Riveting and inspiring first-person stories of how ';taking a knee' triggered an awakening in sports, from the celebrated sportswriter';The Kaepernick Effect reveals that Colin Kaepernick's story is bigger than one athlete. With profiles of courage that leap off the page, Zirin uncovers a whole national movement of citizen-athletes fighting for racial justice.' Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Awardwinning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist In 2016, amid an epidemic of police shootings of African Americans, the celebrated NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a series of quiet protests on the field, refusing to stand during the U.S. national anthem. By ';taking a knee,' Kaepernick bravely joined a long tradition of American athletes making powerful political statements. This time, however, Kaepernick's simple act spread like wildfire throughout American society, becoming the preeminent symbol of resistance to America's persistent racial inequality.Critically acclaimed sports journalist and author of A People's History of Sports in the United States, Dave Zirin chronicles ';the Kaepernick effect' for the first time, through interviews with a broad cross-section of professional athletes across many different sports, college stars and high-powered athletic directors, and high school athletes and coaches. In each case, he uncovers the fascinating explanations and motivations behind a mass political movement in sports, through deeply personal and inspiring accounts of risk-taking, activism, and courage both on and off the field.A book about the politics of sport, and the impact of sports on politics, The Kaepernick Effect is for anyone seeking to understand an essential dimension of the new movement for racial justice in America.
Riveting and inspiring first-person stories of how ?taking a knee? triggered a political awakening among athletes of all ages and levels, from the celebrated sportswriter
?With profiles of courage that leap of the page, Zirin uncovers a whole national movement of citizen-athletes fighting for racial justice.?
?Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award?winning author of Stamped from the Beginning
Hailed by Publishers Weekly in a starred review as ?an enthralling look at the impact of peaceful protest by sports figures at the high school, college, and professional levels,? The Kaepernick Effect explores the story of how quarterback Colin Kaepernick's simple act of ?taking a knee? spread like wildfire throughout American society, becoming the preeminent public symbol of resistance to America's persistent racial inequality.
In this powerful book, critically acclaimed sports journalist and author Dave Zirin chronicles ?the Kaepernick effect? for the first time, through ?a riveting collection of first-person stories? (The Nation) from high school athletes and coaches, college stars and high-powered athletic directors, and professional athletes across many different sports?from Megan Rapinoe to Michael Bennett. In each case, he uncovers the fascinating explanations and motivations behind what became a mass political movement in sports.
?Necessary reading for all, especially those who want to make a difference in promoting social justice, equity, and inclusion, and end police brutality? (Library Journal, starred review), The Kaepernick Effect is for anyone seeking to get involved in the new movement for racial justice in America: ?Take a knee, everyone, and start a revolution? (Kirkus Reviews).
