'Colin in Black & White' Review: A complex and honest look at Kaepernick's teen years
Spoilers for Netflix's 'Colin in Black & White'
There's a distinct twinkle in Colin Kaepernick's eye as each episode of Netflix's 'Colin in Black & White' draws to a close. Part of the twinkle suggests that he's proud of the man he's become, another part of it shows he's still smarting about everything that he's facing right now. The NFL 2021-22 season is in full swing. Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccanneers are dominating the NFC South. The Green Bay Packers are leading the North. The San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick's side that saw him oust the quarterback is are placed second-last in the West, and he's missing out on all the high-octane action.
Could they have used his services now? That's a debate that can be tabled for later, but for now, Kaepernick has some free time and he's used it to give the world a raw and real account of his formative years. There's a lot of life lessons in 'Colin in Black & White', and by his own admission, Kaepernick says he wouldn't trade the events of his teenage life for anything. "It was a roller coaster: sometimes fun, sometimes scary. But you know what? I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything," and truth be told, he shouldn't.
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The six-episode series starring Jaden Michael, borders between light and gray. And in every step of the way, Kaepernick questions the reason behind the "why" at every stage. Why are cornrows frowned upon? Well, his idol Allen Iverson would know better, but the NBA star didn't give a hoot about it. Why were rules different for him and for his White friends? Why did he have to prove himself constantly? The series shows how each day has been a battle of sorts for Kaepernick.
The miniseries sees his journey from middle school through his senior year of high school where he fights every day for a career in the NFL with his multi-million arm already making a case for striking it big in Major League Baseball (MLB). A major chunk of the show also shows his relationship with his foster-parents Rick (Nick Offerman) and Teresa (Mary-Louise Parker).
The chemistry is lovable and complicated at the same time. They love him, encourage him to be the best version he can be, and support the fact that he's supremely athletic, however, they have a zilch idea about how the world sees their biracial son. The racial discrimination was clear and Kaepernick's teen years showed he experienced it on every level.
The adult version of the star QB relates his story with some of the key Black historical figures. The teenage Kaepernick was multisport talent. He could shoot hoops at absolute ease, pitch by cranking up the pace without breaking into a sweat and throw the football to his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. The series also shows how he turned down multiple scholarship offers and chances to be a high MLB draft pick out of high school just because he always wanted to be a quarterback.
There's also the battle with the coaches and the world in general who feels he has a better chance of playing for the big leagues rather than toss the ol' pigskin. And while there's enough story about his growing-up years, creator Ava DuVernay also weaves in ample instances of the star enduring some racist microaggressions. As far as the acting goes, Jaden Michael does a stellar job of playing a younger Kaepernick, whereas the actual one still needs some work in front of the camera.
If the intention by Kaepernick, DuVernay, and showrunner Michael Starrburry was to probably flesh out enough instances for Kaepernick to be an activist, it works for the masses unaware of his actions. The biggest challenge would be to probably make a statement to the segment of people who already have different views of him as an athlete and his activism, and the complex, yet brutally honest drama may not necessarily work in changing their stance.
'Colin in Black & White' is available to stream on Netflix.