Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab pose for a portrait.
Kaepernick Media
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Kaepernick Media
Former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick continues to construct on his civil rights work spurred by the choice to kneel throughout the National Anthem in the beginning of the 2016 season.
His protest towards police violence set off months of intense nationwide debate about activism and sports activities.
Kaepernick’s determination got here at a worth—he remained unsigned after that season —nevertheless it additionally introduced him a brand new platform as an activist, writer and extra just lately as a father.
Parenthood and activism alongside his spouse and media persona, Nessa Diab, has impressed a brand new kids’s e book, We Are Free You and Me,
out this month.
The cowl of We Are Free, You and Me by Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab, illustrated by Gladys Jose.
Scholastic
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Scholastic
The two spoke to NPR’s Michel Martin on Morning Edition about their new e book, parenting and soccer.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Michel Martin: Colin, I'm going to begin with you, as a result of that is your third e book written for youths or younger adults. So I'm saying you had this focus earlier than you turned a mother or father, simply questioning how that zeal got here to you and now that you're a dad, is that this totally different?
Colin Kaepernick: Lots of the eagerness truly got here from the work that we have been doing with the Know Your Rights Camp. Now, being a father– this kids's e book, We Are Free You and Me, with my spouse, Nessa– and all of that end result has actually led to an exquisite e book that we hope younger children can take, internalize use it as a basis as they transfer ahead.
Martin: Nessa, how would you describe this e book to different mother and father?
Nessa Diab: You're going to get pleasure, you are going to get happiness, you are going to get power, you are going to get, , feeling empowered and group. That is among the many issues that I'm happy with, as a result of there may be simply nothing you'll be able to't accomplish with the best help system. And I really feel that group is that for most individuals.
Martin : Well, as you identified, it is colourful, it is joyous. But I've to say, it does take care of some weighty ideas. One of the passages says:
“Your truth is your strength, like the roots of a tree, trust in your power.
You have the right to be free. The right to be free is something we share.
But life can be tough and not always fair. Imagine a future one that is better.
We can build a new world. We will do it together.”
These should not easy ideas. I imply, the thought of imagining a distinct world is one thing that quite a lot of adults battle with. And I'm simply questioning how you are feeling, particularly the littlest individuals will take that in. I'd love to listen to from each of you on this, particularly now that you've got your personal focus group at dwelling, proper?
Kaepernick: Exactly. How we approached it was, how can we take quite a lot of the ideas of Know Your Rights that's targeted on the older age group, the work that we have been doing in communities, and how can we put that able the place our audience of 3- to 8-year-olds can learn this? Like, “Oh, I start, I'm starting to grasp these concepts of how I can operate in the world and what rights I have, what I can do, what I should be aspiring for.” And to your level, I believe one of many causes that it is arduous for us as adults to even grasp a few of these ideas is as a result of they begin to get stripped away from us at such a younger age. But if we instill this concept of risk and a greater future in a really younger era, they do not need to undergo rewiring their very own thoughts and the rhyming and the lyrical nature of it, we would like it to be enjoyable, we would like it to be joyful, however we additionally wish to have that extraordinarily highly effective message that youngsters can carry with them.
Martin: Nessa, what do you assume?
Diab: I agree with all the pieces Colin stated. And I believe for me, after I was youthful, I'd have liked to have had this message. I imply, the messages got here in several methods, however having empowering messages distilled in a really stunning, easy means, I believe is one thing that I hope our daughter retains together with her perpetually.
Martin: Colin, what about you? Is there considered one of these freedoms that you just want had been communicated to you if you have been rising up?
Kaepernick: Yeah, I believe the one which stands out to me is that first passage you learn that opens the e book. “Your truth is your strength. Like the roots of a tree. Trust your power. You have the right to be free.” To me, that is such a foundational message of 1's personal energy to your personal id. And then the way you truly specific that and how that exhibits up on this planet. That was my private scenario. But we additionally created this e book that everyone goes to have their very own cases the place individuals apply totally different pressures or totally different perceptions or biases in direction of them and that possible is just not a mirrored image of them or what they're doing, however how another person perceives them. So having confidence in who they're, having confidence in their very own energy and their very own fact and what they imagine in and actually carrying that ahead. And if we're doing that in direction of a greater future with the perfect of intentions, that can take us a really good distance.
Martin: I'm listening to just a little individual within the background. Is that your…individual, your little individual? Your focus group?
Kaepernick: That is our daughter operating round.
Martin: Like you stated, freedom to maneuver, freedom to play.
Diab: That’s proper.
Kaepernick: Exactly.
Martin: Actually, that is one of many pages that stood out to me, it’s “you have the freedom to move. You have the freedom to play.” There's analysis that exhibits that notably children of shade– notably Black children– are adultified. Lots of observers see them as older than they're and then deal with them accordingly in order that they're probably not allowed to be children. I puzzled if that was a part of your considering in together with that message there– that you just're allowed to be a child.
Kaepernick: Absolutely. Giving children the area to simply be children like they aren't going to be excellent. They're going to play, they will discover.
Martin: They’re going to bust into your interviews.
Kaepernick: She is having the time of her life.
Martin: Colin, earlier than I allow you to go, I've to ask, It's soccer season. Do you miss it?
Kaepernick: Oh, I'll perpetually miss it. And I proceed to coach for it. At the tip of the day, I do not wish to be able the place I look again and need to query whether or not or not I gave it my all to attempt to pursue that. I'll ensure that the rationale I'm not enjoying is just not due to my work ethic or dedication, however as a result of I used to be held out of it.
This article was edited by Obed Manuel.
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