A Small Voice To A Big Movement Colin Kaepernick By Nehemiah Dangerfield-Morris Grade 6, Fairview Elementary

African Americans, in the past and today, have made a difference by protesting. People protest to make a change to stand up for what they believe in. Protests can be speeches, writings, songs, religious beliefs, law, politics, and much more. Protests can also be peaceful or violent. It can be a simple act. Someone who has made a change is Colin Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 3, 1987. When only a few weeks old, Colin was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. His adoptive parents had already lost two of their children from a heart defect. When young Colin was born, his biological mother, Heidi Russo, was 19. Colin’s biological father fled as soon as he found out that Heidi was pregnant. Kaepernick is 6ft 4in, and he is also 230 lbs. He went to a high school in Turlock, California, called John H. Pitman High School. He also went to a college in Nevada. Colin became a quarterback for the football team in the NFL, which was the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016. He led his team in the Super Bowl XLVII two years later after he got drafted. But in 2016, Kaepernick drew a lot of attention refusing to stand for the National Anthem. He says, “He will never stand to show pride for a flag that oppresses black people.” When he did this, he received a lot of boos from the spectators that were watching the game. Technically, he was expected to stand, but he can also choose not to stand. He did this every time there was a National Anthem in one of his games. As he kept on not standing for the Anthem, his teammates saw what Kaepernick did, and they joined him. Also, other NFL Football teams saw what he did and joined him by not standing during the National Anthem. He was spotted wearing socks that have pigs with police hats on referring to the police. Colin says, “The police are just racist and are killing everyone.” In 2017, Colin filed a grievance against the NFL for not letting him play because he didn’t stand during the National Anthem. Colin Kaepernick has changed the way that I see the American flag. I never knew it oppresses black people. I’m going to make a change by telling everyone not to be racist and make a change in the corrupted police and task force. Colin is right. The police are racist and killing black people for nothing. In conclusion, Colin Kaepernick has made a difference in this world. Colin Kaepernick has made a difference by protesting in what he believes in. Colin Kaepernick has made a change in our society for the better. Not only Colin Kaepernick has changed society but Colin has inspired me for the better.