Do we know what message Colin was sending?

Kunta Kinte is the central character in the 1976 book “Roots” by Alex Haley's. According to Haley's research, Kunta Kinte was an actual historical figure who was abducted from Africa when he was 17, transported across the Atlantic aboard the ship Lord Ligonier in 1767 and forced into slavery in the American South. The book was turned into a popular 12-hour TV miniseries “Roots” in 1977, that starred LeVar Burton as young Kunta Kinte and John Amos as the older Kinte. Kunta was a warrior who was clever, skilled, strong, resilient and proud. He was a man of immense courage and spiritual fortitude – all traits that empowered him when he was captured by slavers; traits connected with readers and viewers of Roots.

Here are three lessons we learned from Haley’s telling of the story of Kunta Kinte that Colin may also want to convey to us.

1. Live Your Life with Purpose

Kunta Kinte’s story begins with his father, a Mandinka warrior, lifting him to the heavens to ask for his name, which was to be his purpose. This tradition was carried out generationally as a way to surrender the child to Allah (God) to allow them to become a vessel of purpose. This is similar to baptisms and dedication ceremonies in other faiths.

Purpose gives direction and meaning to life. Without a defined purpose there is no foundation upon which to make decisions, allocate time, and resources. Without a clear purpose decision will are susceptible to influences that circumstance, pressure, and mood. to another purpose and that purpose becomes legacy. However, the question for us all is “Are we named for our purpose and are we living it?”

It has been three (3) years since Kaepernick has been sidelined from the NFL. While he waits to play, he has hardly been idle as marked by his philanthropic endeavors and activism. These have included the following accomplishments;

100 Suits for 100 Men
Founded the global Know Your Rights Camps
In 2018, he completed his Million Dollar Pledge, where he personally donated one million dollars to thirty-seven different organizations fighting for justice.
Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
ACLU’s Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award
The Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship
Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award
The W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard University’s Hutchins Center and,
The Len Eshmont Award as voted on by his NFL teammates

Kaepernick pledges that with or without the NFL's platform, he will continue to work for the people because his platform is the people.

2. Fight for What You Believe In

Kunta Kinte was raised to be a warrior. Despite his capture and enslavement, he never relinquishes his dream of returning to his homeland and never stops challenging the slaves born in America to fight for their freedom. When his enslaver renamed him "Toby,” he refused to accept the name and, in a memorable scene, was whipped repeatedly for that disobedience. He attempts to escape four times but is captured each time. After the final attempt, the owners cut half of his foot off to prevent another escape.

As our youth continue to be bullied by peers or police, we have to continue to raise them to be warriors within the mind and spirit. This is a value well carried in the Black community, that has allowed us to overcome many things post slavery. But we must ask ourselves how can we help others who have lost their ‘warrior way’?

It is in a similar context where Kunta Kinte chooses to be whipped or to have his foot cut off that Colin chooses to confront the backlash from his protests. And like Kunta, make no mistake; he chooses it. Kunta could have avoided the enslaver's lashes simply by answering to Toby. Colin could avoid the backlash by not protesting. But for both, it is more important to live as an example to oppressed around them.

"Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything" refers, of course, to the former NFL quarterback's decision to kneel during the national anthem as a way to protest racial injustice—a move that may have cost him his career.

3. Unity is Strength

When Kunta is taken onto the slave ship there was a moment where the warriors from the different tribes complained and argued until someone said, ‘We will not survive as enemies.’ After the slaves unified, regardless of their titles in their homeland, the ship’s power began to crumble.

How have we not realized the value in being unified in the spirit and efforts?

Today, our society faces a number of crippling social issues that are tearing us apart. The path to progress will require a reckoning with what can and should unite us. In these testy days, as we work to confront issues within our diverse citizenry, it’s worth reflecting anew on how cohesiveness can work and has worked in our favor, amid some of our wars, natural disaster and terror attacks… these instances were however, short lived.

“Unity does not mean that we all have to be the same or agree.”

The NFL asserts itself as an organization that believes in dialogue, understanding and unity. One that embraces the role and responsibility of everyone involved in the game of football to promote meaningful, positive change in society. The treatment of Kaepernick by the league brings all of this into question.

Where Kaepernick is concerned, it seems the idea of patriotism is cast narrowly, as a specific set of criteria by which one defines love of country. This rigid interpretation of patriotism as some sort of litmus test undercuts the value of diversity and inclusiveness and ignores where customs and laws have often fallen short for segments of the population. If humanity is to ever resolve the major problems facing the world today, people – not matter our differences – must work together toward a collective good. This kind of cohesive psychological unity and cooperation must exist for any real change to become possible.

Colin Kaepernick wants another shot at playing in the NFL. So much so that he continues to train five days a week. This is evidenced by his performance at the workout. Whether or not he will be allowed to play again is yet to be seen. However, in some form or “fashion” he will continue on the path of fulfilling his purpose as a philanthropist and activist.

I think, therefore; I am…rooted in the foundation of my purpose.

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Estoy Rey

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