Kaepernick’s Latest Grift: Capitalizing on Marxism
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a man whose wealth amassed to an estimated $40 million through football added to a $20 million Nike deal, has been entangled in a web of political controversy. Earning a fortune from the capitalist economy, Kaepernick ironically now criticizes the very system that made him a multi-millionaire, allying himself with renowned Marxist scholars for a new venture.
Famed for his kneeling protests during the national anthem, Kaepernick is now in the limelight for his collaborations with esteemed Black Marxist academics Robin D.G. Kelley and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. They’ve joined forces on a book project, “Our History Has Always Been Contraband: In Defense of Black Studies,” championing a divisive race-based curriculum for American schools heavily rooted in Marxist-derived Critical Race Theory and other radical ideologies.
“I’ve long admired Keeanga and Robin’s work as well as their uncompromising political analysis and understanding that Black liberation simply isn’t possible under capitalism,” says Kaepernick, a radical shift from his role as a professional sportsman just a few years back.
It is not difficult to question Kaepernick’s motivations. A man of considerable means, he resides in a plush $5.4 million mansion, purchased through the rewards of capitalism while vocally promoting a system that opposes such wealth accumulation. Kaepernick maintains that “white supremacy persists partly because of its relationship with capitalism, heteropatriarchy, ableism, and so on.”
It’s no secret that Kaepernick has been a strong voice in the Black Lives Matter movement. However, his recent activities signify a more profound shift. By partnering with academics who teach and support Marxist ideologies, Kaepernick has crossed the line from a symbol of racial justice to a protagonist of radical political ideologies. His new book is a testament to this shift, composed of essays by anti-capitalist authors, indicating a clear stance against the capitalist economic system he still thrives within.
“Black studies is for everyone: black students, non-black students of color, indigenous students, and white students,” Kaepernick stated while contending that black studies threaten the white supremacist status quo. Ironically, while advocating for understanding and authentic relationships with Black people, he broadly labels GOP attacks on black studies as “core to their white supremacist political project.”
In an era of increasing political polarization, Kaepernick’s actions remind us of the continuing ideological battle between capitalism and socialism. Nonetheless, as an influential figure among many Americans, Kaepernick’s words and actions undoubtedly impact the national discourse, for better or worse.
