National Football League player, Colin Kaepernick, has been named by international men's magazine, GQ, as Citizen of the Year — and he even landed the cover for the "Men of the Year" December issue of the publication. This is due to his political stance as a San Francisco 49ers quarterback, wherein he criticized the authorities for police brutality against African Americans.
In a report by GQ, Kaepernick's controversial act of kneeling during the National Anthem raised much needed awareness in the realm of American Football. His act of kneeling was described as a "powerful symbol of activism and resistance," and has even allowed other players to follow suit. In the interview that occurred with the publication, Kaepernick had the help of his closest friends, who share the same views on the societal issues in America today.
However, Kaepernick himself declined to answer questions during the interview. Instead, his friends expressed their own opinions, which may be similar to that of Kaepernick's. GQ has even compared Kaepernick's actions to that of the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali — who spoke out vehemently against the Vietnam War.
In the upcoming issue of the magazine, Kaepernick will be detailing his own personal reasons for his silent protest, which is a much needed one since he has been scrutinized by the NFL, as well as the general public. According to Al Jazeera, the act of kneeling ultimately resulted in Kaepernick's uncertain future in the NFL, and is now not part of any of the 32 teams in the league.
Kaepernick may be receiving high praises from GQ and other athletes, but not everyone feels that he should be honored for his actions. In a report by Fox News, some interpret Kaepernick's actions as "cowardice" and "unpatriotic," and his influence as a former NFL quarterback is wrongfully inspiring others to do the same.
Perhaps, once Kaepernick's opinions have been voiced out, more people would have a better understanding of his cause.
