In a recent interview on The Proper Gentlemen of Sports on SportsTalk 790 in Houston, former Chargers and Patriots safety Rodney Harrison made controversial remarks about Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the National Anthem before a 49ers preseason game. Harrison’s comments have sparked a significant backlash and opened up a broader conversation about racial identity, privilege, and the methods used to protest injustice.

Harrison’s headline-grabbing statement was his assertion that Kaepernick is “not black.” He elaborated, “I’ll tell you this—I’m a black man. And, you know, Colin Kaepernick, he’s not black, okay? He cannot understand what I face and what other young black men and black people face or people of color face on an everyday basis.” This assertion was rooted in Harrison’s belief that Kaepernick, as someone of mixed race and adopted by white parents, could not fully grasp the everyday experiences and systemic discrimination faced by many African Americans.

Harrison highlighted specific instances of racial profiling that he believes Kaepernick does not encounter. He described situations where black men are scrutinized in retail environments regardless of their financial status. “When you walk in the grocery store… and you might have two or three thousand dollars in your pocket and you go up into a Foot Locker and they’re looking at you like you’re about to steal something,” Harrison said. This kind of scrutiny and suspicion is a common experience for many black Americans, contributing to their daily reality of navigating systemic racism.

Shortly after his remarks, Harrison took to Twitter to apologize, acknowledging that his words may have been hurtful. Despite his apology, the impact of his initial comments continued to resonate. Harrison maintained that while he believed Kaepernick’s “heart was in the right place,” he disagreed with the method of protest. “If [Kaepernick] really wants to make change… maybe write a check out of that $11 million salary that he’s making and maybe… donate it toward a cause or something like that so people that are fighting for injustices against people of color. That’s how you make change,” Harrison stated.

It is crucial to clarify that Colin Kaepernick is, in fact, black. His biological mother is white, and his father is African American. Kaepernick has also been vocal about his personal experiences with racial profiling and discrimination. During a media session on Sunday, Kaepernick recounted an incident from college when he and his black roommates were racially profiled by police. “One of my roommates was moving out of the house… and because we were the only black people in that neighborhood, the cops got called and we had guns drawn on us… without knocking, guns drawn on my teammates and roommates. So I have experienced this,” Kaepernick shared.

This context challenges Harrison’s assertion and highlights the complex nature of racial identity and lived experience. Kaepernick’s method of protest, sitting during the National Anthem, was intended to bring attention to police brutality and systemic racism. While methods of protest can be debated, Kaepernick’s commitment to addressing racial injustice cannot be dismissed.

The broader conversation ignited by Harrison’s comments underscores the need for nuanced discussions about race, privilege, and the various ways individuals choose to advocate for change. Kaepernick’s experiences and actions continue to inspire debates about the most effective ways to combat systemic inequality, reminding us that the fight against racism is multifaceted and deeply personal.