Contrary to some opinions, sports and politics have been intertwined for generations. When Jesse Owens competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, he wasn’t just setting records, he was defeating the Nazi regime in their own backyard and his accomplishments reverberated around the world. It was just fine to mix sports and politics to advance the American agenda. But what happens when the injustice is not abroad but domestic, weaved into the very fabric of the stars and stripes America holds so dear? It is then that actions of all citizens, particularly those with a platform and voice, are the most significant. It is why NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick kicks off our annual Black History Month celebration, “The Great 28.”

In the wake of high profile police shootings, Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest of the national anthem disrupted the sports world, changing the conversation around sports and race in ways we haven’t seen since the late ‘60s.

Watch and read more about Colin and more of our modern day superheroes in our special Great 28 package HERE.