Colin Kaepernick has released his first children’s book, titled “I Color Myself Different,” which explores themes of identity and belonging through the eyes of a young boy who faces similar challenges the author did during his childhood. The inspiration for the book stems from a personal experience Kaepernick had in kindergarten when tasked with drawing his family. As a Black child adopted by a white family, he colored his family members yellow while choosing brown for his own skin.
In the story, young Colin is given the same assignment and faces questions from his classmates, such as “Why are you the only brown one in your family?” and “Why did you color yourself different?” Initially caught off guard, Colin eventually embraces his uniqueness, declaring, “I’m brown. I color myself different! I’m me, and I’m magnificent!”
Kaepernick expressed his excitement about the empowering message embedded in the book, which serves as an anthem for children to embrace their individuality. He reminisced about the significance of this early moment in his life, noting it was the first time he defined himself as “brown,” laying the groundwork for his identity as a Black man.
The book includes a nod to Kaepernick’s original drawing, although he humorously acknowledges that illustrator Eric Wilkerson greatly enhanced it, describing his own childhood artwork as featuring “round bodies, long necks, and heads that look pretty big.”
Best known for his activism against systemic racism, Kaepernick made headlines as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback from 2011 to 2016, famously kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice. In 2019, he established Kaepernick Publishing, and “I Color Myself Different” is the first in a series aimed at children. The book is currently available for pre-order and is set for release on April 5, 2022.
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Summary:
Colin Kaepernick’s first children’s book, “I Color Myself Different,” draws from his childhood experience of drawing his family. The narrative emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s identity, particularly for children of color. With a focus on self-affirmation, it aims to inspire young readers to celebrate their uniqueness.
- How to embrace your unique identity in childhood
- Children’s books that celebrate diversity
- Colin Kaepernick’s impact on youth literature
- Addressing racial identity in children’s education
- The importance of representation in children’s books