STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Colin Kaepernick Memorabilia Will Be Featured at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

The move was prompted by the quarterback's woke kneeling protest last season.

Colin Kaepernick continues to wait for an NFL franchise to give him a shot in the aftermath of kneeling during the national anthem last season as a protest against racism and police brutality.

That being said, at least one prominent organization is recognizing the woke quarterback's excellence.

USA TODAY Sports reported yesterday that Kaepernick memorabilia will be featured at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., within one to two years.

Respected sociologist Harry Edwards helped the museum with a game changers exhibit, which illustrates the impact of athletes, and donated Kaepernick items to be displayed prominently within it.

The idea hit Edwards late last year upon seeing the former San Francisco 49ers QB make his stance.

“I said, ‘Don’t wait 50 years to try to get some memorabilia and so forth on Kaepernick,’” Edwards told USA TODAY about his message to the museum's curators. “‘Let me give you a game jersey, some shoes, a picture. And it should be put right there alongside Muhammad Ali. He’s this generation’s Ali.’"

That's quite the compliment for the 29-year-old, considering Ali's impact both in the ring as a legendary boxer and also out of it with his social activism.

“Ali created a conversation,” Edwards continued telling USA TODAY. “The conversation was going on at lower frequencies, but when the world champion steps forward and says, ‘No Viet Cong ever called me a [n****r], and we have some issue we need to deal with here, not over there in a war that make no sense,’ it moved the discussion to another level. The same thing with Kaepernick. He sparked a national conversation about race.”

That being said, the fact that Kaepernick hasn't been offered a quarterback job yet only seems to feed into the notion that he has been blackballed by the league and its owners for his protest last year, despite declaring that he won't continue his stance next season.

"If they are stupid enough to make a martyr out of Kaep," Edwards said, "it’s going to get even more interesting.”

Earlier this week, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett told ESPN that the team would be the "perfect place" for Kaepernick to continue his NFL career, citing players, like Russell Wilson, who give back to the community.

BET Sports News — Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports, including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.