Per Netflix, the limited series “chronicles Kaepernick’s coming of age story, tackling the obstacles of race, class, and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family. ‘Colin in Black & White’ stars Jaden Michael as Young Colin before reaching the highest levels of American football as an NFL quarterback and becoming a cultural icon and activist; Nick Offerman and Mary-Louise Parker as his well-meaning parents Rick and Teresa; and Colin Kaepernick himself, who appears as the present-day narrator of his own story, guiding viewers through a robust and colorfully presented array of historical and contemporary contextual moments. You don’t know Kaepernick until you know Colin.”
DuVernay co-created the series with Kaepernick. She directed the first episode and all of the present-day Kaepernick scenes. Sheldon Candis directed Episode 2, Robert Townsend directed Episodes 3 and 4, Angel Kristi Williams directed Episode 5, and Kenny Leon helmed Episode 6. The limited series is executive produced by DuVernay, Kaepernick, and Michael Starrbury. Previously, DuVernay and Netflix have released the limited series “When They See Us” and the feature documentary “13th. Her past directorial efforts outside of the streamer include “A Wrinkle in Time” (2018), “Selma” (2014), and “Middle of Nowhere” (2012), among others. DuVernay previously created OWN’s “Cherish the Day” drama series as well as the long-running “Queen Sugar.” Kaepernick is a former NFL quarterback who shined a spotlight on police brutality and systemic oppression through peaceful protests. Since the 2016 season, Kaepernick hasn’t been offered a position in the NFL, despite two appearances in NFC Championship games, one Super Bowl, and the sixth-best touchdown-to-interception ratio in league history. “Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick said in a statement last year. “We seek to give new perspective to the differing realities that Black people face. We explore the racial conflicts I faced as an adopted Black man in a white community, during my high school years. It’s an honor to bring these stories to life in collaboration with Ava for the world to see.” Check out the trailer for “Colin in Black & White” below:
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