The Enduring Legacy of a Silent Protest Colin Kaepernick's decision to take a knee during the national anthem in 2016 sparked both widespread acclaim and vitriolic backlash.
The controversy surrounding his protest has continued to simmer, but it's clear that Kaepernick's actions were not just about protesting police brutality and systemic racism – they were also about reclaiming his own identity and sense of purpose.
Kaepernick's treatment by the NFL has been well documented over the years, with Commissioner Roger Goodell maintaining that he was never "blackballed" from the league.