NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Colin Kaepernick receives the SI Muhammad Ali Legacy Award during SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 2017 Sportsperson of the Year Show on December 5, 2017 at Barclays Center in New York City. Tune in to NBCSN on December 8 at 8 p.m. ET or Univision Deportes Network on December 9 at 8 p.m. ET to watch the one hour SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Sportsperson of the Year special. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated)
Colin Kaepernick is collaborating with ESPN to bring Black voices to the forefront.
While Colin Kaepernick’s NFL career reached its end to an array of controversy, his influence has continued to grow since. Now, that influence is set to jump to new heights through a partnership with ESPN Films.
Earlier, the Walt Disney Company announced a deal with Kaepernick, specifically, his production company, Ra Vision Media. The ensuing projects will provide opportunities for Black and Brown voices and detailed stories about race and social justice in an effort to continue the conversations surrounding the nation long into the future.
The deal stretches across a multitude of Disney properties, including ESPN, Hulu, even Pixar, and The Undefeated. The latter will be much of the focus, as Disney looks to expand its influence within the company.
ESPN partners with Colin Kaepernick.
The first part of the deal will be a docuseries focusing on Kaepernick’s journey, specifically over the last five years of his life. Many notable ESPN figures will produce the project, including Jemele Hill, who’s relationship with ESPN has been contentious in the past.
In a statement about the deal, Kaepernick said,
I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives. I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.
The timing here is especially interesting, as it comes after many fans began to plot Kapernick’s return to the NFL following the league’s change in tone on social justice issues. This move puts the nail in the coffin on Kaepernick’s playing career, showing that his influence will be exclusively off the field.
Coming off the heels of a Netflix partnership, a deal with ESPN with seemingly massive resources and expectations will only catalyze the process of shining light on Kaepernick’s real message that has been overshadowed far too often in the past.