Netflix and Ava DuVernay to Focus on Kaepernick’s HS Years in ‘Colin in Black & White’

Streaming giant service Netflix announced that filmmaker Ava DuVernay and social activist/former professional football player Colin Kaepernick have joined together to present a limited series on Kaepernick’s high school years titled, Colin in Black & White.

The series will focus on the former San Francisco 49er quarterback’s formative high school years, which will give meaningful insight into the acts and experiences that led him to become the activist he is today. Emmy Award® Nominee Michael Starrbury is writing and will serve as executive producer, along with DuVernay and Kaepernick who will appear as himself as the narrator of the series.

He would grow up to play in the Super Bowl and realize you never stop fighting for your dreams.

She would grow up to tell stories that matter to millions.

From @Kaepernick7 & @ava, the dramatic scripted series Colin In Black & White follows the H.S. years of Colin Kaepernick. pic.twitter.com/eb75RkuW2H

— Netflix (@netflix) June 29, 2020

“With his act of protest, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national conversation about race and justice with far-reaching consequences for football, culture, and for him, personally,” said DuVernay. “Colin’s story has much to say about identity, sports, and the enduring spirit of protest and resilience. I couldn’t be happier than to tell this story with the team at Netflix.”

“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” said Kaepernick. “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.”

“We’re proud to bring Colin’s experience and his creative vision to life as he joins Ava to share his powerful story and message with all our members around the world,” said Cindy Holland, vice president, Original Content, for Netflix. “It is an unparalleled union of two strong and defining voices coming together to tell the story about what it’s like to be Black in America.”

The six-episode series provides an introspective look at Kaepernick’s early life as a Black child growing up with a white adopted family. It will also focus on his journey to become a Super Bowl quarterback while defining his identity.

This series reunites Starrbury and DuVernay, who worked together on Netflix’s acclaimed When They See Us, which received 16 Emmy Award® Nominations, including a nomination for Outstanding Writing for the duo, and was recently honored with a Peabody Award®.