Colin Kaepernick Medium board member publishing media

Colin Kaepernick just scored a new gig as the first non-white board member of the social justice blog Medium. The publication will also partner with his venture Kaepernick Publishing. Which means the former NFL quarterback now has a formal avenue through which to promote his views on race and civil rights in America. As CNN so aptly put it, “Colin Kaepernick is expanding his media ambitions.”

So basically Colin Kaepernick gets the spotlight and a payday without having to set foot on a pro football field, again.

Colin Kaepernick Scores Medium Board Position

Daily Mail reported that Kaepernick had previously launched Kaepernick Publishing. His publishing co. intends to release a memoir about what Kaepernick describes as his “political awakening”. An awakening that led to him taking a knee during the national anthem during while still playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. 

It sounds like his gig with Medium will serve a similar mission. But the athlete-turned-civil-rights-activist will also be working to give a platform to writers of color.

“I am excited for Kaepernick Publishing to partner with Medium to continue to elevate Black voices in the news and publishing industry,” he said in a statement released through Kaepernick publishing. “I also look forward to creating new opportunities and avenues for Black writers and creators with my new role as a Board Member.”

RELATED: Colin Kaepernick Edges Closer To NFL Return – Makes This Team’s ‘Workout List’

Medium Speaks Out On Colin Kaepernick Addition

Medium is a subscription-based website that costs $5 per month or $50 a year to join. The board is currently comprised of four white men: Evan Williams, Biz Stone, Josh Elman and Ben Horowitz. 

“Today, we announce that civil rights activist and athlete Colin Kaepernick will be joining our Board of Directors,” Medium CEO Williams said in a statement. “In addition to the board seat, Medium will partner with Colin and Kaepernick Publishing to create and feature stories focused on race and civil rights in America, and to elevate emerging voices from communities of color.”

Williams went on to add that this partnership has been in the works since February: 

“I met Colin a couple years ago and have been wanting to work with him ever since. When he launched Kaepernick Publishing in February, we started a conversation and quickly realized how closely our ideals and sensibilities align. 

I know he will bring valuable insights and leadership to Medium, especially in this moment when the world is finally catching up to his vision on racial justice. Kaepernick Publishing’s mission is to uplift and elevate voices for Black and Brown communities, something that has been desperately needed in the publishing space.

He will be sharing his thoughts on anti-Black racism in our society, and Medium and Kaepernick Publishing will co-publish thought-provoking feature stories from diverse writers of color. I couldn’t be more happy to welcome Colin to Medium. He’s an incisive, independent thinker, whose integrity has inspired so many. The world needs more of that.”

Anthem Kneeling Creates Media Spectacle

Kaepernick rose to fame in 2016 when he began taking a knee during the national anthem. He said the gesture signified a protest against racial inequality in the United States.

Many Americans were understandably offended by this, since they saw kneeling during the anthem as a sign of disrespect to the flag and those who have fought for it.

RELATED: Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Just Got A Call From A Team Who’s Interested In Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick left the 49ers after that season. Lately,  “woke” liberals have turned him into a martyr. They contend the QB  has not been signed to another team because of “racism” in the NFL.

Others, however, counter that Kaepernick led the 49ers to an abysmal losing record in 2016. So it very well could be a  lack of football talent that led to him not being signed since. 

Between the Medium gig and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell basically acting as his player agent, it seems everything is working out just fine for Colin Kaepernick. 

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